Dr. Ron Beasley, class of 1999, knew he wanted to be a clinician and that he also wanted to be a business owner. What kind of business that would be was heavily influenced by his uncle, a physician who spent years dealing with insurance billing issues. He encouraged Ron to pursue a career in dentistry. He remembers him saying that dentists “have better lives and make more money” so he took his advice.
After graduating from Samford University in 1994, he took a gap year before enrolling in the School of Dentistry in 1995, where he spent his first three years convinced that Endodontics was the place for him only to change his mind in his last year and choose general practice. His class was the first to transition from requirements to comprehensive care, which made his senior year feel a bit chaotic.
“As far as mentors go, Dr. "Mama Jean" O'Neal took me under her wing for some reason and allowed me to work with her on many cosmetic and difficult cases. At the time, she was director of clinics for restorative, so she oversaw operative and pros. I would sneak up to the fourth floor at certain times, and work alongside her. Also, Dr. John Mills, the former head of the Endo clinic, was a big influence on my career path. I had decided to do Endo, full steam ahead. I had worked for two endodontists in Birmingham for three years during breaks and summers. I also did research with Dr. Charles Cox for Endo purposes as well. But when the time came to decide, I changed my mind, and declined the residency for general practice, Said Beasley.
After completing school Ron purchased his first practice from Dr. Charles Smith in Vestavia, who also served as an adjunct professor in both Endodontics and Prosthodontics. Ron credits Dr. Smith with being his mentor for over 19 years and helping him focus on what matters most. “Dr. Smith’s advice was to try and do the best possible treatment on each case you do...the next one better than the previous one.”, Ron said.
His company StoneCreek was established in 2012 with fellow UAB School of Dentistry alumnus Dr. Brian Barnes, class of 2000. Dr. Beasley started StoneCreek with two objectives in mind: First, provide a level of unrivaled, comprehensive, and compassionate dental care to patients, and second, create an environment where dentists can focus solely on their practice without the added stress of managing a business. His passion for creating a space for young clinicians to hone their dental skills in a private practice environment has led to the business seeing impressive success with eighteen locations now in operation in both Alabama and Tennessee. “I’d like to help these young folks make better job decisions, so they make economic sense for them concerning student debt, cost of living, etc.”
As for what’s next for Dr. Beasley the answer centers around two concepts- legacy and education. “The StoneCreek dream was/is to build a lasting organization, long after I'm gone, which is centered on post graduate education. Doctors and staffers, including hygienists. We want to help them get better at their craft, while also allowing them to make a good living during that training period, he said.
Ron has two daughters at Mountain Brook High School, one senior and one sophomore, and has recently been asked to serve on the State of Alabama Committee for Insurance Reform, where he is working with other clinicians to address issues concerning insurance billing in our state. When he’s not working at one of his offices, he enjoys playing golf, hunting, fishing, and watching sports.