How grateful are you?
Do you ever take the time to recognize how blessed you are? I have sincere gratitude for the two teams that became one this week. Over the past several months, the Adams Dental team has worked with my good friend, Dr. Mark McCaffery’s team, to plan for the merger of our two offices.
I can assure you, it isn’t an easy task. With two established practices, (translate that into, stuff in cabinets that we haven’t looked at in years and lots of computer data) it is a challenge to be able to recognize what is good and worthy of keeping, what is no longer necessary and what you can learn from others.
Both teams had spent months planning for the merger, and last week our physical merge actually happened. Databases had to be updated and equipment had to be relocated. Each of those processes requires detail and precision, and that is exactly what happened. Our teams worked together as though they had been practicing for years for an Olympic relay race. It gave me joy to see them all work together, because I know if they can put up with a week of moving boxes and merging data with a smile, then practicing dentistry together will be a breeze.
Most deserving of our gratitude
I love the quote “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude” by Cynthia Ozick, and it makes me think of the whole team. I am grateful to all of you:
- Dr. McCaffery, my friend and colleague, who I look forward to working with for years to come
- Dr. Lee who was like the Energizer Bunny and elbow deep in organizing instruments
- Andrea and Jenn who have spent the better part of 4 months planning and coordinating this monumental effort
- Susan, Danielle, and Lynn who cheerfully called patients, entered an encyclopedias’ worth of data into the computer and struggled with a new scheduling system
- Brandy and Johanna who had the Herculean task of organizing two offices’ worth of instruments and materials (I still don’t know how they made it look so easy, perhaps it was the “filing” into the garbage?)
- Martha who installed a new lab program and organized all the lab cases
- Rosie, Annemarie and Ashley had double duty – with hours at the computer with their eyes glazing over and consolidating supplies in treatment rooms
- Georgeanne who was the runner and shopper and cheerleader – available to anyone who needed help (and we all needed help!)
- Jackie, Agnes and Fran who participated in lots of planning
- Tyler, Kendall, and Reilly who were enlisted for the summer to scan and shred, go to IKEA and Starbucks, and move lots of boxes
- And a special thank you to my dad, Ken, who was by my side each day, ready to hang a picture, fix the plumbing or install a piece of equipment. His energy and patience is unbelievable.
I look forward to years ahead with this amazing, blended team and will continue to have gratitude for them each day.
