Ask Dr. Bernard: What does it mean to be a Schulman Study Group practice?

Drs. Bernard and Eimer are both members of The Schulman Study Group (SSG), a nationally-recognized association of prominent—among the top 1 percent—orthodontic practices. Recently, Dr. Bernard was approached and asked, "What does it mean to you and Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics to be a member of The Schulman Study Group?"

When Dr. Bernard joined Dr. Harry Osborne in the practice in the 70’s, Dr. Osborne was writing educational brochures for a business man named “Bud” Schulman who owned a dental supply company. Mr. Schulman began to help young orthodontists who used his company with business and promotional plans to help make their practices successful. In the 80’s, the orthodontists who had been mentioned by Bud Schulman formed a group called the Schulman Study Group. Annual meetings were held and Bud Schulman presided over the meetings of the most progressive and successful orthodontists in the country.

Today, the Schulman Study Group is comprised of 125 orthodontic practices in the US and Canada. Dr. Ron Redmond leads the group since Bud’s passing and there is a long waiting list to join. The annual meeting is every March and each member must submit two “pearls” from their practice to share with others. The members also share other statistical data and practice ideas that make each practice more current and “cutting edge”. Between annual meetings, The Schulman Group hosts a meeting for staff advancement in the fall and daily e-mails among members to help solve problems and pass on valuable information to the members.

Dr. Bernard attended his first Schulman Study Group meeting in 1984 and he and his wife Sally will be leaving on March 7th for a week long 2010 meeting.” I can’t imagine practicing orthodontics without the support and backing of the members of this wonderful study group”, says Dr. Bernard. He firmly believes that his practice and his patients have greatly benefited by membership in this prestigious group.