Where did you grow up?
I grew up in West Des Moines and have spent almost my entire life in Iowa.

Tell us about your family.
My wife Jen and I have been married for six years and our 2-year-old son Knox keeps us more than busy. We are lucky to have all of our immediate family also living in Iowa. That was a driving force for us to come back here after I completed my orthodontic residency training in Texas.

How did you come to practice orthodontics?
I’ve always had the desire to work in some form of healthcare and I feel blessed to have discovered the field of orthodontics. I worked at an orthodontic office—with one of my very important mentors, Dr. Jeff Sturdivant—while I was in college and realized it would be a great fit for me. While in dental school, I was fortunate to have earned the opportunity to spend two additional years of training at a top-level orthodontic residency program at the University of Texas at Houston.

What value do you think orthodontics brings to people’s lives?
Your smile is one of the first things others notice about you, so improving your smile can make a significant positive impact on your self-esteem. Straight teeth and a good-fitting bite also lead to healthier teeth, which helps you keep your teeth for much longer.

Why did you to choose to set up your practice in Waukee?
We view Waukee as the perfect place for us to raise our family and we couldn’t be happier to live here. Obviously, many other people have had similar thinking as this town is full of kids running around and playing. Waukee is quickly becoming “the” place to live, and there’s been amazing growth over the past few years. We are excited to be a part of that growth and we look forward to all the great things coming to Waukee in the future.