Advertisement

Kramer purchases dentistry office

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Dr. Maggie Kramer, a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Dentistry, recently purchased the practice of Dr. Jim Osterhaus in Guttenberg. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

While walking on River Park Drive with Dr. Jim Osterhaus, Guttenberg dentist, Dr. Maggie Kramer was astonished by all the greetings, waves, and jokes shared between the dentist and his community. 

Osterhaus has practiced dentistry in Guttenberg for 32 years, and recently sold his office to Kramer. He’s not yet retiring and will work alongside Kramer for the foreseeable future. “Maggie is a caring and meticulous dentist. This is clear when you first meet her,” said Osterhaus. 

Kramer was born in Bettendorf and studied dentistry at the University of Iowa. She graduated from dental school in 2003 and now has 13 years of experience. “I really like math and science, and working with people,” Kramer told The Press. “My father was a physician so he was never home. Dentistry offers reasonable hours, and I wanted to have a family and a profession.”

She now has both. With her own practice in Guttenberg, the Dubuque resident enjoys peaceful morning drives and scenic views on her way to work. She and her husband have three children, twin six-year-olds and a daughter who’s almost two. Kramer’s husband is a police officer in Dubuque, and she appreciates having some mileage between his career and hers. 

Kramer began working part time with Dr. Osterhaus in August. She was also working part time in Dyersville with dentists who knew Osterhaus was very busy. “I had time, so I started helping out,” she said. Kramer ultimately decided to invest the future of her career in Guttenberg for several reasons. 

While dentists abound in Dubuque, Guttenberg offers a more personal experience for both doctor and patient. “The people here are very nice. They seem really excited and very welcoming,” she said. She enjoys working with the small team in her Guttenberg office: Dr. Osterhaus, Joan Bryant, Sherri Ertl and Amber Gansen. 

The people, she says, are the best part of her job. “Some people are terrified of going to the dentist,” she admitted. “I try to talk them through it. If they know what’s coming, people tend to relax a little bit better.”

Though she’s busy raising three young children and working full time, Kramer enjoys cooking and recently started running. “It’s slow. It’s more like jogging,” she laughs. She also practices hot yoga. “Yoga is neat because you can’t think about anything else for that hour,” she said.

She may not yet inspire the merriment Dr. Osterhaus does on a walk down the street, but Dr. Kramer is hopeful she may someday do so. “I’m starting to get to know people, and periodically I get a wave,” she said with a grin. 

“Maggie will fit in well in Guttenberg and the surrounding area,” said Osterhaus. “We are lucky to have her here.”

Rate this article: 
No votes yet