Dr. Fred Troxel was born in Allentown PA, to a Pennsylvanian Dutch sea captain and an army nurse from Memphis (they met during the invasion of N. Africa). He attributes much of his success to this blend of German technical excellence and perseverance with southern gentleness and hospitality.

Fortuitously, the family moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1959 and Fred was able to pursue his attraction to warm weather, barefeet and water activities year round.

Five years as a counselor and scientist at Seacamp brought him to Big Pine Key during high school and college in the late 60's. After finishing at FSU, he moved on to the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, graduating in 1973. Continued visits to the Keys during the next few years, as he furthered his dental education, led him to believe the Keys were where he wanted to be long term. Thirty years later, he believes it to be one of the best choices he ever made, right up there with choosing dentistry as a profession.

Fred has two children, Wilson and Corbin, born one year apart to the day in 1994 and 1995. Apart from dentistry and his family, Fred has a passion for fishing and snorkeling. He is the three time Bonefishing World Champion. Don't ask him about it if you are in a hurry.

Dr. Mike Scherer was born in Fort Lauderdale, FL to a physician and an attorney specializing in adoption. Mike grew up in the quiet old suburbs of old Fort Lauderdale and attended Pine Crest School. He stayed in South Florida and graduated with honors from University of Miami with a degree in Biology.

Mike's parents originally came to the keys as visitors in the early 1970s and fell in love with the island of Duck Key. The island of Duck Key was but a tiny community when his parents arrived; so much that the house they bought was one of the first five on the island! Mike has been coming to the keys for his entire life, finding a love of fishing, scuba diving, and water-skiing while he was young. Continued weekend visits through his childhood rooted his love for the keys so much that he sought a way to stay permanently.

After finishing at Miami, he went to Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine where academically he became a stand-out. Mike graduated with highest honors, served as student body president, and received multiple awards including: Dental Student of the Year, OKU Honor Society, the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, American Equilibration Society Achievement Award, and the college's highest award, the Chancellor's Award. Science and the pursuit of knowledge, however, was his passion. Mike participated in research at the National Institutes of Health and has published in scientific journals. Mike enjoys the scientific challenge of dentistry and strives to incorporate it into his clinical philosophy.

While dentistry is his professional passion, Mike's personal passion is his love for the ocean & costal ecological communities. An avid scuba diver and fisherman, he is intrigued by the splendor of nature. Next time you're in the office ask him about his favorite part of the keys, the mangroves.