WITH A SMILE
Despite his successful career and highly coveted clientele, Dr. Steve Mark Gan continues to make leaps and bounds in the health and wellness industry
It was a Sunday morning at the GAOC (Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center) in Makati City when I sat down with multi-awarded dental surgeon, Dr. Steve Mark Gan. GAOC is the product of Dr. Gan's hard work, and with its state-of-the art dental equipment and expertise in personalized patient care, many of the country's biggest names trust Dr. Gan's brand of dental care. Dr. Gan is proudly self-made, starting his practice with three thousand pesos and a third-hand dental chair in a small clinic in Binondo. From one branch to 10 GAOC premium clinics and 5 Novodental clinics, it is with passion, grit, and determination that he grew his empire and made a name for himself.
Dubbed as the “Dentist to the Stars,” Dr. Gan gained fame in 2007 when television personality Boy Abunda endorsed him on his talk show almost every day. Boy, as he recalls, was terrified of visiting the dentist. But with his signature approach to high-quality dentistry, Dr. Gan was able to make the experience much more pleasant than what his patient expected. And the rewards were truly astounding, “I would go to my office and find patients lined up, all thanks to Boy’s endorsement,” he recalls. “He is really a great friend and one of my closest confidants.”
Born to medical doctors, Dr. Gan had a middle class upbringing. His mother taught him that life is competitive and that if you don’t work hard, you get left behind. This awakened his hunger for success. From selling calamansi juice at 10 years old with his brother to selling dental supplies in college, he was determined to make it big. And with pure ambition, unwavering perseverance, and much-needed help from his life-long friends, he was able to turn his dream into a reality.
With this kind of focus, one would think that Dr. Gan had a well-drawn blueprint of how his life would be. But grounded as he is, he still wishes he could’ve done better in school. “Modesty aside, I’m not the most studious type. People say I’m very smart. I go to class, I listen, and I pass. I don’t really study, but when I study, I could get crazy high marks. Had I studied harder, I know I could have done bigger things than where I am today,” he says.
Then again, Dr. Gan’s brain works differently. Always thinking of the next step and always raising the bar of
excellence, his is an interesting mind to pick. By comparing his business with that of industry leaders, he was able to replicate if not elevate the services they delivered. He explains, “When I started, I always wanted to change the landscape of dentistry in the Philippines. It’s so traditional, it’s so political. Back in the 1990s when I was studying abroad, I would always say, “Why is it in America or Europe, they have this level of dentistry?” Here, it’s very conservative. For example, if I had my way, each and every dental office in the Philippines must have an autoclave machine. They should have x-rays for the benefit of the patients. Equipment which is basically up to the highest standards to the level of safety. The list goes on.”
With a sterling record and a trusted name, Dr. Gan has furthered the business of dental health and wellness, changing the way the industry works and challenging norms. Six years on the Board of Dentistry and the relentless pursuit for innovation has given him foresight and a better view of our health care system. He shares, “It’s so sad to know that when you go abroad, medical and dental care are so important. Here, people who need to see a doctor can’t because they don’t have money. It sounds so unfair, but healthcare is expensive.”
Eventually, Dr. Gan says he hopes to go into hospitals in the next 10 or 15 years, perhaps to make a bigger difference or to change yet another industry. One could only presume greater and better things will happen given his remarkable work ethic. In the meantime, he is busy preparing to launch the GAOC Dental Academy and establishing the GAOC Foundation which helps needy children with cleft palates and raises money for the college funds of his rank-and-file employees’ children.
One with a golden heart, Dr. Gan is a perfect example of a man living a meaningful life. He quotes two great minds, Mahatma Gandhi and Steve Jobs.
From Gandhi, “Live as if you’re going to die tomorrow. Learn as if you’re going to live forever.” And from Jobs, “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” How similar these men are, himself included. Great minds, after all, think alike. And with that Dr. Gan ends the conversation with a smile.