CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST 111 A QUSITIONS practice (Sunshine Coast Prosthodontics) and our professional development company (www.dentalcpd.com.au),” Dr Innes explains. “As such, we looked to transition from the two general practices (Bright Smiles Dentistry).” Admittedly “very protective” of their staff and patients, the couple held lengthy discussions with several suitors before deciding on Ekera Dental. “The transition has been very, very soft,” Hayley continues, “and it has been very good for the staff. “We’ve got two young boys, so the staff understood the hours that we were keeping and how demanding it was for us. And that has really worked for us.” Relinquish and refocus As hands-on practice owners who run a “tight ship”, the Innes wanted to make sure the new owner would relieve them of timeconsuming back-end tasks while giving them the autonomy to focus on managing the clinical and customer-facing side of the operation. “We’ve had to learn some new systems, but apart from that, it’s been very seamless to date,” Dr Innes adds. “The Ekera team has really taken a lot of the time-consuming work off of our shoulders – whether that be bookkeeping or accounts payable – and that has allowed us to really refocus on our core businesses and be able to be more creative day to day. “ If it ain’t broke Calling Ekera Dental the “last man standing”, Dr Innes reveals that they had scoured the field in search of a buyer that would best preserve the modus operandi of Bright Smiles Dentistry, so that the management change would not be jolting for staff and patients. Based on his investigations, the Ekera Dental business model of maintaining the status quo post-sale is far from commonplace. “From a purely business perspective, it always intrigues me why anyone would take over a successful business, and then change it. You’re buying it precisely because it has a successful business model specific to its location and patient community,” he notes incredulously. “Whereas with Ekera Dental, they just want you to continue status quo – they’ve not imposed any restrictions on our daily activities. “In fact, they want to know how we operate the businesses, our policies and procedures. They want to find out how we generate the income we generate, do the clinical work we do, and so on. “They’ve learned a lot from engaging with the previous owners, which is great. And, you know what, that’s a mutually beneficial relationship!” Life of mentorship Another type of mutually beneficial relationship that has shaped Dr Innes’ career is that of mentorship. Interestingly, the recipient of coveted accolades such as the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons Award (University of Queensland) and the Australian Postgraduate Award (University of Adelaide) did not initially take to dentistry. It took mentor, family friend and renowned dentist, Dr John Currey, to convince young Mitch to pursue a dental career – something he now looks back on as a “calling”. After graduatingwithaBDSs (HONS), in between private practice jobs in Southeast Queensland and North Queensland, Dr Innes met other mentors who influenced his clinical development and sharpened his business acumen: Drs Michael Mandikos, Matthew Casey and Tony Rotondo – all industry heavyweights in their own right. Yet rather than a working relationship structured around clinical or professional pursuits, Dr Innes views “mentorship” as a way of life. “I was very lucky in that I grew up having really close relationships with my parents and grandparents, who were my first mentors. “You’ve always got something to learn from people who are older and more experienced than you and that’s something instilled in me since I was a kid.” With the recent sale of Bright Smiles Dentistry, Dr Innes now has more time to give back to the virtuous cycle of mentorship – especially through dentalcpd. com.au “Mentorship is central to our clinical team and has contributed greatly to our success,” he adds. “While it benefits both the teacher and student, more importantly, the patients are going to get better outcomes. “Through our learning portal, there is a lot that our team of lecturers, including myself, can impart to those who want to hone their clinical, business or even laboratory skills. “Who knows, for some dentists even sharing from my experience on how to handle multiple things on the go at one time might be of use as well.” u Dr Innes teaching
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