To say that we’re fortunate to have Nathan Cox on the Smile Partners USA (SPUSA) team is an understatement. As SPUSA Chief Development Officer, Nathan knows firsthand the importance of a fantastic working relationship with the doctor partners who make up our network. Nathan has been instrumental in our expansion over the years, and it’s no surprise that he’s passionate about his work and even more passionate about helping people. In a world filled with quick, online interactions it’s refreshing to meet someone who is intentional about connecting genuinely with people in the workplace. Upon meeting Nathan, I knew immediately that he was a person who cares deeply about the dental industry and helping doctors reimagine what’s possible. We sat down for a chat about his 25 plus years in the dental field and what makes him motivated day-by-day to spread awareness about the unique opportunity found at Smile Partners USA.
After spending years learning the ropes and the dental business, first as a dental sales representative and then dental management for all three of the main dental distributors, Nathan quickly found that he had not only a passion for the industry but a knack for communicating with dental professionals to deeply understand their challenges and what drives them. His passion for the business side of dentistry led him to the question that shapes each of his interactions: “How can I help dentists?” and “What does a successful exit strategy look like for dentists who built a unique, healthy private practice?” Both of these questions can be answered via partnership with Smile Partners USA, and Nathan is on a mission to spread the word far and wide.
Smile Partners USA recognizes that when it comes to dental practices, one size does not fit all. Maintaining individuality and clinical autonomy are at the heart of this organization. Nathan shared with me that this is actually what makes Smile Partners USA such an exceptional organization and why aligning with SPUSA was an easy yes for him six years ago.
Doctors who choose to partner with Smile Partners USA keep their brand story alive and well, we’ll just help them polish things a bit as needed. We provide operational, marketing, insurance, and staffing support. Essentially, SPUSA allows doctors and their teams to focus on what they’re best at: creating happy, healthy smiles and legendary patient experiences.
Finding, getting to know, and working with like-minded doctors who are a mutual fit with Smile Partners USA is the mission, and Nathan delivers.
It’s been very rewarding for me personally. And [hopefully] for a lot of our dentist partners. I tell them all the time, you know, ‘I really want you to be happy. And when I come back and sit with you and have coffee in six months after we close, I want to hear all about it.’ Nothing makes me happier than one of our new partners telling me how glad they are that they did this and that they wish they would have done it sooner. We really are thorough on the front end to make sure we know exactly what [our doctors] are looking for. We make sure we’re able to match those expectations [before moving forward]. I think one of the really nice things about Smile Partners is we are not a cookie cutter organization. Our partners are not cookie cutter offices.
Each office within the Smile Partners USA network has different needs and wants. Nathan is an expert at digging into the details and identifying how and why a partnership is a real fit that can be fruitful from every angle. It’s not just about growth; it’s about thriving and providing a platform for doctors to expand their reach and accomplish their goals while maintaining their sanity. Working solo can create an environment that requires the wearing of not one or two but perhaps all of the available hats to a certain degree. Whether a potential doctor partner needs help with streamlining their insurance process, HR, marketing, effective staffing, etc. we want to help them be more successful.
Perhaps the facet of the business that Nathan finds the most joy in helping dentists achieve is quality of life. When doctors are able to focus their attention wholly on the pieces of the business that bring them joy while trusting a team of experts to deliver on the rest, quality of life improves. Stress from carrying the entire weight of a practice on one’s shoulders can be remedied, and that’s what makes Nathan smile each and every time a successful, new partnership is forged. Real relationships based on mutual respect, shared vision and values, and goals for a brighter future are the norm for Nathan and Smile Partners USA. And the opportunity to reinvigorate a doctor’s passion for the industry in conjunction with a clear potential sunset opportunity makes SPUSA a win for 250+ providers.
When he’s not building and maintaining relationships with doctor partners, Nathan stays busy with his family. His wonderful wife of 30 years is an optometrist, so understanding the challenges doctors face is rooted in personal experience. They enjoy traveling, the beach, and hiking with their two dogs. Two of his three children are adults, his son is an engineer, and his daughter is a teacher. His youngest will graduate this year and is a back-to-back state soccer champ. It’s no surprise that Nathan’s family is an Alabama football family, ROLL TIDE!