I was born in Kotzebue, Alaska, the son of a bush pilot/carpenter/dog musher. From my earliest years, I remember thinking that traveling by bush plane or dog sled was completely normal; it was how everybody got around, wasn't it? Growing up, I had a very extensive outdoor life, frequently hiking, camping, mountain climbing, and exploring with my family.
I was the second-born of ten kids, so the joys and chaos of living in a large family are very familiar to me. I married my true love, Becky, in April of 2003 and then began what I didn't know at the time would be a decade of intensive university attendance and professional development, eventually leading me to a career in dentistry.
I love music, movies, and food (side note: Minnesota brought poutine into my life - and for that, I will be eternally grateful). I love to laugh. You'll find that I have an unusual sense of humor. Im big into board games, Star Wars, and all things geeky. I love being so far out in the wild that you would have no hope for rescue if you needed it. I LOVE the ocean!
I believe one of the highest virtues anyone can aspire to is compassion. It gives me great honor and a sense of humility to experience and witness the process of healing as my patients, and I set goals and work to achieve them.
Receiving any type of medical or dental treatment is challenging - at times even intimidating - and I understand that. I promise to always treat you with compassion and with an open ear to hear what your concerns or personal challenges are. I am committed to doing anything within my power to make sure you have the best possible experience while you are here.
The story starts in Isanti, MN, where myself, my giant head, and chubby baby body were born into a wonderful family. What followed were decades of becoming involved in numerous sports and activities, including the fastest and most exciting game on earth, hockey, as well as a Tour De Minnesota for post-secondary education featuring Moorhead, Mankato, and finally Minneapolis.
Mankato holds a special place in my heart because thats where I met my future bride, Sarah. Our little family expanded by about 25lbs in the form of a rescued chihuahua/Dachshund mix named Ernie and eventually a chihuahua/terrier mix rescue named Otto when we moved to Apple Valley.
Hiking and volleyball are high on our list of things to do together, and now that Im out of the money vacuum that is the college education system, were hoping to get some traveling in! I also enjoy playing competitive hockey and hope to learn how to play piano someday before my hands and fingers are immobilized by arthritis after many years of abuse from sports and dental care.
Kathy has three great loves in her life: music, teeth, and especially tacos. She became a dental hygienist on a dare and hasn't looked back since because, as it turns out, she loves it! Kathy enjoys meeting and helping people keep a healthy mouth, mostly because without a healthy mouth, you can't enjoy tacos. Because of this passion of hers, she has become the founder of the Healthy Teeth for Increased Taco Enjoyment Foundation (HTITEF). Her organization is geared to all things taco-related and is a non-profit.
Kim is a Minnesota native but felt the call of the Pacific Ocean beckoning her. After locating and marrying her Hawaiian demigod, she returned with him to the Midwest, where they enjoy life with their two teenagers, two dachshunds, a bunny, and an apukohai. She loves the outdoors, decorating, cooking, and of course, all things dentistry. She has a particular passion for coordinating treatment plans for patients and helping them to manage scheduling and financing the treatment they need.
Lee Ann is the absolute sweetheart of the team. She has been in dentistry long enough to know that it is a lifetime passion of hers. Nowadays, she enjoys her very short commute to work and loves to pile in and get things done. Because she is so compassionate and loving to our patients, you'd never know that in the past she was a brutal warrior in a local women's softball team. A fan of various and assorted beverages, she's always a hoot to hang out with on the weekends as well.
Do you want to meet an all-star dental assistant? Check out this girl: Meghan was indoctrinated into dentistry through her aunt, who is also a dental assistant. After graduating from her program in 2017 down in Rochester, Meghan assisted for several years in a pediatric clinic, where she developed some amazing skills in dealing with and a great fondness for our littlest humans. She has an amazing can-do attitude and a perfectly compatible sense of humor to fit in with the rest of our clinical team.
In her free time, she labors endlessly on her hobby farm, where she raises chickens. Meghan has a passion for all things pasta (she would have it for every meal if she could) and traveling around the USA with her horse, finding the best trails and state parks to ride in.
The real power behind the clinic, Becky makes sure all the gears are running and the power stays on! She's crazy enough that she actually enjoys doing piles of paperwork to keep us open and in business, which means that she is the right person for the job. Don't be fooled by her friendly smile, though - she actually has a bullwhip hiding in her office, which she takes out and uses on the doctor if he gets out of line!
A force to be reckoned with, to be sure, but she still has the same compassionate love of dentistry as the rest of the team. If you want to be put in your place, challenge her to a game of racquetball and prepare to be punished. We love her!