Dentist, Simpson Dental Associates
by Kensie Westerfield
As this year’s youngest new Young Gun, Dr. Christen Simpson has been able to see many of her dreams accomplished. At just 28 years of age, Simpson is proud of the choice she made to become a dentist. “I always thought I would do something in the medical field because helping people has always been my goal. I come from a long history of dentists. Dentistry is truly a great profession as it combines my desire to help people achieve a high level of health with my artistic ability to change people’s lives. Smiles matter and I love making beautiful smiles.”
Simpson comes from a long line of dental professionals and feels that carrying on this tradition is one of her greatest accomplishments, along with graduating from dental school and being hooded by her grandfather, Dr. Robert R. Simpson, and her father, Dr. Mark W. Simpson. “It was the first time at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry that three generations of dentists in the same family participated in the hooding ceremony. I was proud and I know my father and grandfather were proud as well.”
Aside from creating beautiful smiles, Simpson has also always had a passion for gymnastics and credits it for helping to shape her into the person she is today. “It is hard to choose only one mentor because my parents are, of course, but the person that taught me a lot early in life is Billy Bob Taylor, my gymnastics coach at Maverick Gymnastics Club. I spent 14 years training with Billy Bob. He taught me so much not only about how to be a good athlete but also how to be successful in life. He taught me about good sportsmanship, to get up when you fall and try it again, time management, how to win and lose graciously and to work hard. These are all qualities that helped me become a good gymnast and a good dentist.”
Gymnastics helped another one of Simpson’s dreams come true and also opened the door to compete in the sport she loved at a new level. “In the 1996 summer Olympics, the United States Women’s Gymnastics team won the gold. After their victory the group of seven athletes, The Magnificent Seven, toured cities across the country. They made a stop in Charleston. I was a sophomore in high school and was chosen to perform with The Magnificent Seven at the Civic Center. I was working on a release skill called a Yeager, and I hit it that night in spite of the spotlights blinding me. My mom was sitting behind WVU head gymnastics coach Linda Burdette and her team, who just happened to be there to watch the performance. After my performance, they said, ‘Wow, who is that?’ My mom spoke up and said, ‘That’s my daughter.’ Coach Burdette and the girls said, ‘We need her on our team.’ The rest is history. In October of 1997 I signed a contract to compete for the WVU gymnastics team.”
It is her love of the sport and how it has helped shape her life that led Simpson to select her two NCAA national championship rings as her favorite thing. “I earned two NCAA national championship rings during my freshman and sophomore years at WVU. The WVU gymnastics team has competed in three national championships, two of which I competed. Gymnastics is a big part of what made me who I am today and the experience of being on a college team that is nationally ranked is unforgettable, not only for the personal experience but also because of the team work that it takes to get there.”
Simpson also enjoys her work with the American Cancer Society, Charleston Area Alliance’s Generation Charleston, Community Movers and Junior League and serves on the board of the American Heart Association.
