Member Spotlight
A Conversation with Drs. Ryan Koch and Kennedy Seefeldt
Written by Becky Herman, Executive Director
Becky: When did you know you wanted to be a dentist?
Ryan: My father is an orthodontist, and I spent a lot of time in his office growing up. Twice a week, I’d get dropped off and spend hours just hanging out, watching him work. Seeing how much he loved being a dentist—and how meaningful it was to him—made it easy for me to be drawn to the field.
Kennedy: I knew I wanted to be a dentist as early as middle school. I had braces at the time and thought dentistry was cool. My mom found a combined program through the University at Buffalo. I interviewed as a senior in high school and was accepted into dental school, provided I maintained a certain GPA during my three undergraduate years. I’ve also come to appreciate that dentistry offers a great work-life balance, especially for women.
Becky: When did the two of you meet?
Kennedy: It was my first week of dental school. Ryan was hosting a party for the first-year students. I think he asked me out, but I was focused on adjusting to school at the time. Our first official date ended up being a Buffalo Bills game about a month later. That year, our lab stations were close together, and Ryan helped me out more times than I can count. We’ve been together almost nine years now—we’ll celebrate our second wedding anniversary in May, and we’re expecting our first child at the end of this month.
Becky: Do you like being married to another dentist? Do you come home and talk shop?
Kennedy: Oh, absolutely—I probably enjoy talking about work more than Ryan does! It’s really nice to be able to share stories or discuss cases with someone who truly understands what you’re talking about.
Becky: I know you’ve supported some organizations in your community. Can you tell us about your volunteer efforts?
Kennedy: Since last summer, I’ve been volunteering at Theresa House, a hospice home in Geneseo. I feel like it was meant to be—the volunteer coordinator and I connected after meeting at the Avon Corn festival.
Together, Ryan and I have also participated in a few Remote Area Medical (RAM) mission trips, and we hope to volunteer at the RAM Clinic in Mt. Morris this October.
Ryan: My dad, Dr. Keith Koch, and I also support a wide range of local initiatives through our practice. We sponsor youth sports teams, drama clubs, and senior events, as well as contribute holiday donations and volunteer with organizations like the Salvation Army, 4-H Clubs, and the Wyoming County Fair. In the last year, we donated toothbrushes and toothpaste to troops overseas.
Ryan and Kennedy are also deeply aware of access-to-care challenges in rural communities like Livingston and Steuben counties. While general dentists are available, specialists can be scarce—often requiring patients to travel an hour or more for care. For some, that distance leads them to forgo treatment options altogether.
Becky: Why are you Seventh District members?
We really value the events and opportunities the organization provides. I’ve also used their legal services, which have been incredibly helpful.
Organized dentistry allows us to collaborate, discuss cases, and ultimately raise the standard of care in our communities. It’s also nice to personally know the dentists and specialists we refer patients to.
Having malpractice insurance and a trusted representative through Walsh Insurance has been helpful. Beyond that, the connections we’ve made—with banks, contractors, and financial planners—have helped us grow from a business perspective.
The Seventh District really helps bridge the gap in areas they simply don’t teach you in dental school.
Becky: Any advice you’d like to share with residents or new graduates?
Kennedy: Learn as much as you can during residency, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If you treat people like family and always try to do right by them, everything else will fall into place. And remember—you work to live, not live to work. Dentistry can give you that balance.
Ryan: Focus on building genuine relationships with your patients and make sure each patient feels valued and important when they walk into your office. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and critically appraise your work; your growth now will come from reflection as much as experience. Stay humble, keep learning, and remember that great orthodontists are defined by both their outcomes and their patient experience.