Few career paths weave together professional excellence, public service, and extraordinary adventure as seamlessly as Dr. Christine Roalofs’. Her personal and professional journey spans across diverse states, communities, and disciplines- uniting a lifelong commitment to children’s health with an unmistakable spirit of leadership and resilience. From dental clinics in remote Alaskan villages to the frozen trails of the Iditarod, her story is one of dedication, courage, and an enduring belief in service.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Roalofs moved with her family to Louisville, Kentucky in 1973- a formative chapter that planted the early foundations of service and community engagement. “I credit my parents for setting the bar high,” she reflects. “Even with 5 children, they were active leaders in PTA, boy scouts and numerous other organizations. Several of my siblings are currently involved in community and business organizations.” Likewise, her choice of career was rooted in the values and goals instilled by her family. “My whole life, I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mom and all the great influencer teachers I had in my life. While in college studying to be a math teacher, I went to the dental school to get “cheap braces”. My orthodontic resident kept telling me I had a great personality and would be a great dentist.”

Motivated by this encouragement, she applied to dental school, took the DAT, and was accepted into the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, earning her DMD in 1994. She had entered dental school with a one-track mind, determined to be an orthodontist, like the resident who sparked her interest in the field years ago.  Then, during junior year, she had her first pediatric dentistry clinical rotation and never looked back.  “I handled some tough kids. The faculty noticed and started requesting that I spend any free time in the Pediatric Dentistry clinic. Over the next 18 months I was assigned some challenging cases and my love for pediatric dentistry was cemented!” She received her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Buffalo Children’s Hospital in 1999.

It was during her residency that Dr. Roalofs first became engaged in organized dentistry. “Our program director in Buffalo took the second-year residents to the AAPD annual session and other national meetings. We were also encouraged to attend the dinner meetings for the local pediatric dentistry group in Western New York.”  In 2002, she moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and opened her office, Just Kids, Inc. She also began traveling to remote Alaskan villages, working with SEARHC in Southeast Alaska, BBAHC in Dillingham, and NSHC in Nome, Alaska. 

While attending the AAPD annual session meeting in 2004, Dr. Roalofs met some members from the state of California who encouraged her to attend the Western District caucus.  At the caucus, the district leaders encouraged her to incorporate a state chapter in Alaska. “I went back and reached out to all the pediatric dentists I knew- there were maybe 12 of us- asked one to be the President, and he accepted.”  This small but motivated group started meeting a few times a year as the Alaska Pediatric Dental Society. Dr. Roalofs views the initiation and organization of the Alaska chapter as an invaluable learning experience. “As we grew from 12 pediatric dentists to over 30, I was able to organize some meetings for our small state group. I learned that many people want to travel to Alaska, and will donate time and/or expenses to have the opportunity to speak to the members there.” 

She acknowledges the help and encouragement she received from the Western District leaders during those early years, as well as the benefits of collaboration with more established states. “I realized then that big states can help the smaller states and that we are all better together.” After this, Dr. Roalofs quickly rose through the ranks, progressing through leadership roles first within the state association and then the district.  “After moving through the Alaska executive committee, I felt confident to move through the WSPD executive committee, and then stayed as the Alaska board representative and WSPD secretary for many years.” 

As her career began to flourish, another passion quietly took root and began to unfold; prior to her move to Anchorage, Dr. Roalofs lived in Wasilla, Alaska, and experienced her first Iditarod in March 2000- she immediately fell in love with the sport. “I had no idea you could race 16 dogs from Anchorage to Nome. I was hooked, but also deeply in debt with student loans.” Determined to find a way to become involved with sled dogs, she became an active volunteer, learning all about the event, while simultaneously working to pay down her debts. In 2006, with help of many friends and dog mushing enthusiasts, she began to assemble a team of veteran dogs. To Dr. Roalofs, this acquisition of Alaskan Huskies always seemed to happen exponentially. “2 dogs become 4 which become 16, and then the food bills rise exponentially as well- you begin to realize how much work it is to take care of that many dogs and run a dental practice.”  

