Kathleen became a licensed registered dental hygienist in 1980 and accepted her first clinical dental hygiene position in Topeka, Kansas. She married her husband Doug in 1981, and they have lived in Olathe, KS since that time. They have 3 grown sons and 3 young grandsons (increasing her interest in infant ties and early growth and development). Kathleen worked in differing clinical settings for 33 years in the specialties of periodontics and orthodontics, and in general dental clinic settings. She was introduced to myofunctional therapy while she was with Klein Orthodontics. Working in alternative roles she developed an oral hygiene program for the practice, and later became a marketing coordinator. Dr. Klein introduced her to myofunctional therapy with the goal of developing an OMT program to provide facial muscle support, and assist in providing long term stable orthodontic results for patients of the practice.

As an RDH, Kathleen has always been involved in supporting oral hygiene health care. As a dental hygiene volunteer in area schools she performed dental screenings, participated in high school career days, and worked with Oral Health KS in the development of early Head Start programs to support the dental needs of Olathe and Shawnee Mission elementary school district students. She served a two year term as Recording Secretary of the Kansas Dental Hygiene Association (KDHA), and served as Vice President of the Eastern Kansas Dental Hygiene Association (EKDHA), along with numerous committee chair appointments to both associations. She served as the dental hygiene team representative to the KU Medical Center Cleft Palate Clinic for several years. In 2022 Kathleen served as Co-chair of the Annual IAOM Convention, and in 2023 she was a presenter at the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference speaking on What’s Air Got To Do With IT? Kathleen is presently serving a three year term as a member on the Board of Examiners of the IAOM.

OMT credentials include courses with many experts in the field. Rose Van Norman was her first clinical course instructor. Rose developed the first IAOM digit sucking succession program. Kathleen feels that having the opportunity to study with many of the early founders/instructors in the IAOM was a true blessing. She hopes that she models the heartfelt teachings of these early mentors.

Throughout the years, even before many of the now recognized associated professional fields were identified, Kathleen extended her studies to include Craniosacral Therapy (CST1 and II, Upledger), Primitive Reflex Integration (RMT Coursework and MNRI Core in Training), and Buteyko Breathing (presently completing Certification), along with integrating the core principles of the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) into patient comprehensive care through close association with Matt Stensrud, PT, trained in PRI principles.

Kathleen’s clinic is based in Olathe, where she shares her extensive therapy protocols based on peer reviewed studies, along with her years of clinical experience in treating orofacial myofunctional disorders. She offers presentations to dental and chiropractic, etc. practices to assist in recognizing OMD disorders, how to identify tethered oral tissues (TOT’s) and airway issues, along with other topics of interest to parents and teachers.