When I was a 13-year-old orthodontic patient myself, my orthodontist was a great guy, and I was always impressed by him. One time he took me out to show me his Porsche in the driveway, and I always liked the guy. And then really at 12, 13 years old, you really don’t know what you’re going to do in life, you really haven’t decided. And my dad took me to one appointment on a Saturday afternoon, which has always been my mom took me to the appointment, and he’s never been to those offices. And when he saw how Dr. Carter, who was my orthodontist, had his setup, he was so impressed. On the drive home, he said, “Randy, that’s something you got to get into.” My dad was an executive, I always thought I’d follow in that footstep. And here’s my dad, the biggest influencer in my life, telling me that that looks like a great job for someone to have.
And ever since that day, I’ve just kind of stuck to my mind that I’m going to be an orthodontist, anybody asked me. So it kind of became a self-fulfilling prophecy as time went by. Subsequently, when I got out of orthodontic school, I joined my orthodontist, Dr. Carter, in practice, and took over the practice. And just like this with my son, Evan, he being a patient of mine, just taking over my practice in time.
I think the most rewarding part of becoming an orthodontist is being able to give people a smile that they didn’t think they’d have, they’re very happy about that. We really do make a difference in people’s lives. So many patients who I see out in the community after I’ve treated them over the years come up to me still and thank me, and tell me the wonderful compliments they’ve had on their smiles. And the biggest compliment to me, over the years, has been many of my patients that I saw early on, right out of school, are now grown up, and their kids need braces and they’re bringing them back to see me. So I find that very rewarding after practicing many years.
Meet Dr. Randy Schmidt, an Orthodontist Who Is a Hoosier Through & Through
Raised in Chesterton, Indiana, Dr. Randy Schmidt is firmly rooted in the heritage of Northwest Indiana.
Dr. Schmidt is a graduate of Chesterton High School. Inspired to become an orthodontist because of his own experience with braces, he completed his MSD and DDS from Indiana University, Indianapolis Medical/Dental Center along with his certificate of specialty in orthodontics in 1983. He ranked in the top of his class. Primarily through his efforts and his dedication to all his patients, Orthodontic Alliances established regional treatment centers for TMJ disorders, or TMD.
Dr. Schmidt is an avid reader with multiple interests, such as organic gardening, landscaping, building, skiing, sports, traveling, exercising and weightlifting, health, anti-aging, and longevity.
Dr. Schmidt resides in Valparaiso, where he has lived for over 50 years. He has a son, Evan, who is also an orthodontist at our practice, and a daughter, Jacqueline.