Those dogs and some wonderful human mentors taught her everything she needed to know about mushing. In 2007, she felt confident enough to attempt her first 200-mile race. “After this first attempt, and over the next 8 years, I spent all my spare time learning the necessary outdoor winter camping skills- things like how to start a fire at 20 below, and how to keep your sleeping bag dry in the snow,” she says. “I learned how to care for the dogs as well as how to train the dogs and myself for long distance races. I had to complete the necessary qualifying races to be allowed to enter Iditarod.”  While preparing for Iditarod, the team was dubbed the “City Slickers”- the name stuck. All the years of planning and training paid off when, on March 17, 2013, Dr. Roalofs and the City Slickers crossed the finish line in Nome.  

Her role as a dedicated steward of these remarkable animals has been a profound source of joy and fulfillment for Dr. Roalofs, offering her a restorative balance to the daily responsibilities of running a practice. “I love the lifestyle of having dogs,’” she says. “Having a dog team is not like having a bicycle or a snowmobile that you can put in the garage and not ride for days.  The dogs need love and attention every day. If I had to travel for work or meetings, I had to find pet sitters. But I will say, when I was at the office and had a break, I was often thinking about the dogs.  And when I was out on the trail with the dogs I was thinking about the dogs, not the office or the tough patients. Being with the dogs brought much-needed respite and sanity to the mad, mad world of running a pediatric dental practice.”

After two decades in Alaska, Dr. Roalofs began to feel the quiet weight of missed family moments and a growing longing to be closer to home. In 2016, she made the decision to sell her Anchorage practice, and in May 2019, she and her kennel relocated to Denmark, Wisconsin (near Green Bay) to be nearer to those she loves. There, she found a home on fifteen acres—a peaceful retreat complete with a beautiful swimming pool—offering both space for her dogs to thrive and a renewed sense of connection and belonging. Summers are now spent reconnecting with family. “Northeast Wisconsin usually has enough snow to have some winter fun and does not have the stifling summer heat so the dogs can remain comfortable.” Part of owning and loving dogs is keeping them until the end, however that may play out.  Dr. Roalofs took 18 dogs down the Alcan Highway in 2019, and she has enjoyed her adventure companions until their last days. There are 9 dogs remaining in the kennel. 

Once the decision was made to move back to the Midwest, Dr. Roalofs knew she would have to pass on her representative status to a full time Alaskan.  At the same time, WSPD leadership realized that the organization needed an executive assistant to help continue its growth.  Dr. Roalofs applied for the job as WSPD Executive Director in 2018 and was selected. “While I am not an association executive by training, my dental experience and institutional memory serves me well.”  Her development in this new role was greatly shaped by her participation in Cohort V of the AAPD Leadership Institute (now the John S. Rutkauskas Leadership Institute) at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, an experience she considers truly transformative. Reflecting on the leadership training and mentorship she has received, Dr. Roalofs says, “The AAPD offers exceptional support for those of us at the district level- I can always ask questions of the AAPD leadership and other district executive directors.”  

Within her capacity as Executive Director, she has parlayed her passion for organized dentistry into developing young leaders to carry on the mission of the WSPD.  Thus, for all her myriad achievements, she counts her current role as Executive Director as one of her most fulfilling contributions within organized dentistry.  “What a fantastic opportunity to continue to be a part of a platform that allows young leaders to learn and grow!  My hope is to repay all the work of my mentors and the many people who have helped make me who I am.”

When pressed to describe what inspires her to wake up each day determined to embody the true meaning of leadership- showing up, giving back, and leaving things better than she found them- Dr. Roalofs answers with her trademark brand of kindness and humility, “I wake up every day and put my pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. Sometimes I do it in fun and different places, like remote Alaskan Villages, or at 40 below, or surrounded by 24 sled dogs. My main inspiration in life is to stay positive and make everyone else’s day a little nicer. Some days that can be quite challenging, but I never want to be ‘that person’ who is rude, thoughtless, or mean.  I want to be the person who lifts up everyone around them.”

Dr. Roalofs’ journey is a testament to what is possible when purpose guides both profession and passion. Whether leading in organized dentistry, serving children in the most isolated communities, or caring for the dogs that carried her across frozen miles, she has built a life defined by commitment, integrity, and heart. She still periodically travels back to her beloved Alaska where she continues to provide dental services for children living in secluded villages in the Norton Sound area of Northwest Alaska. “Although I currently live in Wisconsin, all my years in Alaska and on the WSPD board aligns me with the West Coast. The WSPD members are my people, and my heart.”