Michigan Avenue Dental Associates is a general dental and multi-specialty group practice which emphasizes a team approach in providing optimal comprehensive reconstructive dentistry to the adult patient.
Our group practice is comprised of two subgroups; Michigan Avenue General Dental Associates and Michigan Avenue Dental Specialty Associates. The doctors in each group work collectively and harmoniously together to provide to you the optimal dental care you expect. Our group is the oldest continuously practicing dental group in downtown Chicago. Our office facility has been located in the same building, which was designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Federal Landmark in 1995 since the building was built in 1911.
Your general dentist is licensed to provide restorative dental treatment (fillings, crowns, veneers, etc.) and a number of other treatments, which may include endodontics (root canal treatment), periodontics (gum treatments), oral surgery (extractions, implants, etc.) as the case may dictate. Your doctors treatments may involve the use of a simple toothbrush or the sophistication of our LUXAR CO2 Dental Laser.
The offices specialty subgroup includes doctors with formal post doctorate training in a variety of sophisticated procedures. If you should be in need of special treatment for adifficult or unusual problem, your general dentist will refer you to a member of our associated specialty group for the needed specialty care.
One hour prior to the doctor seeing his/her first patient the staff arrives at work and begins their daily ritual of cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing instruments and the operatories. Our sterilization procedures meet or exceed The Center For Disease Control guidelines. We heat sterilize all handpieces and instruments after each use. And for additional reassurance and vigilance of our sterilization methods, we employ an outside independent third party contractor to monitor and test our sterilization equipment weekly.
Michigan Avenue Dental Associates is the oldest, continuous operating dental practice in Chicagos downtown. The practice was initially established in 1911 when young Dr. Grimson opened a dental office in the newly completed Peoples Gas, Light and Coke Company building at 122 South Michigan Avenue. The building was designated as a U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Daniel Burnham and Company was the designer of the building. The building was a magnificent structure built with marble and granite from around the world. The upper floors were designed for small business to carry on trade and commerce, floors 12 to 20. And the lower floors, ground to 11, accommodated the business needs of the Peoples Gas, Light and Coke Company. It soon became the premier address for dental, medical and law practices.
The company contributed significantly in the 19th century in making it possible for Chicago to grow from a western outpost names Dearborn Fort to a busy metropolitan, commercial center in the middle of the country in only 200 years. The Company was established in 1849 and was Chicagos first utility, providing light and fuel to a growing center of commerce. As Dr. Grimson aged he had a young associate join in with him, Dr. Williams. Thirty-eight years later, a young Kansas dentist, Dr. Kenneth Washburn joined Dr. Williams. Later in Dr. Washburns career, he joined the teaching staff of the University of Illinois Dental School at the Medical Center here in Chicago. During Dr. Douglas Jamess senior year in dental school, at the University of Illinois Dental School at the Medical Center, Dr. Washburn, one of his instructors, invited Dr. James to join him as a young associate at his practice in downtown Chicago in the Peoples Gas, Light, and Coke Company Building. Dr. James joined with Dr. Washburn as a young general dental associate.
Three years later Dr. James took the helm of the practice and Dr. Washburn became his senior associate. Soon after that transition Dr. Dahlberg, a contemporary of Dr. Washburn and a profession emeritus in Dental Anthropology at the University of Chicago merged his dental practice (located in the same building) with Dr. James and Dr. Washburn, and within six months Dr. Fey, a contemporary and friend of both Dr. Washburn and Dr. Dahlberg, who had a dental practice for 39 years just north on Michigan Avenue at 104 South Michigan Avenue, also merged his practice with the newly formed group. Now there were three senior general dentists and one younger general dentist (Dr. James, the offices director) practicing out of the dental office, originally designed for one practicing dentist. Experiencing an urgent need to expand the office and at the fortuitous opportune time when the People Gas, Light and Coke Company was required by the Federal Trade Commission to reduce its monopoly position and transitioned into two separate companies, moved out, Dr. James approached the new owners of the building and arranged in 1990 to build out a much larger office to accommodate four doctors. He chose the 12th floor) the first stop of the upper bank of elevators) and selected a central location on the east side of the building facing our beautiful Lake Michigan overlooking Grant Park and The Art Institute of Chicago.
Realizing a need to provide the groups patients with convenience and the highest quality of care, Dr. James organized the practice to be divided into two subgroups, Michigan Avenue General Dental Associates and Michigan Avenue Dental Specialty Associates and arranged for dental specialists to join the practice. Unfortunately, as time passed and the circle of life became an unwanted reality, Dr. Washburn, Dr. Dahlberg, and Dr. Fey passed away. During this time Dr. James arranged for other dentists to join the practice as independent contracting dentists. Dr. James was hoping his daughter, Jennifer would join the group as a practicing periodontist. But she fell in love with her fianc in Texas where she was attending the University of Texas Dental School working for her post doctorate dental specialty degree in Periodontics.
