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February 2, 2009 (as updated September, 2009)
An Open Letter to Patients, Parents, Friends, Colleagues
I am pleased to announce two practicing
orthodontists in Huntsville will be merging their practices to form
one, “Producing Smiles! Orthodontics” effective April 1st,
2009.
Dr. Murray Dickson is a fellow orthodontist in
Huntsville, has been in practice over four years here,
and will be joining me in my current location. He is bringing
his staff and patients with him. I have known Dr. Dickson
since he arrived in Huntsville. We have had occasion to interact
multiple times over those years since we have swapped ‘call’ when
the other of us was out of town.
I have great respect for Dr. Dickson, and look
forward to us working together. Not very often is one so fortunate
in finding two orthodontists with values as similar as ours in the
same city. We believe this merger to be mutually beneficial.
We ask that you be patient with us and our respective staffs in the
early months of our learning to work together.
For the first time for either of us, we are
able to meet new patients in the after-school hours. It is our goal
for BOTH doctors to view the diagnostic images prior to each new
patient examination. That way, you are getting the input from 2
different orthodontists without having scheduled a second opinion.
During your exam, there are fewer interruptions when the examining
orthodontist is called away...you have our undivided attention.
Dr. Dickson brings knowledge and experience needed for mini-screw
placement providing added anchorage in treatment scenarios, based
on his university training (something Dr Jones lacks).
Perhaps you will find our merger beneficial for folks you know!
Why Merge Practices? Is Dr Jones Retiring?
While most of us want to retire one day, I am
not in a position to do that. What’s more, I enjoy my work, and
would hope to have many years remaining in practice. That brings
me to a true story…
The story begins with Paula Warren, a friend
of ours in Opp, Alabama, whose dentist-husband died suddenly July
2008. John’s death stunned all his friends, and happened at the
exact worse time in the cycle of professionals leaving dental
school and going into professional practice. For months on end, no
dentists were available to purchase John's practice, so John’s
dentist friends cared for John's patients and helped Paula out
until the practice
could be sold.
That double tragedy (John’s passing, unable to
quickly dispose of the practice) caused Pam and me to think long and hard about
my practice future. We began praying then about what options I
should consider.
Along the way, a surprising thing happened.
The tragedy I mentioned that started me toward thinking about
retirement more than ever ended with me looking forward to a
partnership that will allow me more free time and enjoyment as I
remain in practice in the coming years. I consider myself most fortunate.
I hope you sense my pleasure with how God has
brought these two practices together. |
