Dr. Katie Swanson moved to Grand Rapids in the summer of 2016 and fell in love with this wonderful city. She was born on the east side of the state and spent much of her childhood moving all over the world until her family ended up in Rochester Hills, MI. Dr. Katie graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2010 after studying Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science with a focus on child development.
Dr. Katie knew she wanted to be a pediatric dentist early on in college after shadowing a local pediatric dentist in Ann Arbor for the summer and seeing how special the kids’ experiences were. She pursued her dream and graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2014 with her Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS).
Upon graduation, she was awarded the comprehensive care award for clinical excellence. From there, she studied pediatric dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. During her time there, she saw many patients with complex special health care needs and developed a deeper understanding of child development and pediatric dentistry. She also became very interested in how breastfeeding impacts a child’s cognitive development. Dr. Katie developed a research project investigating this relationship and how it can affect a child’s first dental appointment.
After residency, she moved to West Michigan to pursue her dream of opening her own pediatric dental practice. Dr. Katie loves her job because she has the privilege of helping kids experience going to the dentist in a positive way. She wants every child to feel accepted and proud of themselves and appreciates the process in guiding them to be the best patient they can be! Dr. Katie is a board-certified pediatric dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She is also certified through the American Board of Laser Surgery. Dr. Katie has been voted a “Top Dentist” and a “Top Dentist for Kids” in Grand Rapids since 2019.
Dr. Katie loves spending time with her husband, Jordan, and daughters, Willow, Violet, and Ivy. Dr. Katie and her family live in Cascade Township. She loves living and practicing in Grand Rapids so close to her patients and their families.