A Letter to Patients
Dear Patients and Friends,
I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and high spirits as we transition from summer to fall. It brings me immense joy and gratitude to share with you that Haven Dental PDX is celebrating its first anniversary under my ownership! As we mark this significant milestone, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to each and every one of you who has been a part of our dental family during this journey. Additionally, I'd like to share a personal journey that has brought me to this incredible place, both figuratively and literally.
In February of 2020, just two months into our marriage, my husband and I made the bold decision to quit our jobs, sell our house, and embark on what was supposed to be a three-month road trip across the country. Do you remember what happened in Feb/March of 2020? After just one month, the road trip was abruptly cut short, and we had to pivot. We ended up hunkering down in my dad's house in Dayton, OH, planning our next move, and scouring U.S. cities with chiropractic colleges. All Andy had to tell me was that there was a chiropractic college in Portland, OR, for me to say, “Let’s go.” (I had visited twice in 2016/17 and started to fall for the PNW). Like for most of us during the pandemic, this was a time filled with immense uncertainty. I had no way of knowing what lay ahead and whether I would find my place in this new city. I couldn't have foreseen that I would fall head over heels in love—with the warmth and kindness of the people here, the unparalleled beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and with this charming neighborhood in Northeast Portland. I vividly recall signing a lease for an apartment on 58th and Halsey, not realizing that just a year and a half later, I would be taking the momentous step of purchasing Haven Dental PDX, a practice down the street from that very apartment. The risks of leaving my hometown and embarking on this journey were significant, but I can say without hesitation that they have all been worth it.
Taking the plunge to purchase the practice was one of the scariest yet most worthwhile decisions I have ever made. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in this journey. To our loyal patients - Your decision to entrust me with your dental care is something I don't take lightly, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to serve you. I knew I had big shoes to fill, and I can't express how much it means for all of you to put your faith in me. Thank you to the incredible team that works tirelessly to provide you with the best care possible. Their dedication, compassion, and professionalism are what set us apart, and I am profoundly thankful to have such an amazing team by my side. My thanks to Dr. May Chang. Your mentorship and our relationship have been the most meaningful and collaborative in my career. I would not be the dentist I am today without your support, your encouragement, and your sharing of knowledge. Thank you to my husband for not only being there every night when I get home, even on the hardest days, but for literally taking a three-month break from his studies to help me in the practice as I made the biggest transition of my career. I am so grateful to Portland, Oregon, and the wonderful community we've built here. It has become my home, and you, our patients, have become like family. Your trust, your smiles, and our shared moments have made this journey incredibly rewarding.
This past year has been an opportunity for learning, growth, and incremental changes, as our team has been working to adapt to me as their new owner and provider. We are thrilled to announce that we have achieved our goal of going paperless, reducing paper usage, and transitioning toward digital medical forms. This is part of our ongoing commitment to improving our practice and reducing our environmental footprint.
Looking ahead, our goal for the coming year is to maintain the high quality of care you have come to expect from us. We will make minor adjustments but seek to find a more harmonious flow state with our team through repetition. We remain dedicated to providing conservative and aesthetic dentistry while continually honing our skills. I'm excited to share that Dr. May Chang will continue to see patients at our practice 3-4 times a month, ensuring that you have the opportunity to receive care from a familiar and trusted face. As we move forward, Haven Dental PDX will continue to be a safe haven for all your dental needs. Our focus remains steadfast on our two favorite things: prevention of disease and conservative care.
As we mark this milestone and look ahead to the future, I want to reiterate my deep gratitude for your support and trust. I am proud to call Portland home, and I am honored to be your dentist. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care, and we look forward to continuing to serve you and our community for many more years to come.
In closing, I want to take a moment to ask for your help. As someone relatively new to Portland, I am still in the process of discovering all the wonderful ways in which I can give back to and be an active part of our community. I firmly believe that together, we can make a positive impact beyond the walls of our dental practice.
If you know of any opportunities, events, fundraisers, or community drives where I can offer my time and resources to help those in need, please do not hesitate to share them with me. Your insights and suggestions are invaluable, and I am eager to contribute to the betterment of our community in any way I can. Your continued support means the world to us, and we look forward to not only taking care of your dental needs but also working together to make our community an even better place.
With warm regards and heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Alexandra Dahm DDS