The meeting/seminar space in Dr. Garden's lower level

By Rochelle Karina

Last year, on Valentine’s Day, something remarkable happened in Severna Park. Amidst all the last-minute runs to flower shops and candy stores, a local doctor opened his new office. That may not sound like big news, but Dr. Richard Garden’s concept of combining a new dental office with space to provide educational seminars for colleagues is something different.

“The building gave me the opportunity to not only have clinical area, but also an area for patient education, and space to develop the Chesapeake Implant Institute,” Dr. Garden explains.

Inside the building, located at 555 Benfield Road, visitors find an open, airy space and a warm, welcoming environment. A wall of antique lockers graces the entry, and the warm theme continues with antique wooden benches in the waiting area, and an old apothecary cabinet in the front office.

“This is really Dr. Garden,” shares Garden’s Implant and Patient Care Coordinator Carey Zinkand. “He wanted the space to be warm and inviting. He likes the antiques.”

Beyond the entry are seven state-of-the art operatory rooms, each with flat screen TV and internet access. Dr. Garden has set up the office to be able to provide remote consults if necessary.

While the thriving practice is something remarkable, it’s the basement of the building that really holds interest.

When Dr. Garden first looked at the building, the basement was a dank space with significant water damage. What the basement holds now is 2,000 square feet of bright, usable space. There is a full kitchen, a bathroom, closets for coats and supplies, plenty of space for laying out food, tables, chairs and everything a group might need. The space also includes wireless internet and an overhead projector and built in screen. It’s absolutely perfect for presentations and seminars. Which is just what the doctor ordered.

That open space allowed Dr. Garden to launch the Chesapeake Implant Institute. Once a month, Dr. Garden hosts educational seminars designed to meet the continuing education unit (CEU) needs of licensed health professionals.

“We started last May,” Dr. Garden explained. “We’ve had world-renowned speakers and educators come in to provide accessible continued education to my colleagues.” All health care professionals must acquire CEUs each year. Mandatory CEUs include CPR, OSHA and PANDA classes, plus there is a variety of elective ones.

“These seminars are convenient,” Dr. Garden continues. “We schedule them after business hours and we bring world-class educators to Severna Park, rather than requiring travel. It allows practitioners to receive their CEUs without leaving their practice for days on end. They can just come to us.”

The space is also available for little cost to local organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and civic groups. “We’re happy to let them use the space with the only charge being the cost of cleaning,” Dr. Garden says.

“I wanted to have fun,” Dr. Garden continues. “This is the last decade and a half of my career. I enjoy learning. I enjoy teaching. I wanted to offer education to my colleagues and patients.”

Chesapeake Implant Institute is a non-profit dedicated to the education of the public, lay people and practitioners, health care providers and ancillary staff.

“This provided an opportunity to be able to develop the institute and give back to my colleagues and the community that has served me so well over the years,” Dr. Garden concluded. “I’m thrilled and excited, and looking forward to what this brings.”

The Chesapeake Implant Institute is located at 555 Benfield Road in Severna Park. Call 410-647-0079 for more information.