By Cynthia De Castro
DECEMBER 21, 2007
Asianjournal.com
He Came, He Stayed, He Conquered
FILIPINO-Canadian Steve Mark Gan was 10 Eventually, he made it a must in his center
years old when his parents decided to go back to have the most hygienic and sanitized
to the Philippines. At first, he wasn’t sure if his equipment and facilities.
parents — medical doctors, Dr. William Hoping “Most dentists would rather buy a car or
Gan and Dr. Susan Gan — were doing the right something when they earn money. I invest in
thing. equipment and materials. We boast of having
More than 15 years later, after finishing the most state-of-the-art equipment in the
advanced prosthodontics residency at the country. Nothing can come close to us. We’re
University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), always a step ahead ..not just 2 steps away..
Dr. Steve Mark Gan was offered a $12,000 but about a whole staircase away from other
a month job in LA. He turned it down and dental clinics,” Gan revealed.
decided to come back to the Philippines, sure Gan’s success is also due to his strong
that he was doing the right thing. business acumen. “I was always in business
Today, Dr. Mark Gan is a respected leader in growing up . You see, my parents never spoiled
the Philippine dental scene. Only in his 30’s, he me. They taught us to work hard for our things,
has single-handedly revived the industry and even our toys. That’s why even as a young kid, I
pioneered dental tourism in the country. His learned to buy and sell.
clinic, Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center Even while I was in elementary, I sold
(GAOC), is the Philippines’ most advanced lemonade,” he said. “Then when we moved
dental implant center, and is also among here, I sold calamansi juice. I also sold jeans and
the top 25 in the world. People of different garments to my classmates.”
cultures, race and color go to GAOC for their Gan wanted to take up business in college
dental needs. have the best equipment, you must really have thinking medical practice will take some time.
Tagged as the ‘dentist of the stars.’ Dr. Gan is the best.” His father then convinced him to take up
the favored dentist of well-known personalities Even the name of his center was influenced dentistry. After earning his degree, he went to
and celebrities such as Lorna Tolentino, Boy by Moy. the US for training in USC and UCLA.
Abunda, John Lloyd Cruz, Kristine Hermosa “Dr.Moy had a West Coast Center for Gan runs GAOC like a law firm, giving his
and Rica Peralejo. Osseointegration. He doesn’t advertise. team of 7 dentists and 14 staff the opportunity
“It’s because I make them look their best. He didn’t use the word clinic, implant, to be partners.
Period,” Dr. Gan reveled on how he was able to surgery, dentist etc. But he is world famous. Perfect Smiles
attract such distinguished celebrities. Osseointegration refers to bone and metal Dr. Gan opened the country’s first teeth
The way to the top wasn’t easy. fusion which is what dental implants are. So, I whitening center in 2001, Perfect Smiles in
“When I came back from the US in 1998, followed in his steps,” Gan said. Glorietta, Makati. At the same time, he opened
after studying in the University of Southern In 1999, Dr. Gan partnered with some the GAOC. Both were instant hits.
California (USC) and UCLA, I only had $30 to dentists and they set up a dental implant clinic Gan revealed that the biggest challenge in
my name. I took out my life savings which I in St. Luke’s Hospital. his life has been in the area of finances.
earned since I was a kid selling different things. “We revived the dental implant industry “There was a time when I was lining up at a
That totaled $3,266. I used all of that to buy a and we’re making waves in the dental political loan shark to get a loan. I had my collateral. He
second-hand dental chair. Then, I used my late world. You see, dental implants were introduced made me wait from 7-11pm. He was drinking.
grandmother’s dental clinic in Binondo,” Dr. in 1983. But the technology was very poor. I just waited there with my cousin and my best
Gan said. There were more failures than success. People friend. When it was already 11pm and the
“I did one cleaning. With that, I bought some got scared of it,” Gan recounted. loan shark was not yet giving me the money
material so I could do some pasta (filling). I “After a year, in 2000, I bought out my I needed, my best friend offered - siya na lang
worked 24/7. I accepted all kinds of patients, partners. I built my first Makati office, the GAOC daw magpapahiram sa akin, umuwi na lang
most of whom at that time were Chinese since at the Medical Plaza in Makati. I worked so hard kami. I then found out who my real friends are.
my clinic was in Binondo,” he added. “Some say to pay the bills and make ends meet. I even Some people gave me empty promises and
my success is so fast. But actually it’s not really pawned my car to keep the practice,” he said. left me hanging.”
an overnight success. I worked hard for many Dr. Mark Gan is a visionary and a trend-setter. While so many dentists and doctors are
years. But it came with trade-offs, like I can’t He wasn’t satisfied with just keeping the status immigrating abroad as nurses, Gan plans to
play golf, I don’t go out and I missed so much quo. He wants to make a difference. stay in the country. His vision is to build a chain
family time.” He revealed to Asian Journal the driving of dental centers which will give US-quality
Mark is married to Marilyn and has two kids, force in his career as a dental surgeon and a dentistry at an affordable price to the masses.
Simon Matthew and Moira. prosthodontist. He has been traveling to US, China, Europe, and
He revealed that his two kids are both named “I felt there’s a lack of dental awareness and parts of Asia to look at possibilities for putting
after his mentor and teacher in UCLA - Dr Peter technology in the Philippines. My family was in the right ingredients for the dental offices he
K. Moy. receiving dental care which was of very low plans to set up.
“I owe so much from him. He is really my standard compared to what I saw in the States. “We don’t compromise quality. We will only
mentor. He taught me everything I know. He The standard of surgery was not up to par with use the best materials at affordable prices -
taught me the right work ethics. Like you must international standards. So, when I came back Since the masses cannot afford a Mercedes,
practice what you preach. If you claim you home, I wanted to change all that,” he said. so to speak, we will offer them a Toyota. Very
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