Nothing could be better than living and practicing where I grew up. I moved to Delta Junction, AK when I was in 3rd grade. After I graduated high school, I went to back to Colorado for undergraduate and dental school. I graduated dental school in 2004 from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Because I knew there was a chance Id be back in rural Alaska, I did a one-year general practice residency. In that residency I gained a huge amount of respect in hospital dentistry and learned how to work with special needs, complicated surgery and IV sedation. From there, I worked for a non-profit dental organization, Dental Aid, in Louisville and Longmont, CO. After having our first child in 2006 and then a surprise kiddo in 2007, my husband and I set our sights back to Alaska. I took the Dental Director position at Interior Community Health Center here in Fairbanks in January 2008 and helped get their newer dental program up and running. I left ICHC in 2010 to buy Dr. Jim Cerneys practice, which is now Spruce Roots Family Dentistry. Since then we have grown the practice from a 1+ doctor practice to a multi-doctor practice starting April 1, 2019 when I merged and partnered with a great friend and colleague, Dr. Jon Woller and also bought my neighbors practice, Dr. Patricia Bergdahl.
While the practice keeps me and my husband busy (hes the Business Manager), we are also part-time kid expeditors for our two active kids, Hannah and Quinn. When were not at a soccer, hockey or volleyball event, I try to squeeze in my activities, both personal and volunteer. I picked up cross-country skiing when I moved back to Alaska to keep me going during the long winter days and I jam in running, hiking and gardening in the summer when Im not out on the pitch watching my kids.
I believe strongly in my profession and am heavily involved in the American Dental Association (ADA). Having served in my local dental society as President and have made my way through nearly all of the officer positions in the Alaska Dental Society (ADS), serving proudly as the ADS President 2013-2014 and currently I represent Alaska as a delegate to the ADA.
After moving back to Fairbanks in 2007, I joined my fathers practice. I became owner of my dads practice and have worked alongside him since. In 2019, I became a partner in Spruce Roots Family Dentistry.
As a dentist, I love being able to help people make decisions about their health care and customize treatment that works with their wants and needs. Out of the office I enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, snow-machining, skiing basically anything that takes me to the great outdoors.
I am a member of the American Dental Association, the International College of Dentists, the Pierre-Fuachard Academy and various local and national study clubs. I have volunteered for the Alaska Mission of Mercy and the Dental Lifeline Network. My passions are restorative, reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry. Helping someone achieve and maintain their desired level of health, comfort, function and esthetics gives me the greatest satisfaction.
I migrated north in the pipeline days from Wisconsin and met Kathy at a Robert Service poetry reading at the Malamute Saloon in Ester. We soon married and eventually had 4 children, who were raised in Fairbanks and went outside for their secondary education. Two of them made their way back north, Jonathan, whom I practice with and Jessica, who is a local orthodontist. A third son is a dentist in Denver and the oldest is a patent attorney in Portland. They have collectively provided Kathy and me with 5 lovely grandchildren, who are the joy of our lives.
Jon and I have been practicing together for 12 years and share the practice philosophy of providing the best care possible to benefit our patients. I am excited to continue my professional growth and patient care as a member of Spruce Roots. I enjoy working with people and help them solve their dental problems and am a hands-on type of guy who finds fulfillment in doing a task to the highest level of perfection that I am capable. Dentistry by its very nature of being a meticulous endeavor, provides endless opportunities to exercise my abilities. This in turn benefits our patients, delivering the highest level of care.