Communicating your associate’s arrival to patients requires a multi-channel approach that balances information with excitement. Each patient touchpoint presents a distinct opportunity to build credibility and generate interest in your new doctor.
Begin with a personalized announcement letter to existing patients. This communication should come directly from the practice owner, personally endorsing your associate while explaining how their addition enhances patient care. Keep the tone warm and conversational—as if you’re sharing exciting news with friends. Include your associate’s photo and a brief biography that highlights both credentials and personality. Mail this announcement approximately 3-4 weeks before your associate begins seeing patients, giving patients time to absorb the news.
Enhance this personal touch with direct email outreach featuring a brief video message from the practice owner. This video introduction creates immediate connection—patients see your face, hear your enthusiasm, and witness your personal endorsement of the new doctor. Consider recording this in your office with your associate present, allowing for a brief introduction where patients can observe your natural rapport. This visual endorsement carries significant weight, as patients are more likely to trust someone their trusted dentist clearly respects.
Complement these communications with a secondary email introducing the associate in their own words—perhaps sharing their philosophy of care, special interests, or what drew them to your practice specifically. These personal insights help patients connect with your associate as an individual before meeting them. These videos should be recorded for social media anyway and can have multiple uses.
Develop in-office materials that create awareness during patient visits. Display announcement cards at checkout that patients can take home, featuring your associate’s photo and a brief welcome message. These physical reminders reinforce the news patients receive through other channels.
An extra step you can take if your budget allows is developing a professional press release for local newspapers, community publications, and neighborhood websites announcing your associate’s arrival.
Emphasize their connection to the community, specialized training, or how their addition allows your practice to serve more families. For practices in smaller communities, coverage in a local newspaper can significantly enhance awareness.
Target dental industry publications with announcements for professional recognition. Many dental associations and regional dental societies include new associate announcements in their newsletters or websites. These placements build professional credibility that indirectly benefits your peer relationships. Adding new skill sets and more capacity to your practice will be a green light for other offices referring to you.
These targeted promotions help build your associate’s schedule quickly while giving patients additional motivation to experience their care. Consider a strategy to direct new patients or emergency exams directly to the new associate.
Coordinate the timing of these various communications carefully. Your patients should hear your news through multiple channels in a logical sequence, creating a sense of momentum and excitement around your associate’s arrival that generates genuine interest in meeting this new addition to your dental team.
