Dr. Parker was raised in Benton, Kentucky, and later moved to Louisville to study chemical engineering at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering. She gained experience from three cooperative externships at the Rohm and Haas Company, graduating with highest honors. Although Dr. Parker loved engineering, she was attracted to a career in dentistry for its ability to make a difference in the lives of others. She attended dental school at the University of Louisville, where she discovered the ability to use her engineering background in the field of orthodontics. She was drawn to orthodontics not only for the positive impact it had on her as a child, but for the ability to combine her love for engineering with a unique personal application.
After completing the highly competitive orthodontic specialist post-graduate residency program at the University of Louisville, she joined the team at American Family Orthodontics. She then took the extra step to become a board-certified orthodontist, which is a voluntary achievement that signifies an orthodontist’s commitment to the highest standards of patient care and professional development.
Dr. Parker’s favorite part of being an orthodontist is comparing before and after pictures with patients and celebrating their new smiles. She also enjoys teaching and sharing her orthodontic knowledge with dental students from the University of Louisville, who occasionally come and spend time at the office. She is committed to staying up to date with the most advanced orthodontic treatment methods available and frequently travels across the country to attend conferences for orthodontic specialists. Dr. Parker gives back to her community and continues to touch people’s lives by participating in a program called Smiles Change Lives. This program allows Dr. Parker to treat more patients whose families struggle with the full cost of braces.
When she isn’t seeing patients, Dr. Parker enjoys traveling to new places with her husband, Steve. She has visited over 30 states and over 30 foreign countries — and is still adding more to the list. She enjoys running, diving, hiking, skiing, and trying food from all over the world. When she is at home, you will often find her cooking with her husband, doing Peloton workouts, or spending time with her three nieces.