Dr. Burkhart was born and raised in Roseburg, Oregon. After high school, he spent 4 years in the Marine Corps and then attended Southern Oregon University, obtaining a bachelor's degree before enrolling in dental school at Oregon Health and Sciences University. His D.M.D. degree was with Honors. He practiced general dentistry in the Eugene area for 14 years before returning to school at the University of Washington. He completed a 2 year hospital-based residency at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle and received his certificate in the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry in 1986. Dr. Burkhart spent 20 years with Kaiser Permanente in Vancouver before retiring in 2007.

Dr. Burkhart is a member of the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Clark County Dental Society and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He has clinical privileges at St. John Medical Center, Lower Columbia Head and Neck Surgical Center, Southwest Washington Medical Center, Legacy Hospital Portland and Kaiser Surgery Center.

Dr. Burkhart lives on a small farm with his wife Lucia. He has 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren. He enjoys gardening, woodworking, photography and traveling to new places.