Orthotown July/August 2021 - 36

Office Visit
What inspired you to become
an orthodontist? How long
have you been practicing?
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thinks he was just doing what he was supposed
to do, but the love he had for small
business and ownership never left me. So
when the opportunity to do a startup presented
itself, I hopped on it.
The location is two hours away from
home, but it was the right opportunity at
the right time. I'd leave work at Spillane &
Reynolds on Thursday, drive the two hours
to my practice, spend the night on a cot
in the break room, then work all day Friday
before driving home that night. I was
essentially working seven days a week between
the two practices (admin duties on
the weekends).
As my private practice added days to
Fridays per month, my days off from Spillane
& Reynolds, while continuing to practice
full time as an associate. I didn't know
how long it would take for me to be needed
more at the startup, so the flexibility I
had by juggling both was great (but tiring).
Over the past six months, we've moved
from three days per month to six days per
month, and I plan to be full time at the
new office by Aug. 1 thanks to a second
location we're bringing on in August.
As I transition into my own practice
full time, I feel sad to leave behind a legendary
team and some incredible friends,
but I'm also grateful to have created the
relationships, skills and memories I have.
Now that I have my own practice, it's all
on my shoulders to create something incredible.
I'm up for the challenge and feel
fortunate to have learned from one of the
best in the business in the process.
You opened a startup practice
in the middle of a pandemic?!
Sometimes I still can't believe I pulled
the trigger on this deal! It was-and continues
to be-a crazy time in my life. I
had been working at one of the greatest
orthodontic practices and never imagined
myself leaving, but when they decided to
create a corporate model (albeit different
36 JULY/AUGUST 2021 // orthotown.com
and better than others), it never jibed with
my long-term goals.
My grandfather was a business owner:
He started out sweeping the floors at
a kitchen and bath shop and eventually
worked his way up to becoming a partner
in the business. He probably doesn't understand
his influence on me, because he
the schedule, I was also spending more
nights there, so I graduated to a twin bed
inside one of our private treatment rooms.
It's been a lot, but being able to simultaneously
keep a steady job and juggle the startup
took most of the financial worries out
of the equation. The extra work involved
was worth it for my peace of mind.
The distance from home and family
has been rough, but with an incredible
support system and my wife by my
side, I feel invincible. I've never felt as
happy at " work " as I do when I'm in my shop.
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Orthotown July/August 2021

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