This year marks five years for Corus Orthodontists. I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible people who shaped this network into what it is today, and I’ve never been more excited about what the future has in store. Our Doctor-Partners, Associate Doctors, Practice teams, and Home Office team have all played important roles from our beginnings in 2019 to becoming a thriving community, rooted in shared values, focused on patient care, and dedicated to creating a future where orthodontists and their teams truly share in each other’s success.
This milestone makes me reflect on why we started it in the first place: a group of 18 innovative doctors from across North America who came together to create an alternative to the traditional Dental Service Organization (DSO) model. We sought to create a doctor-owned and led network where we could come together as true partners and provide the world’s best patient care. Five years later, this vision continues to grow stronger than ever. Take a trip with me down memory lane as we celebrate our growth, achievements, lessons learned, and the road ahead.
From Humble Beginnings
For me, the inception of Corus was deeply personal. Running my own practices, I witnessed the rapid consolidation in orthodontics and the shift toward prioritizing profits over patients. I knew there had to be another way. Together with our founding partners, we agreed to stay true to our values and let our mission be our guide.
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” – African Proverb
Launching Corus just before the pandemic was a challenge no one saw coming. We had to quickly shift to remote consultations, adopt new technologies to make remote consults possible, and secure PPE for our teams. Even when practices were forced to close, we ensured our people were supported, and in turn, they could continue to support our patients. Our teams stayed resilient, and these early experiences not only tested but strengthened our commitment to our values and each other—securing our mantra that we really are Better Together.
Growth in Numbers and Footprint
From an initial group of 12 practices and 18 Doctor-Partners, Corus has grown rapidly to 65 Doctor-Partners, and 22 Associate Doctors, across 75 locations, with over 1,000 team members spanning North America. Unlike other organizations, our geographic spread allows us to bring unique perspectives and insights to our network like no other.
Our growth isn’t just about the numbers. Along the way, we launched initiatives that bolsters strength from within. Our Doctor Advisory Committees and Doctor Study Clubs give doctors a voice and platform to share their experiences and opinions as we grow. Our Corus College and new doctor mentorship and development programs reiterate our commitment to continuous growth and learning, while events like Corus Connect and the AAO Annual Session bring us together to build community. Our Corus Circle communications platform fosters a virtual space for collaboration and support, no matter where we are.
Overcoming Challenges and Lessons Learned
Our resilience was tested time and time again throughout the past five years. Navigating the pandemic, economic fluctuations, and rising inflation forced us to find ways to support our practices and teams in the face of uncertainty.
For us, these challenges underscored the need to create a sustainable foundation. We took the time to pause our acquisitions to refine our processes, focus on organic growth and make key investments to improve infrastructure and our support model. These decisions to strengthen our operations also helped inform all future acquisitions—all new Doctor-Partners need to share our values, growth mindset, and value collaboration and continuous learning.
Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years
All roads lead to growth. Including how we’re growing our network, our people, and our communities. We will continually focus on our organic growth with ways to enhance our model and ensure everyone at Corus is supported.
It also includes developing and empowering our Associate Doctors and Practice Managers. By fostering their growth, we’re building a Corus that is equipped to lead not only our practices but the orthodontic industry. Our practices will be able to operate at the highest standards and deliver the best patient care possible.
Our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve remains unchanged. Inspired by the humanitarian missions of Doctor-Partners like Dr. Angie Loo, the contributions to orthodontic education like Dr. Bruce Hill, and the efforts to advance the art and science of the orthodontic specialty like Dr. Lesley Williams, we are reminded of the difference we can make, not only within our practices but also to our global community. This commitment to our people and our communities is at the heart of everything we do.
A Moment of Thanks
A Moment of ThanksI am deeply grateful for all the hard work, dedication, and spirit that our team members bring to Corus daily. Recently, we announced new leadership additions, including Tracy Moawad, VP of Operations, and Dean Prevost, our new CEO, and our teams are ready to take Corus to new heights. The red carpet has been rolled out to welcome our next doctors and their teams who want to live, learn, and grow with us.
Here’s to the next chapter. If you’re interested in being part of our Corus journey, it’s just the beginning, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
– Paul Helpard, Founder & Strategic Advisor, Corus Orthodontists
