Dr. Kenneth J. Versman, DDS, answers questions about the process he followed to hire an associate for his periodontal practice...

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HIRING AN ASSOCIATE

Below is an interview with Dr. Kenneth J. Versman.
Kenneth J. Versman, D.D.S., is a private practitioner in Aurora, CO, and has been a member of the AAP for 28 years. He's currently a member of the Clinical Practice Committee and is the Vice-President of the Colorado Dental Association. He received his certificate and masters degree in periodontics from the University of Iowa.

What made you decide to seek an associate?

I was not looking for an associate.  Dr. Heller was graduating from his postdoctorate program and was returning to Denver where he was born and raised and I offered him a 50-50 partnership.  (In a sense he had a lifetime associateship as he is my nephew.)

Did you meet with a consultant, lawyer or accountant to determine the feasibility before you began the process?

Since I knew most of the consultants in our area I felt it was important for Dr. Heller to choose a consultant to help us.  I wanted him to feel comfortable that whoever we hired did not have any favoritism to me.

How did skill and personality play into your decision-making process?

Very important.  I knew he was well trained clinically and that he was eager to continue to learn and had an inner drive to be successful.

What type of bonus package were you willing to offer in terms of patients, production, and overhead to take the financial pressure off of the associate?

I took almost all the pressure off of the new periodontist.

Were you willing to have the associate take over a specific area of your practice that might not have been your focus (i.e., cosmetic surgery dental implants)?

We both do it all.

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