Together, Drs. Buchman and Shoopak (Orthodontic Associates of Tampa Bay) opened and serviced 11 dental group practices in Florida, from Ocala to Sarasota. They then went on to consolidate the practices and opened 5 freestanding facilities. This unique concept bode well for them, and the offices flourished.
With many offices and with the constant traveling, their business systems (payables, payroll, accounting, insurance transactions, etc.) were more efficiently performed off site. This common business office theme continued even after the facilities became freestanding. They took the “business” out of the office and separated it from clinical operations.
Other orthodontists had opened multi-location practices throughout the Southeast as well, and elected to use this central office system for their business systems as well. Orthodontic Centers of America was born with the help of a CPA/lawyer who wrote a business plan for the central office business idea.
In 1996, this company was brought to the public market and Dr. Buchman left to serve as the executive vice president. Dr. Shoopak continued to grow his existing practices and purchase and develop new one. During the next 9 years, he added an additional 20 offices under his domain, creating jobs for more than 15 orthodontists and changing the name of his practice to Orthodontic Specialist of Florida. During this time frame, he developed partnerships with some of these orthodontists, who jointly enhanced the production, quality and care of the patients in these practices.
“Providing a service for a reasonable price and, more than that, a reasonable pricing structure, so that anyone can afford and be able to pay for this service, is very important to me,” continued Dr. Shoopak. “Insurance covers a lot of the bills today, but not everyone has insurance. I enjoy orthodontics because I get to develop a rapport with my patients. I see, many a time, a kid come in embarrassed to smile and leave a year or two later with a wide grin and renewed confidence. I develop a relationship with each of them. It is not like general dentistry, where it may happen that a practitioner could be working on one tooth for three hours and the patient not even remembering what tooth was treated.” He calls orthodontics “macro dentistry.”
In 2006, Orthodontic Centers of America was brought private, and Dr. Shoopak asked Dr. Buchman again to work with him in a business manager/partnership role. This unstoppable team has grown Orthodontic Specialists of Florida currently to 34 locations throughout the state, from Miami to Jacksonville, Pensacola to Ft. Myers.
“None of the efficiency or the business production could have been accomplished if not for Wendy, my Executive Director of Operations for 19 years, and her associates Christina and Katherine,” said Dr. Shoopak. “Their responsibilities are too numerous to detail.” He boasts often, “You are only as good as the people who you surround yourselves with, and I surround myself with the best! The old adage that everyone is replaceable does not come into effect here! In fact, I am often asked how to find those people to help with your success, and honestly don’t know how to answer that question.” He feels lucky. Most likely it has to do with his philosophy of treating those around him as he would like to be treated.
As an alumnus of the University of Tampa (UT), Dr. Shoopak is often asked to address the business school students and M.B.A. classes along with other dental associations and groups. “The first thing I write on the board before my talk is motivation+risk=success,” said Dr. Shoopak. “I regularly assure the students that there is, in fact, life after UT. I also tell them, in order to succeed; it helps if you have a type A personality. If you’re a laid-back type B, forget it!” he continued, “It takes being able to handle a multitude of things and a high level of energy.” At the end of his lecture, the professor always asks him this question: “It is obvious that you are successful, so why do you keep doing this?” Dr. Shoopak’s answer is always the same. “Although society may measure success by the amount of money a person has, it is not about the money for me. It has to do with achieving goals. What I do keeps my brain moving.”
Orthodontics has been extremely rewarding for Dr. Shoopak. His vision to “straighten out Florida” continues even after 25 years. His practices have produced more patients with straight teeth then any other practice in the country and possibly the world.
“It has been a great ride for me,” said Dr. Shoopak. “First being told to stay away, to rewriting the laws, to creating an empire of a practice. I hope to continue expanding my orthodontic operation into many other areas of the state.” His gratification comes from the fact that he reached out to a population that originally thought they could not afford State-of-The-Art orthodontics. Through his offices that advertise affordability and convenience, many patients have been able to avail themselves of the service.
Dr. Shoopak is a great example of a successful dentist and entrepreneur. He represents what is the best of Tampa Bay and has helped put St. Petersburg on the map. Tampa Bay has grown up in the past 3 decades along with Dr. Shoopak’s visions that helped him get to the top. He hopes he inspires people to remember that there is a person on the other side of a dental instrument. “Dental school can teach you the mechanics, but you have to remember that the person in that chair also has feelings.”
“My wife, Lisa, is an angel. She must be to have put up with me all these years. She has been my sounding board. She has a heart the size of Texas. From the beginning, we decided she would never work in one of my offices, and it has been a good thing for us. Raising our 4 kids is the toughest job she could have asked for.” He has 2 boys and 2 girls, ages 19-24.
Dr. Shoopak was raised in New York. He came from a lower middle class background. He had a wonderful family life with his mother and father and 2 sisters. Though he doesn’t remember seeing his dad much, as his father worked long hours as an auto mechanic, Dr. Shoopak grew to admire him. From an early age, he was trained to engage and respect the rewards of hard work.
He was told by his high school teacher, much like Einstein was told by his, “You are not college material.” Dr. Shoopak admits he was not the best student and that he tended to be the class clown. But, he also knew the secret that hard work and perseverance wins the prize.
“The legacy I want to leave is that nothing is free. You need to go out and get what you want. You have to make it happen. Do the right thing and be true to yourself and your family.”