Ron O’Neal was born and raised in a family of five in Winter Haven, Florida. Ron’s mother was an elementary school teacher, and his father was a comptroller for a packing company in Lakeland. “When I was young, I loved the Christmas movie Rudolph, with the elf that wanted to be a dentist. That was my first heart-string pull towards dentistry” (smiles). Ron was a straight-A student, a Florida National Academic Scholar, and received scholarships to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville. “When I first got to college, I was an immature moron. It was my first time away from home, out of Winter Haven, and I messed up. I tanked it actually, as I look back. I guess I was trying to figure out who Ron O’Neal really was.”
Ron immediately got his act together and petitioned to get his scholarships back, which he did. “My sophomore year I went back on a platform of A’s all the way through.”
Ron also joined the Marine Corps as a reservist for four years while an undergrad, which was meaningful for him. “I had a really good friend that died in a motorcycle accident. It was his dream to go. I went for him.”
While an undergrad, Ron also worked at the VA hospital where he tried to decide with certainty which specialty of medicine he would practice. “I thought about being a pediatrician. I enjoyed the relationships and the children, but I wanted to work with my hands. I started working in the dental clinic and loved it. I was told by superiors that my hand-eye coordination was better than most. I think that was all I needed to hear. At that point, I was all in.”
Ron received both his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Medical Dentistry from the University of Florida. After spending a couple years with a practice in Lakeland, Ron bought his first solo practice in St. Petersburg in 2005 and added a second location in South Tampa in 2011. Today, Ron O’Neal is “The Family Dentist.” The culture of his practice is fun, laid back, entertaining, and comforting as I can tell you, personally, with my extraction experience recently. I consider myself pretty tough until you come near me with a needle. Ron and his staff were awesome. Ron’s caring, goofy personality and amazing team make for a very pleasant dental experience.
Ron sits on the board for Village Partners International which has hospitals in Africa and Haiti. “I joined the Board right after the 2010 hurricane in Haiti. The Partners travel and create medical clinics, I create dental clinics and perform extractions, etc. I have been to Haiti with the group for the last 9 years, but not Africa yet. I look forward to it once travel bans are lifted and we have a vaccine.”
Ron also sits on the board & donates time to the Judeo Christian Clinic where they provide dental care for those that otherwise could not afford it.
1. What is the best advice that you have ever been given?
Walk humbly confident. Be grateful for what you have and not envious of what you do not.
2. What is something no one knows about you?
I enjoy graphic arts and I am pretty good. I just designed and published a children’s book. Not to sell, just to give out to patients and their families. I created it from a book I loved as a child and that my children enjoyed.
Oh, and that I am named after a ‘pimp’. No, not really, but if you look up the name Ron O’Neal in the urban dictionary, it’s included there. I won’t tell you what it means, you can look it up. (laughs). It’s referenced in the movie Pulp Fiction and Menace to Society. Apparently “Ron O’Neal” was a super fly, big time pimp in New York City back in the day (laughs).
3. Tell us something Positive that you can take away from 2020?
I think this year has made us more mindful of the time we have together. We relearned to appreciate the little things we were doing prior to this–enjoy the simple things.
4. If you were not a dentist, you would be a what?
Probably a landscaper working in a yard somewhere. I love being outdoors. I had a landscaping business in high school.
5. How do you deal with the pressures of owning a business?
Give yourself grace. It takes time to make changes. Invest in the relationships with your people. As we go through tough times like we have this year, focus on what you can control and take good care of your team.
6. What advice can you offer to others based on your life & career experiences so far?
This is important: realize you are the LEAST important person in the building. And if you do not realize that your business is in trouble. Cherish everyone!
7. What is your endgame/ exit strategy?
I don’t know yet, I will tell you when I get there. As long as I continue to enjoy what I am doing, I have no plans to retire and sell my practice anytime soon. I think sometimes, when you over-plan or over-think what your plans are, you miss out on other opportunities. One day at a time.
8. At the end of the day, how do you want to be remembered?
As someone who was compassionate and made a difference in people’s lives for the better.
