Dr. Edmund A. Cassella answers questions about his experiences...

2006 Student Event: Ride the Wave to Success
Military Transition

Dr. Edmund A. Cassella answers questions about his experiences.
Photo Dr. Cassella is in practice in Honolulu, Hawaii. He completed his periodontal residency in the U.S. Army at Ft. Gordon in Georgia in 1985.

What was your ideal plan after graduation?

After graduation I knew I would spend 4 years in the Army as payback for the scholarship I received while attending dental school.

How long did you practice in the military before making a transition?

I ended up staying in the service for 16 years due to additional payback for my residency in periodontics.

What was the appeal of practice outside the military?

I wanted to have my own private practice and raise my children in Hawaii and not have to relocate every 3 to 4 years. Also, I wanted the freedom and independence of my own practice.

How did you transition into private practice (e.g. started/bought a practice, independent contractor)?

I started my own practice from the ground up.

What expectations did you have?

I had expectations that I could be as busy as I wanted to be and pay off my loans by working harder and longer.

What obstacles did you encounter and how did you overcome them to be successful in your transition?

The reality was that getting referrals was a slow process in a competitive environment so my income was less than expected for the first 5 years.

When making the transition, what resources were most helpful to you?

The AAP was a good resource. I attended a course they provided for new periodontists to transition into private practice. I was also helped by an orthodontist who was receptive to my need for advice in establishing myself in a community that was new and unfamiliar.

Before making your transition was there any additional training required?

I needed practice management help, which I received from the AAP New Practitioner Course and some private practice management courses.

Was location an issue for you?

Location was a major issue. My wife and I wanted to live in Hawaii and have our children attend a specific private school.

Did you have any reservations about practicing after a career in the military?

I had no reservations about private practice after the military career in spite of my age, 46, at the time of my transition.

Looking back on the choices you made, is there anything you would definitely do differently?

I have no regrets and would not change anything; however, I would only cautiously recommend starting a new practice from the ground up. Buying an already existing practice would be easier, but that comes with a whole set of other issues.

What is the best advice you can give to someone considering a transition from military practice to private practice?

I would recommend joining an already existing practice and where you can eventually buy in as a partner or buy out the owner. I would not select an area that was too saturated with periodontists unless you are well known in that community.

What is your current situation?

I plan to practice approximately 8 more years full time, then cut back to a part-time practice as long as I am healthy and have good skills .

What do you like most about being a periodontist?

I love treating the disease and interacting with patients while helping them maintain their dentition. I absolutely love going to work in the mornings. My practice is more like a hobby than a job .

Is there anything else about your transition from military to private practice that you would like to share that has not been asked?

Although I enjoyed my military career and military practice, private practice has given me the opportunity to be more involved with my chosen community and give back to it through our local and state dental associations and through service organizations such as Rotary.

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