They plan on staying in Houston, where she will associate with one of her instructors in a Periodontal practice in Houston. Currently out group practice is a multi-specialty and general dental group practice providing a myriad of dental services to Chicagos downtown growing community. Currently, this year is the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the practice by the then young Dr. Grimson in 1911.
A vision of providing the highest quality dental care to his patients is what led Dr. James to develop Michigan Avenue Dental Associates, a dental group practice composed of two subgroups: Michigan Avenue General Dental Associates and Michigan Avenue Dental Specialty Associates.
He started his practice in 1974 when Dr. Kenneth C. Washburn, one of his dental school professors, asked him to be his associate. Since then he not only has maintained his own full-time private practice but, maintaining the philosophy of his teacher and mentor, he continued to actively pursue his dental education. Successfully fulfilling the rigorous academic requirements of the Academy of General Dentistry, he received the academys Fellowship (F.A.G.D.) Award in 1987 and in 1991 he received the highest award the Academy bestows, to only a few members annually, the Mastership (M.A.G.A.) Award. In 1992 he was honored by the American Society of Osseointegration, a component society of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists with a Fellowship Award for his accomplishments in Dental Implantdontics.
Concurrently with his continued academic achievements, Dr. James designed and contracted to build in 1987 a new and more efficient dental office where dentists could practice in an environment of learning and of sharing of knowledge and experience. Ideas and knowledge could more easily be exchanged when multiple practitioners practiced together in the same office. This group was named, Michigan Avenue Dental Associates. Realizing a continued need for optimal care for his patients and those of his associates, in 1990 he arranged for a dental specialist to join the group. This co-group of dental specialists was named, Michigan Avenue Dental Specialty Associates. Dr. James feels honored to treat those patients who walk through the door of the practice, and acknowledges they deserve the highest quality dental care possible.
Dr. James is a native of Evanston, Illinois where he attended four years and graduated from Evanston Township High School. He graduated from Drake University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.), and continued his post graduate work at the University of Illinois School of Dentistry at the Medical Center in Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.D.) in 1971 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (D.D.S.) in 1973.
With many years of practical dental experience to draw from Dr. Jamess practice focuses mainly on the treatment of difficult and complex reconstructive and cosmetic adult dentistry. During his 42 years of practice he has placed more than 15,000 crowns and preformed more than 10,000 root canals. This is a highly imaginative and creative dentist who has developed through his many years of practice and continuing education many sophisticated skills for restoring oral function and obtains for his patients functional harmony and optimal cosmetic appearance. With more than twenty-five years of experience in the placement of implants, Dr. James has become a highly trained dental implantologist, who views complex implant cases as an exciting challenge. He has also refined his skills over the years in working with cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, porcelain restorations, laser dentistry, as well as a wide array of other special cosmetic procedures to obtain for his patients the most optimal, functional and best cosmetic results.
Despite being at the helm of a thriving group practice, and his own private practice, this highly energized practioner made time to marry and raise two children. His daughter Jennifer attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where she received her Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) and further attended Rollinss graduate business school, the Crummer School of Business, receiving her Master of Business Administration degree (M.B.A.). Furthering her education and following in her fathers footsteps, she attended Temple Universitys Maurice H. Kronberg School of Dentistry, graduating with her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (D.D.S.) in 2014. She is currently attending the University of Texas School of Dentistry for the post doctorate specialty program of periodontics. Matthew, his son, graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Went on to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology where he obtained his teaching certification in 2014. Matthew is currently serving as an officer on the bridge of the Chicago Sail and Power Squadron as the Squadron Secretary. Matthew is currently attending DePaul University in its post graduate division in Computer Science where in 2017 he will receive his Masters Degree in Computer Engineering.
Maintaining an active involvement within the dental community is critical to remaining abreast of the newest advances in dental care, stresses Sr. James. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Dental Association, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, Academy of General Dentistry, Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society. Dr. James is currently a Life member of the American Dental Association. He has had the honor of being the charter president of the American Association of Managed Care Dentistry, President of First-Dent Corporation, a Chicago area dentist-provider owned dental managed care corporation, Administrative Officer in 2001, Executive Officer in 2002 and Commander in 2003 of the Chicago Sail and Power Squadron, the local component of the United States Power Squadrons. Dr. James is currently serving as an officer on the bridge of the Chicago Yachting Association as the Associations Rear Commodore. He is a 32 degree mason and has been a member if the Shriners of North America for 26 years. He was recently selected by the Consumer Research Council of America as being a member of Americas Top Dentists for 2003-2004. More recently Dr. James, his son, Matthew and daughter, Jennifer authored and published a 181 page local marine reference directory entitled: James Marine Reference Directory. The directory is used by the United States Coast Guard, the Chicago Power Squadron, the Chicago Police Marine Units, the United States Coast Guard Auxillary, Commodores of all the Chicago Yacht Clubs, Harbormasters of the nine lakefront recreational boaters. Dr. James is presently the Rear Commodore of the Chicago Yachting Association.
