Jim Maloney returns to Hamilton to continue his family’s dental legacy.
Jim Maloney had a pretty unique childhood experience of growing up around his father’s, Dr. Kevin Maloney’s, dental practice in Hamilton.
“My Dad’s been a dentist here for 42 years,” says Jim. “I’d help my Dad out, and I’d see him going in for after-hours emergency appointments. I’d see what he was doing, learning what it was like to run a practice behind the scenes, to keep a business up and running.”
Jim studied at The Ohio State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in zoology and master’s degree in public health, with an emphasis in oral cancer research. After Ohio State, he attended dental school at LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. There, he met his future wife, Melinda, a native of Leesburg, Georgia. Melinda, a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in microbiology, is a practicing dentist in the West Chester area.
“I don’t have any family that are in the dental field, so I didn’t have those opportunities available for me in my hometown in Georgia,” says Melinda. “Jim already had a concrete plan to take over his dad’s practice, and it seemed like a good opportunity.”
The two got married and recently moved back to Hamilton, discovering that the excitement of renewal was in the air in Jim’s hometown.
“It’s like a new town, frankly,” says Jim. “I haven’t lived here permanently since I was 18, and I was back and forth during college. This renaissance is really cool to see.”
Melinda found a connection to the culture of loyalty and trust that reminded her of home.
“I grew up in a really small town, so I’m accustomed to the small-town feel, even though it’s a lot bigger than my home town,” says Melinda. “I’m used to everybody knowing everybody, and your word is your honor. I like that aspect of Hamilton. It seems like a good place with a lot of potential – things are headed in a really good direction.”
They both see the role of small businesses like dental practices as vital in a community.
“I hope that the niche for family practices with continuity of care that is a second-generation of care will appeal to many types of people, despite trends toward more corporate practices,” says Jim. “I’ve seen patients just in the few months I’ve been at my Dad’s office that have been with my Dad since he started practicing. They bring their kids, grandkids, and even great-grandkids; they pass the trust down from generation to generation. I want to keep developing those relationships.”
Like many other businesses, dentistry went into an emergency-procedures-only role in late March to combat the global pandemic and preserve supply chains for personal protective equipment for medical providers serving individuals with coronavirus.
“We have taken our directives from the CDC, the Ohio Dental Board, the Ohio Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. They’ve considered how to best protect the public,” says Jim. “It’s important to note, too, that we do this all the time. It’s important for the public to know that we sterilize and disinfect operatories and instruments between patients even when there isn’t a public health crisis. We always have their safety and best interest in mind.”
Both during and after the crisis, however, Jim and Melinda are connected to their community and are excited to see Hamilton grow in the coming years.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be part of the community where I practiced,” says Jim. “It was cool going out to eat or to the grocery store or to Little League games, because my Dad would often see patients, and people felt comfortable enough to come up and say ‘Hello’. That really appeals to me, and we want to provide a service for generations to come.”