 |
"New Dental Associate
At Byrum Family Dentistry" |
 Dr.
Melinda M. Hochgesang D.M.D., formerly Mindy Peterson, grew
up in a rural area just south of Milan, IL. She is married to David
Hochgesang. Mindy met her husband David, a biology major, at IU. David
now teaches college prep biology and exploratory science at United
Township High School in East Moline, IL. David and Mindy have a nine
month old black lab puppy named Hoosier. She has one sister, Mary
Ann Peterson, who works at the Rock Island Arsenal. Her brother, Craig
Peterson, is currently in his second year in dental school. Her father,
Albert, is a truck mechanic for Alcoa and her mother, Michelle, is
an English teacher at Mercer County High School in Aledo, IL.
Mindy ran cross country and track in high school and also played softball. She was a five-time state champion in cross country and track. Mindy graduated Valedictorian from Rockridge High School in 2001. After high school, she competed at the collegiate level as a cross country and track athlete for Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Mindy enjoyed her time as a student athlete and in November 2003 she earned All-American honors in cross country. She started college with an undecided major but after taking classes in various areas, she decided to major in biology with a minor in chemistry. She also received a certificate in the liberal arts and management program in the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University. During Mindy’s second year at IU, she decided to apply to dental school. No one in her family was a dentist but dentistry interested her. Mindy attended dental school at Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine in Alton, IL near St. Louis. She was voted by her peers to be the most helpful dental student in her class as she often tutored and helped others after class. During Mindy’s senior year, she was selected by supervising dentists to receive a certificate for having exhibited the greatest interest, knowledge, and proficiency in the field of general dentistry. She also attended a dental mission trip to Jamaica to treat patients in need. Enjoying her time in dental school, Mindy’s passion grew for her future career. When Mindy has time for herself, she loves to run. She has run
the Bix several times and completed four marathons. She also enjoys
running other road races in the Quad Cities such as the Moonlight
Chase, the Turkey Trot, Race for the Cure etc. During the summer
of 2010, Mindy plans to finish her first sprint triathlon at West
Lake. |
