A Small Practice with a Big Heart
Tony Nizich, DDS, may have the smallest dental practice in Juneau, Alaska, but it’s just the right size for his clientele, who demand preventive dentistry and high-quality work from this new dentist.
Located in an office park just a stone’s throw from three other dental practices, Nizich Family Dental is thriving in its second year of business. Built on a shoestring budget, using the building’s existing floor plan, Patterson Office Designer Bob Pattillo says, “This practice proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a buildout to make a successful practice.”
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There’s No Place Like Home
Dr. Nizich and his wife, Ginger, both grew up in Juneau. The couple started dating when he was a sophomore and she a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School. Dr. Nizich had always been interested in dentistry, and after high school graduation, the couple both attended the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, with Dr. Nizich majoring in biology and Ginger becoming increasingly interested in the dental field. After three years, the pair transferred to the University of Alaska Anchorage, where Ginger was accepted to one of 12 seats in Alaska’s only dental hygiene program.
In the spring of 2002, Dr. Nizich completed his bachelor’s degree and Ginger completed her dental hygiene degree. The couple married that summer and moved to Portland, Oregon, where Dr. Nizich completed his dental degree at Oregon Health and Science University. When he graduated in 2006, they contemplated staying in Portland. However, this husband and wife team knew that their hearts – and their dental practice – belonged at home. “I knew I was always coming back to Juneau,” said Dr. Nizich. “Our families live in Juneau and we love boating, fishing, hunting and winter sports.”
Flying Solo
Dr. Nizich didn’t plan to open a solo practice so soon after graduation. But when he carefully analyzed Juneau’s dental market, he determined there was an opportunity for another practice in the town of 30,000. The couple spent the next four months searching for the right space, eventually purchasing a 900-square-foot building in a business park. The building had previously been used as a small medical facility and already had two distinct treatment rooms, a front office and a reception area.
After selecting the space, Dr. Nizich’s next step was contacting the Patterson Dental Seattle Branch, which serves dentists on Alaska’s southeast coast. An in-person first meeting was impractical, due to the fact that Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane, so Pattillo, Dr. Nizich and Ginger discussed equipment and technology options over phone and e-mail. Pattillo then flew to Juneau to finalize the details.
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