How I Found My Way: My Journey from Sweden to the USA

By Dr. Jessica Lederhausen

From Sweden to the U.S.: A New Chapter Begins

Twenty-six years ago, I packed up my life in Sweden and moved to the United States with my husband and our four children—all under the age of ten. It was a whirlwind of change, but also an incredible opportunity. My husband had received a job offer in the U.S., and we saw it as a chance to embrace something new as a family.

This transition gave me the gift of perspective—a rare chance to pause and reflect on where I was and where I wanted to go.

At the time, I was deeply engaged in research at the Karolinska Institute, where I earned my dental degree. My work focused on mobile dental care, and my thesis explored barriers to health, a topic I still find fascinating. But moving to a new country, raising four young kids, and navigating an unfamiliar system meant I had to pivot.

So, I did what felt right—I enrolled in an MPH program at UIC in Chicago. It was my first step in integrating my background in oral health with a broader public health perspective. At the same time, I had to give my family the space to settle in and find their own way.

Learning to Adapt: Building Resilience Abroad

The kids adjusted quickly, as children often do. Within months, they were thriving—making friends, gaining independence, and embracing their new home. In many ways, being immigrants gave them an extra layer of resilience. They had to figure things out without a roadmap, and I’m grateful for that “side effect.” It taught them how to navigate life with confidence.

For me, the adaptation was less about language and more about identity. I had to rebuild a sense of belonging without the familiar support systems of extended family, culture, and routines. That challenge pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect and helped shape the person I am today.

My husband also found his footing, and together, we stayed committed to our values—putting family first, making decisions as a team, and always looking at what worked best for all of us.

Now, time has flown by. My children are grown, building their own careers, and raising their own families. And I have the incredible privilege of being a grandmother—a role I cherish beyond words.

Finding My Voice: From Dentistry to Public Health

My journey in the U.S. didn’t follow a straight line—and looking back, I’m glad it didn’t.

While completing my MPH at UIC, I explored ways to integrate oral health and mobile care into public health initiatives. This led me to meaningful projects, including work with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) mobile units, which had just launched when I arrived in Chicago.

An Unexpected Turn: Entrepreneurship and New Lessons

Then, life took an unexpected turn—I became a small business owner. Together with my business partner, Åsa Andén, we launched Stockholm Objects in Hinsdale, IL—a retail store with both an online and wholesale presence.

Running a business was a masterclass in culture. I learned about buying, selling, marketing, and hiring—all while connecting with incredible people and immersing myself in a new way of life.

But after eight years, I felt the pull back toward health and wellness. It was time for another reinvention—a return to where I started.

Returning to My Roots: Health, Wellness, and Purpose

The first step was becoming a certified life coach. Around the same time, we moved into the city and entered the empty-nest phase of life.

My coaching focused on my favorite health pillars—eating, sleeping, moving, and love (later expanded to include breathing)—for overall well-being. This passion led me to an exciting new project: founding TEDxChicago, where I curated speakers, led a team of volunteers, and worked closely with a partner to bring inspiring voices to audiences both in-person and online.

A Lightbulb Moment: Discovering the Microbiome Connection

During this time, I stumbled upon research on the gut microbiome—and it was a lightbulb moment! The connection between the gut and oral microbiome was undeniable, and I knew I had found my next purpose.

I began integrating my dental background with coaching, helping people build sustainable habits around breathing, sleep, eating, and movement—all of which directly impact oral health. Suddenly, everything clicked. These weren’t just separate wellness concepts; they were interconnected pillars that shape our microbiome, health, and longevity.

The more I learned, the more I realized how little this knowledge was being shared with the public—especially through the lens of oral health. That’s when the idea for my book was born: to share what I had learned and offer a clear, empowering path for others to follow.

Reinventing Myself, Layer by Layer

People often ask me: How did you have the confidence to keep reinventing yourself?

The truth is, it wasn’t always easy. But along the way, I met people who inspired me to trust my journey. One defining moment came at a TED conference years ago, where I met professionals who had started in one career and ended up somewhere completely different—the same feeling I had when I went to my first DeW Life Retreat last year.

They didn’t abandon their past—they built upon it. That deeply resonated with me.

I’ve come to see the different roles and chapters in my life not as things I’ve left behind, but as parts of a growing “and.” Each one adds to who I am today.

I also learned to see change not as leaving something behind, but as moving toward something new.

Even when I doubted myself, I reminded myself:

• I had done hard things before

• I was always learning and growing

• I could shape my own path

Living My Mission: Sharing the Lagom Method and ORAL

Today, I feel more aligned than ever in my work—teaching people how their daily habits around breathing, sleeping, eating, and moving support not only oral health but overall well-being.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to communities, libraries, conferences, and health professionals—sharing the science, stories, and small shifts that can make a big difference.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Reinvention isn’t about starting over. It’s about building on everything you’ve done before—layer by layer, experience by experience, until it all makes sense.

That’s exactly what I’m doing.

About Dr. Jessica Lederhausen

Dr. Jessica Lederhausen is a dentist, public health advocate, entrepreneur, mother, grandmother, and author dedicated to bridging the connection between oral and overall health.

She trained at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, earned an MPH in Epidemiology from UIC, and is a certified Life Coach and Tiny Habits Coach.

As the author of ORAL: The Swedish Secret to Full Body Health Starting in Your Mouth, Jessica explores how small daily habits—eating, breathing, sleeping, and moving—can support both oral and systemic health. She also developed The Lagom Method, a practical approach that empowers individuals with sustainable strategies for lifelong well-being.

Jessica has always been an entrepreneur—she is the founder of TEDxChicago and Stockholm Objects, as well as a former golf professional. Her experiences in business and sports shaped her philosophy on habit-building and personal development.

In her free time, she enjoys staying active through golf, running, and walking, as well as reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband, grown children, and grandchildren.