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Phil's Retirement
As I celebrate my 32nd year of dentistry, 30 years of which have been here in Blue Grass, the letter you knew would come sooner or later has arrived. With mixed emotions, I am announcing my retirement. My last day of patient care will be May 31, 2023.
This is by far the hardest decision I have ever made in my dental career. After graduating in 1991, Tracy and I moved back to the Quad Cities. Initially, I started as an Associate Dentist in Moline and Cambridge with my eyes open for the opportunity to create my own dental practice. On April 19, 1993, I opened what would become my “home away from home” in Blue Grass, Iowa.
As many know, the first office space was 1500 square foot and was remodeled after being a pet groomer, post office and barber shop over the years. I had one employee when I opened the doors. She was my front office staff, scheduler, along with being my chairside assistant. There were no computers in the office. Back then, I even did my own hygiene appointments. I have been asked over the years, why did I pick Blue Grass, Iowa? I chose it for a couple reasons. First, there was a need for a dentist in this growing community. Second, and most importantly, it reminded me of the area where I grew up. It had that hometown feeling where everyone is family.
Thirty years later, it was the best decision I ever made. The building has grown to 2500 square feet with 10 full and part time staff. With all the latest technology, it is a great facility to serve our patients. In March of 2020, I hired Dr. Mulka as an Associate Dentist with the goal to become my partner. He did so in April of 2021. I now have the pleasure of announcing Dr. Mulka is the owner of Blue Grass Family Dentistry. Dr. Mulka and the staff will continue to provide the outstanding dental care you deserve. I know I leave you in great hands.
I want to thank all of you for the privilege of being your dentist. The relationships that I have with so many of you have been a big part of my life and I am grateful to consider you all friends. Some of you who trusted me with your dental work in those early years are still with me today. I am now seeing 4th generations. Your continued loyalty is the highest compliment you could ever pay me. I am both humbled and touched by your confidence in me throughout these years, and it means more than you will ever know.
Again, I will miss my patients and I will miss dentistry, but I look forward to this next chapter in my life. My wife Tracy (who many of you know as the Business Manager) and I are moving to Mercer, Wisconsin. We look forward to more travel and spending time with our two adult children that live out of state.
I hope to see many of you at your next hygiene appointment. If not, I would love to hear from you before I leave. There will be a memory journal in the lobby to drop a note, a box to drop a card, mail a card to the office, send an email or just stop in to say hi and bye.
I can’t thank you all enough for allowing me to be your dentist!!
Sincerely - Phil
