Prologue
My Journey
CARMEN LEARY, DDS
I
decided I wanted to become a dentist my sophomore year at Riverside High School, in Durham, N.C., when I had to solicit ads for the yearbook. I decided to ask a local African American female dentist, who was the parent of a classmate. As I waited in her office and watched her as a businesswoman, clinician and a mother, I began to think of dentistry as a career. I had always loved going to my dentist, as our family dentist, Dr. Paula Coffey, was also female and I always wanted to enter the field of medicine. In my fledgling opinion, Carmen Leary, DDS women were just meant to be dentists, and I knew I must graduate high school with excellent grades attend an excellent undergraduate institution and enter a top dental program. I graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, with a BS in Biology Cum Laude in 2001, and then entered dental school at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I graduated in 2005 with my Doctor of Dental Surgery. I continued my advance training at the Veterans Hospital in Baltimore, Md., and completed a General Practice Residency. My first job as a dentist was in Greensboro, N.C., and later moved to another dental practice in Lexington, N.C. My husband accepted at position as a Finical Advisor in Charlotte, so we moved to the Queen City and I accepted a position in smaller corporate practice there. My first three job opportunities in dentistry had been with corporate companies, so I did not have a true understanding of a solo practice. However, I did know that corporate dentistry was not the place I
6 Spring 2014 Dental Entrepreneur
wanted to stay in dentistry. My decision to venture into a solo practice came after hearing a lecture by Dr. Charles Blair on dental transitions at the Hinman Dental Meeting addressing the pros and cons of purchasing an existing office versus a startup dental practice. It changed my view of my next career move and began the search for an existing practice with Joseph Jordan, esq. My experience with working with Joseph was wonderful. He found an existing practice in the community of Coulwood in the northwest area of Charlotte, near Mountain Island Lake. This office had had only one owner for 41 years at this time of purchase. It was the perfect start to my solo dental career! Two months after entering my new practice, I encountered two challenges. First, I discovered I was pregnant with my second child. Second, my office was too small to support of our patient volume and current and future growth. The practice and I were growing fast! At this time, I enlisted the service of Ken Heilger to aid me in finding larger space to expand my practice. Unfortunately, in the Coulwood/ Mountain Island Lake area, there were not a lot of commercial space options. So, Ken pitched the idea of land acquisition and erecting a new building. I was nervous at first, but in the summer of 2012, I purchased a 7500 sq. foot pad in the Calibridge Commons shopping area. This began my rode to real estate ownership. I got in touch with Rick Whitley from Colony Builders to handle my upfit, which was a great experience. This Spring, 2014, my new 4000 sq. foot, modern, high tech, yet warm and family-friendly practice will be open to serve the wonderful community of Coulwood/Mountain Island Lake, Mt. Holly and the surrounding areas of Mecklenburg and Gaston County.
This journey I’ve been on has not gone as planned. It actually went way better than planned. I credit my success to my external team of Tom Stowe, CPA, Straine Consultants, Merrillee Karanickolas and Kerry Straine, Henry Schein’s Jeff Rice and Jay Barringer, my wonderful husband and Financial Advisor Victor Holloway, and my very supportive parents and sister. When I think of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady – the list can go on – these athletes had amazing raw, natural talent. However, they relied on an amazing coach and mentor to direct and see the things you cannot see in yourself. They still do. Dentistry is no different. Solo practioners are not, by any means, solo. It is comprised of an excellent external team and wonderful internal team/staff that take ownership of your vision and embody your passion. The perfect internal team that has “bought into your dream” and has made a pledge to support and implement that dream on your behalf will drive you to success, patient growth and peace of mind. I happen to be a dentist that has both an external and internal support team that is the best, and thus will ensure much success for Leary Family Dentistry now and well into the future. ■ Dr. Carmen Leary has a private practice in Charlotte, NC. She attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Dentistry and graduated with her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2005. Dr. Leary completed a general practice residency at the Veterans’ Hospital in Baltimore, MD in 2006 where she focused on oral surgery and comprehensive treatment planning. Dr. Leary is married to her husband, Victor. Carmen and Victor have two daughters, Camille and Kyndall. On her off days, Dr. Leary enjoys traveling and making memories with her family.
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