NJDA MEMBER TIME CAPSULE: NEW DENTIST

An interview with Dr. Matthew Mansey

Now in his 10th year out of dental school – and final year being considered a ‘New Dentist’ - Dr. Matthew Mansey recently opened his own practice in Washington, NJ. NJDA Membership Outreach Manager, Bill Cook, recently sat down with Dr. Mansey over Zoom. Here is their conversation.

Cook: You recently opened your own practice. In a pandemic. Let’s start there. What was that process like?

Mansey: Well, let’s just say opening during a pandemic wasn’t part of the original plan, but actually there is a silver lining in a way.

For starters, I have to be truly thankful to the seller, Dr. Drew Griffith. His family has been providing dental care in Washington, NJ for over 60 years. He kept saying he was waiting for the right person to take over his practice and he felt I would be the perfect fit. The closing was delayed quite a few times – first in November, then Christmas, then March... and there’s a pandemic! Had he not been so patient and trusting the sale may have fallen through. If the closing hadn’t been delayed I would have been a new business owner with a big loan with closed doors. I don’t know if I would have survived the shutdown financially. I wouldn’t have been able to apply for any PPP loans with minimal employment and payroll history. So after dental offices were advised to reopen, we planned the closing, on June 22 nd . We’ve been taking it day by day but it’s actually been busy ever since.

Cook: Well, I guess it all worked out.

Mansey: Yes, and during the whole process NJDA was there. Whenever I called the office, I got guidance and that gave me confidence. Art (Meisel, Executive Director and General Counsel), is a great resource, I definitely bounced questions off of him. The legal steps of the practice transition can be intimidating. I must also acknowledge (former Director of Dental Benefits) Joan Monaco, who gave me her thoughts when I first started looking at the practice. She gave me a lot of confidence and help with ideas on how to grow the practice.

Cook: So, back to Covid-19. You were dealing with all the new reopening guidelines as you opened up for the first time. What role did organized dentistry play in how you approached Covid-19?

Mansey: It was super critical. Had I not been an NJDA or ADA member, I would have been scrambling to find information I could trust. The ADA and NJDA helped to interpret the CDC guidelines and made it clear how to follow new protocols, and how dental offices needed to abide. For me, it was a lot of peace of mind. I kept thinking, “alright, as long as we do this, we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and the public is going to see the practice as a safe establishment.” I also wanted to be very mindful of my staff who stayed with me for the transition. As their new employer, I wanted to ensure them that the practice would maintain a safe working environment, I am very grateful for their continued support.

Cook: This interview is about your career and organized dentistry. Let’s start at the beginning. Describe your first interactions with organized dentistry.

Mansey: When I finished my residency, I started working for a few offices. They weren’t really involved with organized dentistry but they did help me out with CE. In my third year out, I moved to a new office. I was kind of on my own with CE and I thought, “I am doing NJDA, maybe I’ll go to those meetings”.

Cook: And what was that like?

Mansey: My first component meeting was one with the NJDA officer visitation. I was welcomed by Maureen Barlow and Joan Monaco during the cocktail hour and we continued to have a very friendly conversation about my career and NJDA. I think, if I had done that early on, like I know some of the Rutgers students already do, it would have been way easier to find an associate position that would have led to a practice transition and/or ownership sooner. Going to component meetings, just meeting people, colleagues, has been helpful for me. It just helps you branch out and stay connected with your peers.

Cook: Any examples come to mind?

Mansey: Yes. When I finally decided I’d like to own my own practice I started to work with a dental broker and the practice that I eventually bought was one of their listings. But I immediately passed even though it wasn’t far from my house. But then a colleague and family friend I know from NJDA reached out to me saying, “I know you’re looking for a practice. I heard about this practice that’s for sale, and I think it would be a good fit for you.” He more or less put us together, and had he not had my best interest in mind I may still be looking for a practice.

Cook: Over the years you served as Membership Chair for your component. What inspired you to get involved?

Mansey: A lot of credit needs to go to Dr. Bissell (Thomas) for taking me under his wing and getting me involved. He was the membership chair with Tri-County and was promoted to President. He nominated me as the new membership chair and that position has just further helped me with networking and knowing who’s who, in addition to supporting the organization.

Cook: Do you participate in or follow the political and legislative side of organized dentistry?

Mansey: I don’t particularly follow our political agenda, I just know that the NJDA has my best interest in mind. So it’s worth supporting. It is worth every penny to support the ADA, NJDA and ADPAC, so that the profession can hold its own, now and for the future. That’s like a no brainer to me.

Cook: When was the last time you interacted with NJDA?

Mansey: Last time I interacted with NJDA was early in April... I was watching the webinars and then throughout the practice sale I talked to people on the NJDA staff. Prior to that, it was component meetings. And, last time I saw you was when I was down to NJDA (Headquarters) which looks very professional by the way (with the new remodel), for a wellness CE event.

Cook: Yeah, the yoga program was the week before the shutdown.

Mansey: As a practice owner, I’d like to provide my staff with the proper CPR and OSHA training. So utilizing the classes will be good there (at NJDA HQ). NJDA is able to provide affordable CE that we all need on topics that offer a variety of interests.

In closing, NJDA helps keep the positive moral we all need to succeed in our profession. As a new business owner, having a few good mentors is really critical. Creating a healthy work/life balance is very important (hard to do without some guidance). I’m proud of what I do and I would like to make sure others who follow in years to come have the same privilege to enjoy our profession.