Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.
-William A. Foster
Develop Confidence—one smile at a time
Dakota Orthodontics serves our community with a commitment to three core values:
The core values above were adopted during Dr. Walker’s time in the United States Air Force and are adapted to Dakota Orthodontics
Dr. Walker comes to us all the way from the south/east coast (don't be surprised if you hear him saying "ya'll" more often than "uffda"!). He grew up in Virginia and graduated from dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011 with a scholarship with the United States Air Force. From there he moved to Colorado Springs, CO to attend a year of Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the US Air Force Academy. After working as a dentist in North Carolina for 6 years, Dr. Walker was accepted into Washington Hospital Center's orthodontic residency program, which he graduated from in 2019. His professional interests focus on orthognathic surgical cases, particularly cleft lip and cleft palate patients, which he was able to gain experience in due to Washington Hospital Center's association with the adjacent Children’s National Hospital.
During his residency, Dr. Walker learned an innovative orthodontic philosophy known as the 6Elements of Orofacial Harmony; pioneered By Dr. Larry Andrews, one of the world’s foremost Orthodontists. 6Elements is a comprehensive approach to orthodontic diagnosis that creates harmony and balance between your teeth, jaws, airway, and face. This means Dr. Walker can go beyond just straightening teeth and bite correction, because he understands how the jaws should be positioned for improved health, comfort, and esthetics.
Dr. Walker is a little bit of a control freak, so he likes to see each patient at every appointment; all too rare in today’s rushed world. He finds this to be the best way to deliver on Dakota Orthodontics’ mission of developing confidence—one smile at a time.
In his spare time, Dr. Walker cycles outdoors as much as he possibly can (which is definitely limited in this crazy climate!), a passion he shares with his oldest son. He also loves hunting, fishing, sports, and spending time with his wife and 3 children. A fun fact about Dr. Walker is that he has broken his leg on a skateboard!!
Shaelin grew up in Viking, MN, and graduated from M State Technical College in Moorhead with her Dental Assisting degree in May 2020. In her spare time she loves playing volleyball, shopping, and rollerblading. Fun fact: She checked something off her bucket list and went skydiving in Florida in April!
Jennifer grew up in the western part of North Dakota, in Beulah. She went to school at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. She has been working in Orthodontics for 24 years! She loves to be outdoors, going to the lake, and going to all 3 of her boys' activities. Fun fact about Jen: even though she loves the outdoors, she has only slept in a tent once in her life and it was this year (2023)!
Jennifer grew up on the lakes of Minnesota but moved to Fargo years ago for college. Before joining our team, Jennifer worked at a counseling center for many years. She enjoys cleaning, watching movies, and going to the lake with her husband and four children. Fun fact: Jennifer saw the Titanic movie in the theatre 5 times!
Rebecca is originally from the Northern Virginia area and moved to Fargo in 2019 with her husband and 3 kids. She moved to Tennessee in 2020 but missed the awful weather and decided to move back to Fargo in 2021! When not shuffling kids around, she enjoys reading, yoga, and cooking. Fun fact: Rebecca has lived in 7 different states as an adult!
Sylvie is the newest addition to our team and enjoys advocating for positive patient experiences! Whether you need to see a friendly face, or just to hold her while you're having an adjustment done, Sylvie is your girl! Her hobbies include getting petted, basking in the sun, pets, getting treats, being petted, and sleeping. Make sure to say hi next time you stop in the office!
