A native Kansan, Dr. Jarrett Romine’s love of hunting and fishing led him to pursue a degree in biology from Kansas State University. After graduation, though, he realized there were woefully few jobs available; they tended to be highly grant-dependent, making for an unreliable long-term career; and you have no say-so about where you live or the actual work you get to do.
Instead, he opted to relocate to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend dental school. Little did he know at the time what was looming on the horizon – i.e., a global pandemic. “I went on spring break and just never went back, since I was close enough to being done,” explained Dr. Romine.
Following graduation he took a position at a corporate dental office in Wellington, Colorado for a year. Although “not a fan” of corporate dentistry, he appreciates that he learned a lot and gained valuable experience during that time, before moving back to Topeka KS. He began working as an associate dentist at the practice he ultimately bought in mid-2022, rebranding to Romine Family Dental.
Differentiation Through Hard Work and Treating People Well
Not only is Topeka Dr. Romine’s hometown, it has always been for his parents and grandparents. He said, “It’s nice to be back home. Topeka is a really easy place to practice if you just treat people well and you work hard.”
That said, Dr. Romine admitted, “I guess I work a little harder than some people, but I grew up doing construction. I’m used to working hard, getting stuff done on a daily basis, and doing as much as I can while I have the opportunity.” He considers himself “blessed that there’s a lot of work to be done in this town.”
When it comes to differentiating himself and Romine Family Dental, he said, “I try to be personal; to be myself – not overly professional, yet respectful while conveying that I know what I’m doing. I try to take care of the people God put around me – patients, employees, family, different social organizations in town that I believe in.”
“At the end of the day, if you just treat people well, and you’re there and working, people will show up.” – Dr. Jarrett Romine
Top Practices Have Top Teams
In addition to what he just described as differentiating his practice, Dr. Romine credits “everything that makes us a Top Practice is because of the great team I’m blessed to have.” When he first bought the practice at the age of 28, however, he recalls being worried about staffing. He took over the practice from the female practice owner who was twice his age. He was concerned the staff may not respect him, or maybe even not want to work for him.
He need not have worried. Dr. Romine’s natural style of treating people well has served him well. He also believes in enabling the team to be the best they can be, so the practice can be its best.
“Being a Top Practice, for me, is individually being the best we can be, and then me trying to fill in the spots to make everybody better… because I can’t do it on my own.” – Dr. Romine
eAssist is a valued part of the in-house team at Romine Family Dental, comprising three hygienists, two dental assistants, and two office team members. Dr. Romine appreciates how smoothly everything runs between his office staff and the eAssist billing team, noting, “You make our life easier. You make their jobs more streamlined and easier so they can handle a wider variety of stuff, so I don’t have to be over-staffed in that capacity.”
He also acknowledged the benefit of an organization handling billing and collections, vs. an individual who is due vacations and time for family involvement, and must occasionally call in sick.
“eAssist makes billing and the money part – which is my least favorite part of [practice ownership] – easier. And, you take some of the burden off of my individual employees.” – Dr. Romine
Be Humble Enough to Keep Learning and Working Hard
When asked what advice he would give to new dental school graduates, Dr. Romine didn’t even have to think about it – “Be humble enough to realize there’s a lot to learn – through conferences, networking, reading, and by just realizing you can learn stuff from everything.”
But he went on to caution, “Don’t assume just because the guy’s been out longer than you, that he knows more than you; some people haven’t pushed themselves for the last couple of decades. So it’s not about comparing ourselves to whomever is across the parking lot or across town, it’s about asking how can we be better ourselves, and who can we learn from?”
In addition, Dr. Romine talked about the importance of pursuing your goals – “No matter where you are right now, if you’re young and ambitious and willing to learn, there’s a lot of opportunities out there in the right spots.” He acknowledged that Topeka is not as competitive as places like Southern California or Colorado where he used to practice, and that life often requires compromise. But urged…
“Find a place where you feel comfortable. Figure out realistic goals. Realize that you’re not better than anyone else, but if you work hard, you can be better than people who have been doing this a lot longer than you.” – Dr. Romine
Romine Family Dental provides dental care for the whole family and are dedicated to giving you the best dental experience possible. Their skilled team of professionals provides exceptional care tailored to your unique needs for a healthier smile. They provide several preventive services that are designed to accurately diagnose concerns, add needed protection, and stop many issues before they even begin. With them, you’ll feel confident and comfortable about every aspect of your smile.
