Dr. Benjamin Duval answers questions about the process he followed starting as an associate in a periodontal practice...

Bridging the Way: 2003 Student Event
STARTING AS AN ASSOCIATE

Below is an interview with Dr. Benjamin Duval.

Benjamin Duval, D.D.S., is a private practitioner in Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from dental school at SUNY-Buffalo in 1996 and completed his periodontal residency at Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia in 1999. He is a member of the Committee on the New Practitioner.  

What was your ideal plan after graduation?

My ideal plan was to find an associateship position in the Southeast.

What appealed to you about starting as an associate?

I had zero experience at owning or running a business. I also had a significant amount of debt, and didn't want to add more to start my own practice.

How did you go about searching for an associate position?

I really got lucky because my partner (Jim Holland, D.M.D.) and the chairman of the perio department where I did my residency (John Burmeister, D.D.S.) were classmates and remain friends. Dr. Burmeister knew I was interested in a practice in the Southeast and got me together with Dr. Jim Holland. Therefore, I really didn't have to do much searching.

Was location an issue for you?

Yes. All my family is in Florida, so after finishing my residency at MCV I wanted to stay in the Southeast.

Did you have a niche to assist in marketing yourself (i.e., cosmetic surgery, dental implants, etc.)?

Not really a niche procedure; however, what helped me was that I was 20 years younger than any other periodontist in Savannah. This helped me connect with some of the younger general dentists and bring them in as referrals.

What were you looking for in a practice?

I was looking for a practice that was busy enough to really need a 2nd doctor. I knew I would have to build my own practice within a practice; however, I wanted a practice that would give me a head start and increase my chances for success.

What realities did you encounter?

My situation has been what I expected. I have been in practice for 4 years now, and we continue to grow. I can't think of any real surprises I have encountered.

How did you obtain new patients?

I introduced myself to every dentist in town. Most dentists didn't mind if a new patient saw Jim or me. I also cultivated some of the younger dentists, and they generally refer mostly to me.

What is your situation now?

As stated earlier, I have been in practice now for four years. I am now in the process of buying into the practice, which will eventually be a 50:50 partnership.

What factors affected your plan and decisions about your career and future?

I just wanted a situation where I could be relatively close to my family, be in a nice town, and make a good living.

What risks were involved?

Certainly there is always the risk that it will not work out with the other doctor. Also, there may not be enough patients in the area or practice to support another periodontist.

How did you assess and manage those risks?

I feel that communication is the most important part of becoming an associate. Make sure you discuss every part of the associateship with the partner dentist. Some things are difficult to discuss, especially money, but make sure you know as much as possible about the situation before you decide to do it.

What resources (i.e., people, publications, groups) did you find the most helpful?

I was lucky to have Chris Richardson, D.M.D. in the area when I was finishing up my program. He had just started as an associate and I asked him about a million questions. So my advice would be talk to someone who recently went through the situation.

Given what you know now, what might you do differently?

I honestly can't say I would do anything differently. I guess that's pretty good.

What suggestions do you have for individuals transitioning as an associate into practice?

Learn as much as you can and talk to someone who's been through it.

Did you and your partner work with an attorney to develop a solid employment contract?

Yes.

What did you learn from this process?

Attorneys charge outrageous fees. Seriously, it is important to learn all the legal aspects of any contract that you will sign with such an impact on your future.

Please explain your financial compensation arrangement, using real or fictitious figures.

I feel this will vary from location to location throughout the country. I don't think the financial compensation would be equal in Savannah, GA to New York or Los Angeles. However, I would say that 40% of collections is a common level of compensation for an associate. How compensation is structured during a buy-in will vary greatly. I would make sure you understand the contract, and talk to someone who has already been there.

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