Dr. James told us he has always believed that academic achievement should balance with physical activity. In high school, winning the Illinois State High School gymnastic championship, initiated within him a never ending desire to join physical accomplishments with academic accomplishments.
He has continually and progressively participated in paddleball, squash, handball, tennis, racquetball, scuba diving and downhill skiing. He was president of his college ski club and founding president of the University of Illinois Medical/Dental School Ski Club. He very much enjoys boating with his family and friends on his boat Venture On. He is the founder and past president of the Chicago River Rats and Other Rodents Club. Presently he enjoys playing and interacting with his children most of all.
He looks forward in continuing to provide to his patients and future patients, as high a quality of dentistry and personal service as possible. This includes some who have been his patients for 42 years since he started his practice and one in particular who came into his office and stated: Hey doc! Remember that bridge you made for me 31 years ago. I think it is time to replace it. Its loose.
Our exceptionally professional and friendly support staff is one of our offices greatest asset. We are excited what we are doing, and we have high standards of quality and integrity. We are motivated to achieve the best results possible for our family of patients. All or our dental assistants and hygienists bring many years of clinical experience and many hours of state of the art training. Our support staff is divided into two teams. Our business office support team composed of two full-time receptionists, a part-time insurance coordinator, and a full-time business office manager. In our clinical treatment area, our support staff is comprised of our hygienists, chairside assistants, sterilization manager and full-time clinic support manager. The clinic support staff meets briefly each morning to coordinate the staffs responsibilities for the day. Once a week the entire offices staff meets to coordinate the clinical area activities with the front desks activities in order to provide our patients with optimal care from the time they arrive at our office to the time they leave. We would like to consider our patients as part of our away-from-home family and strive to provide them with the same conscientious care as we would provide to members of our immediate families.
Hi, my name is Shanta and I have been in the dental field for 21 years. I am a Licensed Certified Dental Assistant and joined Michigan Avenue Dental Associates in 1999. I am the offices Business/Clinical Manager and assist our patients with their financial needs and the doctors and clinical staff with the demands of the day.
I really enjoy working with all the doctors and staff members at MADA. My responsibility is to coordinate all the activities of the clinical area for our office. I make sure the doctors have the necessary equipment, supplies, and assistance they need. In addition to the clinical area, I prepare our patients treatment plans and assist them in utilizing their insurance benefits. Ill do my best to make your visit with us as warm and comfortable as possible and have you leave with a healthier brighter smile.
Hi, my name is Linda. I have been in the dental field for 32 years and have been a part of Michigan Avenue Dental Associates since 2003. I attended the University of Dayton where I obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree. I sought out to continue my education at UCLA and achieve a Masters in Finance and a Ph.D. in Economics.
My responsibilities are to run the day to day operations of the practice. I enjoy training and implementing new systems in the office to provide a better experience for our patients. Spending time building relationships with our patients is very important to me.
Hi, my name is Haisa and I have been in the dental field almost all my life. I am a foreign trained dentist from Venezuela and I come from a large dental family and now I am a licensed Dental Assistant who joined Michigan Avenue Dental Associates recently to build my experience so I can complete my DDS degree in the United States.
For me it is very important to have experience in dentistry and I truly enjoy working and helping the dentists at MADA. My responsibilities are helping the dentists, as a chairside assistant and making every patient feel confident and happy with their smiles. Dentistry it has always been my passion.
Hello, my name is Jennifer and I am Dr. Jamess daughter. I work as the offices Management Consultant called in as necessary to consult with the staff to continue to make Michigan Avenue Dental Associates a premier dental group practice. I attended Rollins College, a liberal arts school, in Winter Park, Florida, just outside of Orlando where I graduated with a B.A. degree. I then went onto their graduate school, Crummer Graduate School of Business, and graduated with my M.B.A. (Masters in Business Administration). After receiving my M.B.A. I attended Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University in Philadelphia, and graduated with my D.D.S. in 2013. After receiving my D.D.S. I applied to the University of Texas School of Dentistrys post-doctorate program in the dental specialty of Periodontics and was accepted in the Spring of 2013. The program is a three-year program. Upon completing the three-year curriculum I will receive my specialty certification as a Periodontist. In my free time, I enjoy biking, swimming, and skiing.
Hello, my name is Elik. My wife and I were born in Russia and we are here now, loving the good life America has to offer. I was a dentist in Russia. Unfortunately, I am not able to practice in the U.S., but I enjoy working in an environment close to my original passion. I am the offices Sterilization Control Manager as well as the offices OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Compliance Officer. I also so some laboratory work as well. I have been a part of the team at MADA since 1994 and when you love your job time just flies by.
My wife and I have two wonderful and loving children, a daughter and son. My daughter has blessed us with our first grandson, Adam and our first granddaughter, Sasha whom we try to spend as much of our free time with as possible. I am very happy to be a part of MADA.