I attended Hillsdale College, where I studied Biology and Chemistry. After only three years, I entered dental school at the University of Michigan where I earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and graduated at the top of my class. After graduation, I entered a residency in general practice at the University of North Carolina, where I received my certificate in advanced general practice. From North Carolina, I traveled to South Carolina where I entered private practice.

Although I enjoyed general dentistry, I decided to pursue the rigorous process of becoming an orthodontic specialist. I was accepted into the orthodontic residency at the University of Tennessee, one of the oldest and most established programs in the country. I then received my Masters of Dental Science (MDS) in orthodontics. My experience as a general dentist and as an orthodontic specialist gives me a unique understanding of orthodontic treatment and its relationship to general dental health.