Growing a practice, starting a family: Get a good grasp on a ‘new normal’

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say the last year flew by. It was my first full year in my start-up practice with my partner, Dr. Lindsey Wendt. We grew more than we imagined and were faced with some challenges along the way. Overall, the year was very successful from a professional standpoint. I’m hoping for an… Read More »

My journey in starting a practice: Securing a location

Editor’s note: In this New Dentist Now series, Dr. Katie Stuchlik chronicles her journey in buying and opening a practice with her friend and classmate, Dr. Lindsey Wendt, in the Houston area. During dental school, I never saw myself as a practice owner. I worked hard in school just to become a dentist and hopefully find an associateship… Read More »

With a desire to own a practice, a need to learn practice management

When I was in dental school, I never really paid much attention in our only business course. This class didn’t meet every week and mainly involved completing online modules that were created by another Texas dental school. The modules were meant to simulate many areas of practice management: creating a business plan for a startup; creating a budget… Read More »

Changing my name was exhausting, but right for me

April 7, 2017 was the best day of my life outside graduating dental school. I married the one person who truly “gets” me and loves me for every weird quirk. Not to mention, we had the biggest, best party in Playa Mujeres, Mexico, for our destination wedding. When Ben proposed to me in December of 2015, I knew… Read More »

Refinancing my student loans and owning my education

$254,358.44. This is the amount it cost me for four years of two bachelor’s degrees and four years of a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. I’m not proud of that number, but it could be worse. In fact, I already did pay off some of the undergrad loans prior to this number. But this is the number I… Read More »