Introducing Dr. Sara Gotwalt

My friend Hiram used to say "and so it begins". I must borrow from him to introduce our pending changes in our office. I have been talking about my daughter Sara for quite sometime and the possibility of her working with us. That time has come. I intend to spend a short moment telling you more about her and introducing what we intend to do as an office to facilitate her blending in.

Sara graduated from Penn State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science. She went on to the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from their dental hygiene program in 2004 and immediately went into their dental school program, graduating in 2008. Sara was then accepted into the general practice residency program at the Pittsburgh Veterans Hospital and graduated from that program June 2009. We have spent hours talking about her becoming an associate doctor and learning our way of practicing dentistry. I might add I believe we are quite unique in our approach in this regard and I do believe in the European way of training for a profession. Starting with apprenticeship through to mastership. It takes time, a mentor(s), a belief system, and more time.

That being said, my staff have interviewed Sara as well. It is of the utmost importance to find someone like us so as not to rearrange the chemistry of our home. We have experienced office groups where the principals are not on the same page. Our efforts are doubled to protect that from happening and in that light we all feel extremely comfortable asking Sara to join us.

Let us be clear. I am not retiring for sometime. Our intent with Sara is to grow another practice within us to provide her work and to allow her to pursue her chosen profession. In that light we need your help. We need patients and patience. We need time to foster her growth and teach her. I do not tread lightly into this. All of you are our most important responsibilities beyond family and faith. I introduce Sara to you with pride and a very positive expectation of her.

We all look forward to introducing her to all of you. We also hope you bless her as much as you have blessed us with giving us all a reason to care, to provide your dental needs, and to know you as people. You gave this to me and I will never forget this gift and ask you to extend it to Dr. Sara.

With Gratitude,

Dr. John T. Gotwalt