Orthotown April 2024 - 44

OFFICE VISIT
However, the aspect I'm most
Get more startup tips
from this Townie!
In the June 2023 issue of Orthotown,
Dr. Christos Papadopoulos shared six
key pieces of advice he learned from
his practice journey, including in-depth
takes on hiring, brand-building and
Day One musts. Find a link to that article
in the digital version of this feature at
orthotown.com/magazine.
efficiency, develop and refine my
orthodontic protocols and armamentarium,
and continuously evaluate my
clinical skills and treatment planning.
Reflecting, I can't pinpoint one
" most valuable " trick, tip or tool.
Rather, it was the culmination of
many aspects that helped me become
the orthodontist I strived to be.
Learning how I wanted to practice
and not necessarily what I wanted to
practice with was the critical aspect
of my associateship and development.
It allowed me to steer my startup in
the right direction from the outset.
Give us a snapshot of your practice.
The practice was designed and built
with the idea it would be an inviting,
relaxing and welcoming clinic
for all ages. I want patients to feel at
home the moment they step foot in
our clinic.
We have a lot of natural light; a long
stretch of tall windows runs across
the front and side of the clinic, making
it feel more spacious. I also knew I
wanted to have a family-based orthodontic
practice where people of all
ages would feel comfortable, so there
are many design elements integrated
into the practice that lend themselves
to a simplistic, clean look. Lots of
wood, white and blue.
proud of is that we've developed a
clinic that's built on a foundation of
positive office culture, exceptional
patient service, orthodontic excellence
and involvement in our community.
Having the opportunity to return
to my hometown and relate to our
patients with firsthand experience has
made my startup journey immensely
rewarding. I used to play in the same
gyms, act on the same stages and, at
times, had the same teachers as some
of my current patients.
You believe the biggest challenge
often comes down to time. How do
you manage yours?
Starting a practice is the biggest marathon
of your life, but it will feel like a
never-ending sprint, especially if you
don't have good time management.
In high school, I heard the quote
" Failing to plan is planning to fail, " and
it has stuck with me all these years.
Organization, planning and time management
are critical for many aspects
of our lives, and this is no exception
when it comes to starting a practice.
Think back to when you wanted to be
an orthodontist: It required numerous
small steps of success, but before you
knew it, you were accepted into your
orthodontic residency.
It is common to feel overwhelmed
when one considers all of the decisions
and actionable steps required
for a startup to succeed. However,
it's imperative that when you decide
to move forward, you do it one small
step at a time. With a startup, each
decision, big or small, will require your
attention, deliberation and decisiveness.
This takes energy and can be
daunting at times.
APRIL 2024 | 44 | ORTHOTOWN.COM
You must be prepared to keep the big
picture in mind while concentrating on
the smaller tasks at hand. Be efficient
with your time solving those tasks.
Once one task is done, it's on to the
next. Keep moving forward with your
foot on the gas, and be keenly aware of
the approaching decisions ahead.
What are the most important first
steps for doctors embarking on
their startup journeys?
Crafting a vision for the orthodontic
practice you desire is the singular
most critically important first step.
Once you ground yourself in your
vision, many of the decisions you need
to make will be much easier.
For example, if you know you want
to have a family-based orthodontic
practice that will provide services to
many children and teenagers, it will
be very easy to determine the kind
of location you should look for when
setting up your practice-rural and
near many schools.
Think of your orthodontic vision as
a guiding light. Take your time developing
this proverbial light through
introspection and being honest with
yourself. Without doing this, you'll feel
lost in the dark.
Once you've developed the concept
of your ideal orthodontic practice, you
need to make a list of all of the things
you'll need to address. Start with general
and overarching categories first
and then develop those.
For me, any aspect of consideration
for a startup can be allocated into one
of five areas: organizational structure,
physical aspects of the clinic, clinical
and practice requirements, administration
and human resources, and
branding and office culture.
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Orthotown April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown April 2024
