The Making Of North Star Implants & Periodontics with Dr. Paula Cohen Schlemmer
Dr. Paula Cohen, a periodontist opening North Star Implants and Periodontics just outside Dallas, joins Ashley to talk about the winding road from dental school to specialty practice, and the first steps of building her own office from scratch.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
From General Dentist to Periodontist
Paula's path through a general residency in San Antonio, several years of associate and corporate work during COVID, and the moment she realized specialty practice was the right fit. Why she believes doctors who practice first make stronger residents, and the mentor who first showed her what periodontics could look like.
A Research Win Worth Bragging About
Paula shares her Balint Orban Award-winning research on wound healing in older patients, using single cell RNA sequencing to understand why bone quality lags in patients over 65, and what that could eventually mean for patient care.
Finding the Right Space
Why acquisition and associate opportunities didn't line up with Paula's timeline once she moved back to Texas, and how a broker's demographic report led her to a space three minutes from her own house, with strong growth numbers and specialist-friendly neighbors already in place.
Working With a Broker
How Paula's broker was paid, what he caught in her lease and LOI before it reached her lawyer, and how he negotiated her tenant improvement allowance up and her rent down.
Naming North Star Implants and Periodontics
The story behind the name, a joke from her husband that stuck, and the surprise she found on Instagram after committing to it, another nearby startup with a nearly identical name.
Building for Growth From Day One
Why Paula built out seven operatories and plumbed for two full-time doctors and two hygienists from the start, even though she's opening solo, and her five-year goal to bring on an associate or partner.
Referral Marketing as a Specialist
Paula's approach to building relationships with 40-plus general dentist offices in her area, including office visits with local snacks, a referral folder outlining her communication process, and why she's prioritizing lunch and learns with her marketing budget.
Hiring and Opening Timeline
How Paula found her surgical assistant and patient care coordinator, her plan to stay flexible with scheduling in the early days, and her target opening date in early October.
Asking the Community
Paula's open questions for TMO listeners: how far in advance to bring on staff before opening, and reception chair recommendations that hold up to real patient traffic.
Where to Find Paula @thecraftydentist
North Star Implants and Periodontics @northstarperio and www.northstarperio.com
Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds
Thank You to Our Partners
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