About the Doctors
Dr. Charles R. Caldwell
Charles R. Caldwell, D.D.S., M.S. was raised in Kalamazoo and graduated from Western Michigan University (Bachelor of Science), the University of Michigan (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and the University of Minnesota (Master of Science and Certificate as an Orthodontic Specialist).
He is a member of the American, Michigan and West Michigan Dental Societies, the American Association of Orthodontists and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
Dr. Caldwell has held many leadership positions in public service as well as organized denistry. He was a member and past president of the West Michigan District Dental Society and a charter member of the East Grand Rapids High School Substance Abuse Task Force. Dr. Caldwell is also a strong supporter of the Indian Trails Camp, which provides children and young adults who have physical disabilities with recreational opportunities. He served as the president of the camp in 2001.
A member of the Grand Rapids Downtown Rotary Club since 1981, Dr. Caldwell has served as the Student Rotarian chair, on the board of directors and acted as a mentor in the Rotary Club’s "Strive" program, which matches struggling students in the Grand Rapids Public Schools with area business and community leaders.
Dr. Caldwell also served as a liaison to the 50th Anniversary Fluoride Commemorative Committee, established by the Grand Rapids mayor.
Dr. Caldwell has received numerous awards, among which was the "Silent Bell" distinguished service award, the West Michigan Dental Society’s highest honor. He also received the Dr. Emmett C. Bolden Dentist Citizen of the Year award given by the Michigan Dental Society.
He regularly volunteered his time with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Grand Rapids Jaycees, Junior Achievement and the Baxter Community Center Dental Clinic. It’s not just that Dr. Caldwell is involved in community programs; it’s the fact that he embraces them.
In his spare time, Dr. Caldwell enjoys spending time with his wife, Lucy, as well as his children and grandchildren. He also enjoys many outdoor activities including fishing, rock climbing, skiing, boating and traveling.
Dr. Elizabeth Christopherson
Elizabeth was raised in Grand Rapids, and is happy to be back here to join her father in practice. A graduate of East Grand Rapids, she attended Miami University, where she decided on a major in Microbiology. Elizabeth earned her D.D.S. at The University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and upon graduation stayed in Ann Arbor an additional three years to complete an Orthodontic Residency and earn a Master’s of Science. Her Master’s Degree research took first prize at The University of Michigan Research Day. She was invited to present at the International Association of Dental Research Conference, and is also a published author in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
Since returning to her hometown, Elizabeth has become active with the Mary Free Bed Hospital Guild, The Junior League of Grand Rapids, and is a mentor for students at a local high school, working with them to fulfill their requirements for graduation.
She serves on the West Michigan Dental Society Ethics and Peer Review Committee, in addition to being a representative to the Michigan Dental Association House of Delegates. She participated in “Tooth Time”, a children’s dental health awareness program at the Children’s Museum and is an active member in the Michigan Dental Association, Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, American Association of Orthodontics and West Michigan Orthodontic Study Club. Together, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Christopherson have made three medical mission trips to Guatemala where they provided dental services to several rural villages.
Elizabeth met her husband, Jason in college and in May 2009, they became the proud parents of a little girl, Claire. She spends her free time with her family - which includes her lovable rescue dog, Bauer – but also likes to read, cook and travel. Currently she is training for her first half marathon which she will run with her two sisters in the spring of 2010.
Elizabeth A. Christopherson, D.D.S.
Education July 2004 – present |
University of Michigan School of Dentistry |
| August 2000 – May 2004 | University of Michigan School of Dentistry Ann Arbor, MI Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| August 1995 – May 1999 | Miami University Oxford, OH Bachelor of Arts, Microbiology |
Community and Volunteer
| 2007 | Member, Mary Free Bed Hospital Junior Guild |
| 2007 | STRIVE Mentor Motivated program targeting high school students who want to improve their educational status and life prospects |
| 2002 – 2003 | Chair, University of Michigan School of Dentistry Philanthropy Committee Dental Health Day – organized day of clinic to provide free dental and oral cancer screenings to community Mouth Guard Clinic – responsible for weekend clinic session where free mouth guard fabrication was available to all interested community members
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| July 2001 | Dental Health Coordinator for Camp Bold Eagle Responsible for screenings and oral health exams at a summer camp designed specifically for children with hemophilia |
| Leadership | |
| 2005 – 2006 | Chair, Graduate Orthodontic Residents Program Organized annual conference for Orthodontic residents nationwide: coordinated corporate fundraising, scheduled educational speakers, provided University housing for four hundred residents and organized social events for the three day conference.
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| 2003 – 2004 | President, School of Dentistry Honor Council Served as director on a board of elected students responsible for upholding the Student Code of Conduct; enforced Peer Review System of ethical and professional behavior both didactically and clinically
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| 2002 – 2003 | Vice President, School of Dentistry Honor Council
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| 2000 – 2002 | Class Official, School of Dentistry Honor Council
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| 2002 – 2003 | Secretary, Dental Class of 2004
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| 2001 – 2003 | Student Council Representative, School of Dentistry Attended monthly meetings with Director of Clinics and Dean of Patient Services to discuss operations and issues regarding undergraduate dental clinics |
Related Clinical Experience
| February 2004, 2005, 2007 | Dentist with Heds up Los Ninos Traveled to rural areas in Guatemala as a member of an organization developed to deliver care to impoverished families. Served as a dentist on three separate Medical and Dental Mission programs based on health, education, and infant development. |
| July 2003 | University of Michigan School of Dentistry Traverse City Migrant Worker Dental Program Selected to provide dental care to migrant workers and children via mobile dental units. |
| 2002 – present | University of Michigan School of Dentistry Craniofacial and Cleft Lip/Palate Clinic Attended monthly interdisciplinary screening and follow-up evaluation sessions for children with craniofacial disorders |
| Research | |
| 2002 – 2003 | Research assistant – University of Michigan Dr. Scott Schulz, Dr. James McNamara Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Assisted with data collection, case selection, and digitization of cephalometric tracings |
| February 2007 | First place winner: University of Michigan School of Dentistry Annual Research Day Preadolescent Orthodontic Treatment Need and Self Perceptions: The Role of Age, Gender, Ethnicity/Race and Socio Economic Background Ann Arbor, MI |
| March 2007 | Presenter – International Association of Dental Research National Conference Incidence of Malocclusion in Pre-adolescents – Objective Indicators and Self perceptions New Orleans, LA |
Professional Associations
| 2000 – 2004 | Member, American Student Dental Association |
| 2000 – present | Member, American Dental Association |
| 2000 – present | Member, Michigan Dental Association |
| 2004 – present | Member, American Association of Orthodontists |
| 2006 – present | Member, International Association of Dental Research |
| 2007 – present | Member, Vanguard Society - American Association of Orthodontists Foundation |
