Michael C. (Mike) Meru, DDS, MS, was born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, and completed both his dental and orthodontic training at the University of Southern California. He has a master's degree in craniofacial biology and is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He currently practices in Salt Lake City, Utah, serves on the board of the American College of Dentists, is a contributing editor to the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, and is the executive director of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association (SPEA). Dr. Meru is a also recognizable face outside of dentistry as a sponsored big mountain snowboarder (splitboarder) who travels the world climbing mountains while documenting his travels. During the past two seasons, he pioneered and summited multiple first descents in remote ranges in the US. When he’s not serving the SPEA, practicing orthodontics, or splitboarding, he is spending time with his wife, Melissa, and two daughters, Elle and Emme.