Meet Dr. Andy

Andrew D. Schmidt, D.D.S., M.S.D. I grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin with my mom, dad and big brother.  After I graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1993, I went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota where I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, earning Phi Beta Kappa Honors.  Upon graduating from college I took some time to explore and experience a little of what life has to offer. I spent a year as a United States Professional Tennis Association certified tennis professional and I also took time to be a part of an 81-day Outward Bound program. Both of these experiences shaped who I became as an adult and I can say that Outward Bound was a life-changing experience full of winter camping, rock climbing, white water rafting, and backpacking.

After college and my time off I went on to attend dental school at the University of Iowa, starting to follow in the footsteps of my father who was an orthodontist. I graduated with my degree in dentistry in 2002 and was then one of five residents accepted into the orthodontic program at the University of Washington, where I began earning my Master of Science Degree in Dentistry and my certificate of orthodontics. Being one of 5 students across the nation accepted into this highly competitive program is one of life’s accomplishments I am most proud of! During my time in the orthodontic program, earning my Master’s Degree I also met my wife Terra, a dental student also attending UW...another one of life’s accomplishments I’m proud of!

I finished my formal training in 2004 and my wife Terra and I returned to Rhinelander to practice orthodontics with my father, Darrell Schmidt at his practice. Being able to practice orthodontics with my father for several years was such a blessing to me in my initial experiences as an orthodontist; having the honor of following in my father’s footsteps and learning from him, and being able to return to my hometown and live around my close knit family.

After a few years in Rhinelander however, we returned to Washington State, an area we both loved and where Terra grew up. We settled in Bellingham where we worked hard to open our own practice amidst the backdrop of Bellingham and Whatcom County. We were thrilled to be able to live in an area amongst friends, near family and where we could enjoy the variety of outdoor activities that Bellingham provides. I enjoy downhill and cross country skiing, swimming and I still get to participate the occasional tennis match. I also enjoy teaching our two young boys basketball, baseball and riding bikes. I spend most of my evenings running around after our little ones and as they grow up I dabble in chauffeuring as a shuttle driver to and from friends, sports and events.