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24734: Hermantin (News) Delray dentist lives the American dream
leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>
Delray dentist lives the American dream
By Glenn Singer
Business Writer
April 11, 2005
For Macdalie St.-Preux, patience has been the key to a successful dental
practice.
In the year she has been in private practice in Delray Beach, St.-Preux has
learned to be patient in growing the business, handling employees and
understanding her patients' attitudes.
A native of Haiti, St.-Preux, 32, graduated from dental school at Nova
Southeastern University in Davie in 2002 and then worked for the Florida
Community Health Center in Okeechobee, treating indigent patients and
migrant workers.
"The area reminded me of my country -- the smell of oranges and sugar cane
in a quiet, rural setting," she said.
But after two years, St.-Preux decided to seek the American dream, venturing
out on her own.
"The most important thing is to know your strengths and weaknesses," she
said. "I knew I needed a survey to determine whether there was a need for my
services. I knew I needed an accountant to manage the books. But I also knew
I didn't need a management company to run the business. A management company
would not understand the culture of my patients."
Most of St.-Preux's patients are Haitian, and she said many are not all that
concerned about missing appointments.
"It's not that uncommon for some patients to not show up, at least at
first," she said. "But after you teach them the importance of good dental
hygiene, and explain how it costs me time and money when they don't come,
they tend to become compliant."
But there's no question about the need for dentists in the Delray Beach
area, St.-Preux said. In fact, a survey from her lender indicated Delray
Beach needs 35 additional dentists -- particularly minorities -- to meet
current needs.
"People want to see a medical professional who understands their culture and
who speaks their native language," she said.
St.-Preux said she borrowed about $250,000 for dental equipment, furniture
and computers. She leases office space in a new building, but has an option
to buy the unit.
She said she was inspired by reading 365 Laws To Become a Millionaire, which
she said focused more on how to treat people than on how to become rich.
"I don't allow myself to have a bad day," she said. "I admit I once got mad
at a patient who had a bad attitude. I said something like, `Do you think
it's my problem?' I was so upset afterward, and I'll never talk that way to
anyone again."
St.-Preux also set goals that she has attained so far -- most notably adding
25 new patients a month. She also sought to generate $150,000 in revenues in
the first year and "we're there."
Just about every day, she thinks about two people who inspired her in her
career -- her older sister, who attended dental school in Israel and was
killed in a car crash in Haiti, and one of her teachers at NSU, Dr. Marvin
Golberg of Boca Raton. She refers to him as her mentor.
"At Nova, she was very proficient and very skilled with her hands," said
Golberg, an assistant professor who still discusses cases with St.-Preux.
"She was one of the very few dental students who attended every class and
would not miss any labs or lectures for any reason.
"I know she is working very hard at the profession."
Glenn Singer can be reached at gsinger@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6612.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Macdalie St.-Preux
Business: Preventive and cosmetic dentistry
Where: 4205 W. Atlantic Ave., No. 101, Delray Beach
Owner: Macdalie St.-Preux
Established: 2004
Revenues: More than $150,000 in the first year
Employees: Three
Advice: "You need to learn from your own mistakes, not from someone else
telling you how to run your business."
Copyright © 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel