40 Years New
Vidalia, Georgia is best known for its namesake, the sweet onion. But what many people don’t know is that this small town of 11,000 residents is also home to one of the most state-of-the-art dental practices in south central Georgia – Dental Center of Vidalia.
This 40-year-old practice has undergone a huge transformation over the last three years. New ownership, a change in focus from general practice to cosmetic dentistry and a brand-new 7,937-square-foot office has taken this practice to a whole new level. In its first week of business in the new office, Dental Center of Vidalia welcomed 48 new patients.
Patterson Dental Sales Representative Dan Stuber has worked with the practice for the past 30 years and is astounded by its transformation. “It’s tremendous because the practice has been here for almost 40 years and patients have had the opportunity to come here before,” Stuber said. “Patients were drawn to the new office.”
Making Connections
Fifteen years ago, the practice’s founder, Dr. Joe Palmer, began preparations for retirement. He knew he could count on Stuber to connect him with the perfect associate. Stuber tapped his extensive network of recent dental school graduates to find the right fit – Dr. Rick Kimbrel.
Four years later, Dr. Kimbrel had become a partner and was prepared to purchase the practice and assume the office lease so Dr. Palmer could retire. But he knew he needed an associate to assist him with the transition. Since Stuber had played an important role in kick-starting his career, Dr. Kimbrel didn’t hesitate to call him for help in finding an associate to join the practice.
Around that same time, Dr. Kacy Morris had just graduated from the University of Florida and was looking to practice in Savannah, Georgia, which is approximately 100 miles from Vidalia. Dr. Morris contacted Stuber to inquire about possible associate placements in the area. Stuber met with Dr. Morris and – knowing that Dr. Kimbrel was looking for an associate – convinced her to visit with him. The doctors hit it off. “Dan is the reason that I decided to practice in Vidalia,” said Dr. Morris. “Without him I never would have joined this practice.” Two years later, Dr. Morris became a full partner.
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As their practice grew, the doctors realized that they were ready to take it to the next level. So, Stuber introduced them to Patterson partner Mercer Advisors, a personal financial advisory, practice management and transitions company specializing in dental practice management consulting. Working with Mercer, they decided they needed a bigger office and wanted to change the philosophy of their practice to a cosmetic focus. “Vidalia is a small farming community, so this was a big step, but the more they talked with Mercer, the more they were convinced it could be done,” said Stuber. They also brought on an associate, Dr. Stewart Hamilton, who had worked with Dr. Kimbrel throughout undergraduate and graduate school, making him a natural fit.
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