PFW graduates open dental practice near campus

For Jason and Claire Hemphill, opening their dental practice at 4207 Hobson Court was a bit of a full-circle moment.

The office is located across the street from the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus where they met, both played volleyball, and decided to pursue careers as dentists. Jason majored in chemistry and Claire in biology. They graduated in 2007, marrying two weeks later. They were the only dental school students in their class who entered as a married couple, though a few others left four years later as spouses.

Because they always had to balance maintaining high grades in challenging majors and their volleyball careers, the Hemphills were better prepared for dental school at Indiana University in Indianapolis. As they said, they were already used to working hard and efficiently, finding time to build and maintain their relationship. They shared the No. 1 ranking in their graduating class.

After serving as associates in local practices for 11 years, the Hemphills purchased their own shingle on Feb. 22, 2022, and have spent four years updating and refurbishing, with new equipment, carpeting, and paint. With more building plans, the business is growing, mostly through positive word of mouth, and partly through their hobby as both continue to play volleyball. They never stopped playing or making friends, and Claire also coaches the 8th grade girls at Woodside Middle School.

A broken pinky two years ago, which turns out to be an occupational hindrance for a dentist, slowed Jason’s on-court activity for a bit, but he’s back with taped fingers. Claire can’t get enough and plays continually. She was even asked to fill in as a practice player two years ago when the PFW women’s team ran short on healthy middle hitters early in the season. She held her own.

“Even if I hadn’t, I don’t think they would have told me,” Claire said with a laugh. “They were all so nice, and I had a good time. They are so good, and it was really a pleasure to do that.”

Their business moto of “More than a good-looking smile” truly symbolizes the emphasis of their practice ideology. They enjoy working with parents and watching their children grow through biannual visits, helping them through challenges with advice and compassion.

“It starts with having a good relationship with your staff, and them trusting you, which transfers to the patients,” Jason said. “The biggest thing has been the staff. We are a practice with a focus on quality care and taking care of people.”

“It’s all based on relationships,” Claire said. “It’s all about taking care of people and seeing their kids. Then it becomes multigenerational. The more we get to know them and their priorities, we can make clinical decisions that work best for them.”

One good thing is that every day is a little bit different, though sometimes that means taking the work home.

“Who could understand better if I had a rough day at the office than a spouse who knows exactly what that’s like?” Claire said. “And there are some days when you get a little help working through something, and we can provide that for each other because we are not isolated in this practice. He already knows all that I know.”

Claire says there are days when it is wildly better than she imagined, but Jason says the practice is exactly what they dreamed of.

“We work hard every day to give the patients our best,” Jason said. “Appreciating that helps the practice grow. Our patients refer others to us because they trust us and the quality of care.”

That’s who the Hemphills have always been, all the way back to the time when they were studying essentially next door.

“We’re proud to be in Fort Wayne,” Claire said. “We love this. We’re proud to be graduates of PFW and come back and practice just across the street. We love being a part of this community.”