Meet the Fam at Southport Family Dental

Services

Jul 13

*Photo creds (all): Julia D’Agostino Pierce (@juliadags*)

Colleen Randall and Pamela Gibson are the owners and founders of Southport Family Dental. “Family” being the operative word. Even though we have known each other for a couple of years now, I just love that there’s always something new to learn about one another. Isn’t that true in all relationships? One thing I hadn’t realized is that these two amazing women dove into starting a business together mere months before the pandemic shut our world down. (I can’t even imagine!) It was certainly a scary start filled with lots of unknowns, but what Colleen and Pamela have built and achieved despite the odds is inspiring.

What’s even more commendable is that they never once wavered from their mission: to provide comprehensive dental care built on trust, compassion, and empathy while giving each and every patient their undivided attention.

Pamela, I also came to find out, is 100% Polish, so we had fun chatting about old traditions since my hubby happens to also be part Polish! We discussed our love/hate relationship with Polish food, and pierogies were top of the LOVE list…obvi…potatoes and cheese stuffed into a fluffy dough pocket? Sign me up! Colleen has lived in Redding with her husband and four kids since 2014 and absolutely loves it! Well ladies, we love that you’re a part of the Fairfield County community! Below, some more nuggets from our chat!

*Colleen Randall (L) and Pamela Gibson (R), Owners of Southport Family Dental*

IAFM: Has dentistry always been on your radar in regards to a career path?

Pamela: Well, when I was young I did not have the greatest teeth growing up, and that made her very self conscious. Nobody believes me when I tell them that, but it’s true! And then when I finally had some cosmetic stuff done (ortho, braces, etc) I developed much more confidence and I realized just how important that is. It was then that I decided I wanted to help people look and feel their best.

Colleen: I knew I was good at the sciences, and I really liked working with my hands. It all kind of came to me in the middle of college. I was a biomedical engineering major at the time, but I knew that wasn't for me. So, I made my decision andI haven't looked back! I just committed and I've been very happy ever since—it’s the right fit!

IAFM: How did your lives come together?

Colleen: Well, we both attended UCONN, however we were two years apart in school. So we never really connected there as much. But we knew of each other. Fast forward a few years and we’re the two UCONN alumni dental associates in the area—in different practices—but we always would reach out or meet for coffee.

Pamela: And then one day when this opportunity came up to take over a retiring doctor’s practice, Colleen stepped up and said “well, if you ever want to own your business and you’re looking for a partner, consider me.” And that was that! It was a smooth transition.

IAFM: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Pamela: We just love meeting new people. Building long term relationships, getting to know patients on a personal level, watching their kids grow… How cool is it to say we get to help generations of families!

IAFM: Ok! Here’s a random one. Are there any “dentistry” trends that you're seeing out there in TikTok land that have you mortified?

Pamela: One trend I'm not happy about is the purple shampoo thing that everyone's been doing. Literally brushing their teeth with purple shampoo in order to get whiter teeth. That is not FDA Approved and not safe. So, yeah, definitely not a fan of that!

IAFM: What do you like to do for fun? Any books or podcasts you like to enjoy.

Colleen: My favorite podcast is “Armchair Expert” hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman. They interview celebrities and experts in different fields. It’s funny and entertaining, but also informative and deep.

Pamela: ….Aaaand I don’t read or listen to podcasts! Ha! I love being outside and running, so my idea of fun is going to Orange Theory and I’m always joining 5k’s throughout the year, like the Turkey Trot or the Hot Oil 5K! Not to mention there's beaches close by. We have tons of great restaurants to enjoy, and so many small businesses to support. It's a really good community to be a part of.

IAFM: Tell us about moving to a new location! What prompted this change?

Colleen: Our old location did a great job of getting us started and was our practice since November 2019, but it was feeling outdated and it didn’t reflect “us”. Aesthetically, we had a different vision for where we wanted our work home to be. We also wanted to update the office in terms of equipment to offer our patients the top of the line in services and care. We moved into our new space this past February 2023. Now, the design of this space feels much more like us, we absolutely love it.

IAFM: Is there anything you would like new and potential customers to know about Southport Family Dental?

Colleen: Good question. I think the best way to put it is we know the dental office can be a very scary or intimidating place, but we're real people and we treat everyone who walks through the door like family. Our goal is always to try and make your experience at the dentist the best it can possibly be, by exuding warmth and comfort, as we understand this is a process that might not be easy for all. We’ve also taken the time to build a core team that shares our values and we’re really proud of. It’s truly is a team mission.