I feel very fortunate each day to come to work and to be participating in a profession that I love. The dental profession has given me the opportunity to help people with their overall health and dental well-being.
What I enjoy most about dentistry is the ability to give a patient back a healthy, beautiful smile that allows them to talk and laugh without having to worry about being self-conscious. Working with new patients is especially rewarding, because finding out what is important to them is always an exciting opportunity.
I particularly enjoy educating our patients on their individual concerns. With our intraoral cameras, patients can see what we can see and it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words. I enjoy connecting with our patients and hearing about their families and what is going on in their lives.
I have been practicing dentistry for 25 years and am passionate about helping people. I truly take pride in the detail-oriented and artistic aspects of dentistry.
Education
I graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a BA in biology in 1994. Then I attended Indiana University School of Dentistry and finished in 1998, when I received the Prosthodontic Award for Excellence in Restorative Dentistry, as well as my Doctorate of Dental Surgery.
I’m passionate about continuing education and love to learn. I have completed the Dawson Academy for Advanced Dentistry curriculum. Other areas of continued education interest are dental sleep medicine, home sleep studies, dental implants, dental laser treatment, TMJ treatment, and bruxism guards. I also completed certification for DTR therapy, which is helpful to patients suffering from TMJ disorders and facial pain.
Personal Life
I grew up in South Bend, and live in Long Beach, on the shore of Lake Michigan with my two daughters and husband, who is a high-school activities director and basketball coach. I love traveling and spending time with my family. As a coach for Girls on the Run, I share my love of running with young girls in our community.
Community
I am an active volunteer in the national Give Kids a Smile program and love giving the gift of dental health to children in our community who may not otherwise receive dental care. I’m a previous board member of Donated Dental Services and currently volunteer as a treating dentist, which enables me to combine my volunteer efforts and dental expertise to enrich many lives in our community.
