Dr. Craig Peterson
Dr. Craig Peterson grew up in Milan, IL just outside of the Quad Cities. Beginning in high school, he excelled in science and went on to major in Biology at Augustana College. Craig graduated Salutatorian from Rockridge High School in 2005 and Summa Cum Laude from Augustana College in 2009. He then attended Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. It was during this time that he met his wife, Lauren. They were married in July of 2011.
After graduating dental school in 2012, the Petersons moved to Racine, WI where Craig worked as a dentist at a community health center. There he had an incredible opportunity to serve patients from all walks of life and provide a wide variety of dental procedures. Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Social Work, and is a licensed therapist in the state of Illinois. She enjoys country living, travel hacking, and serving in the children’s ministry.
In October of 2014, Craig and Lauren welcomed their first child, Eliana Rae Peterson. The following year, they moved back to the Quad Cities to partner with his sister, Dr. Mindy, and planted roots in the QC community. In 2019, the Petersons were blessed with adopting their son, Cael Adam Matthew Peterson. Again, the very next year, in 2020, they had the surprise blessing of adopting their youngest daughter, Virginia Irene Rose Peterson.
Alongside quality time with family, Craig enjoys running, hunting, and traveling with his family. Craig and Lauren are active in their church community and passionate about working with underserved populations, including many medical mission trips.
Dr. Peterson is proficient in and enjoys all aspects of dentistry. He excels in the placement of dental implants, dentures, and extractions. Dr. Peterson has loved owning Crossroads Dental Group. He has some simple but deep core values that have come to define Crossroads Dental Group. Of these, Dr. Peterson’s favorite core value is the Golden Rule, which is to treat others the way you would want to be treated because it can completely shift how you interact with or treat patients and other co-workers.
Dr. Peterson looks forward to serving the community and meeting you!
Dr. Miranda Foster
Dr. Foster grew up just outside of Rochelle, Illinois, and graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 2006. Throughout high school she stayed active in cross country, track, choir, and vocal jazz, while also working part-time.
She continued her education at Northern Illinois University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees before completing her doctorate in 2017.
From a young age, she knew she wanted to become a dentist, even before she had ever met one. That early interest grew into a lifelong passion for helping others achieve healthy, confident smiles.
Outside of dentistry, she enjoys spending time with her son, Elijah, who was born in 2009.
Dr. John Naert
Dr. Naert grew up in East Moline, Illinois, but spent fourth through sixth grades living in Worms, Germany. He graduated from Alleman High School in Rock Island in 1979, then attended Augustana College before earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Naert first learned about Crossroads through his father-in-law, who heard from Dr. Peterson’s father that the practice was seeking a new dentist. He reached out to Dr. Peterson, and the rest is history.
He met his wife, Kim, during his senior year of high school. She is now a retired school nurse, and together they have five children and seven grandchildren.
Outside of dentistry, he enjoys spending time with his family, biking, hiking, and traveling. He also likes to play pickleball and spend time woodworking in his free time.
Dr. Teja Gummadi
Dr. Teja grew up in Austin, Texas, where he attended high school and developed early interests in both programming and dentistry. He graduated in 2017 and went on to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020, followed by a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 2024. He then completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the University of Oklahoma in 2025.
Dr. Teja has always been drawn to healthcare. Dentistry stood out to him because it builds lasting relationships with patients and colleagues while working hands-on to improve oral health.
During residency, Dr. Teja came across a recruiting post for Crossroads and decided to reach out. After visiting the offices and meeting the team, he was immediately impressed by the culture, kindness, and support within the practice. It’s been an incredible place for him to continue learning, refine his skills, and make a positive impact in the community.
Dr. Teja comes from a close-knit family that includes his parents, who still live in Austin, and an older brother, who lives in Philadelphia and also works in healthcare. Nine years his senior, his brother has always been a great mentor and role model.
