NORTH EAST — Suzanne Leffew has been working at the Indian Falls Dental Center in North East for only three months. But even so, the newest dental assistant on the close-knit staff already knows full well how respected and adored Dr. Dave Leatherwood is.
“I have never seen so many patients cry saying their goodbyes,” Leffew marveled.
The tears are because Leatherwood, 74, is retiring after serving as a dentist in Cecil County for 48 years, the last 34 of which at Indian Falls, the practice he opened in 1990. Wednesday is the last day that Leatherwood — affectionately called “Dr. Dave” — will be in the office treating patients.
Many of those people who have walked away from their final appointments with moist eyes during the past few months have been Leatherwood’s patients for as long as four decades.
“When you are in his chair, your blood pressure goes down. He is so calming. His touch is light. He’s very gentle,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, a dental hygienist at Indian Falls for 28 years. “Patients have been with him since the 1980s, which is testament to the trust they have in him as a dentist and as a person. That, in and of itself, tells you everything. I’ve been with many dentists and, by far, he is the best.”
Leatherwood has served his patients well professionally, according to staff members who have watched him interact with his patients over the years. But he has been so much more to them than just their dentist, they emphasized.
“I’ve always been impressed with what a Godly man he is and how he cares for his patients like they are family and friends,” said Paula Roland, an Indian Falls receptionist for eight and half years.
Bridget Griffith, an Indian Falls dental assistant for five years, also commented on Leatherwood’s interest in people and his concern for their well-being.
“Dr. Dave is just a genuine soul. Everything he says and does comes from the bottom of his heart. He is so kind-hearted. When he is having a conversation with you, he is locked in. And he remembers everything from 20, 30 years ago. He listens,” Griffith said.
She recalled how Leatherwood left work one day, after learning that Griffith’s car broke down along a road, and helped her.
“He said, ‘Everything is going to be OK.’ He could tell I was upset and nervous,” Griffith remembered. “After that, he would check my oil sometimes and top it off. He paid for the oil out of his own pocket.”
Although he never talked about it, Leatherwood was known for helping his patients outside the office.
“He is always interested in whatever is going on in his patients’ lives,” Fitzgerald explained. “That is the character of the man and the dentist. He is a wonderful boss and a wonderful person.”
‘ONE ON ONE’A 1968 graduate of Frederick High School in Western Maryland, Leatherwood credits his next-door neighbor back then for helping him consider dentistry as a career after he replied, “I don’t know,” when she asked what he planned to study at University of Maryland (College Park) before he started his freshman year.
“She said, ‘Why don’t you be a dentist?” recalled Leatherwood, who then researched the requirements to be a dentist.
Much appealed to him, including the fact that dentists are needed everywhere.
“You can live in the country. You can work with your hands. It is a profession that is constantly changing, so it is challenging. And you work one-on-one with patients,” Leatherwood outlined, listing all of the positives.
He graduated from University of Maryland in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a minor in the pre-dental curriculum.
Then he enrolled in the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. During the summer before his senior year, Leatherwood did an externship for a Chestertown-based dental practice that had a satellite office in Elkton. He made connections during that externship that led to his first job as a dentist after graduating with his dentistry degree in 1976.
“I discovered Cecil County as an extern from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1975 and never looked back,” said Leatherwood, who met his future wife, the former Cheryl Olson, in this county. “I’m so glad God led me to Cecil County. It’s been the perfect place for me to live and practice.”
Leatherwood started his career working two days a week at the dental office in Chestertown and the other three days at the satellite office in Elkton. He was a dental associate of Dr. Fred Wyman and Dr. Neil Brayton.
Leatherwood later entered into a partnership with Dr. Michael Lipman, opening an office in Cherry Hill, off Route 213 (Singerly Road), north of Elkton, in 1979.
After 11 years practicing dentistry in Cherry Hill, where the number of patients he treated grew greatly, Leatherwood branched out on his own and opened Indian Falls Dental Center in 1990. In 2018, the office moved from its original location off Mechanics Valley Road — a short distance south of the office’s namesake Indian Falls — to West Pulaski Highway (Route 40), about a mile west from the first spot.
Those who know Leatherwood know that he is a Christian. Leatherwood attempted to share his faith with every new patient over the decades in a low-key way at the end of each first visit. And that’s where it would end, unless a patient wanted to know more about his faith.
“Every new patient gets a Christian tract on the way out, and they can read it at their leisure if they so desire,” said Roland, who noted that Leatherwood authored the pamphlet, one that includes interesting dental analogies in some spots. “Every new patient gets the Gospel.”
Wendy McKenzie, who has worked in many capacities at Indian Falls for 25 years, opined that Leatherwood’s approach, albeit understated, is effective. “He has made a wonderful impact on the community.”
“Hopefully, it is an inoffensive way to share the most important thing I know,” Leatherwood commented when asked about his one-off practice of sharing his faith with new customers.
A THANKFUL MANLeatherwood enters his retirement knowing that Indian Falls Dental Center will continue to thrive under the leadership of Dr. Adam Price who, since starting there in 2008, has served as Leatherwood’s associate and then partner before taking the helm.
Price and Leatherwood both attend Grace Bible Chapel near Rising Sun. Their relationship started with Leatherwood mentoring Price during the later stages of Price earning his degree at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
“You can’t be a good mentor unless you have someone who finds it easy to learn — and that is what Dr. Adam is. He absorbs knowledge like a sponge,” Leatherwood complimented, using the “Dr. Adam” title of affection when speaking of Price. “He has proven to be a perfect successor, in all respects as I walk away. It is a comfort to know that our patients will now be in the capable hands of Dr. Adam and his awesome staff.”
Price learned from one of the best, Price opined.
“He is an excellent dentist. He provides exceptional care to his patents and treats them like friends and family. He promotes a peaceful atmosphere,” Price said. “He is kind and generous, and he is a great communicator with people.”
Leatherwood values continuing education, according to Price, who noted that Leatherwood often went well beyond the number of hours licensed dentists are required to devote to learning the newest information regarding dentistry.
“One of the things that has always struck me over the years is how other dentists have consulted with him to ask him how to treat a challenging case. He continued to learn and was up on everything,” Price said.
Price considers himself blessed to have been mentored by and to have have practiced dentistry with Leatherwood.
“I have learned a lot of good lessons from Dr. Dave,” Price said.
Leatherwood is thankful as he starts his retirement.
“I have many heartfelt thanks to the people of this area for their trust and confidence over the years. I have been blessed to work with the most incredible staff members, without whom I could have never continued to this point,” Leatherwood said. “I am happy, proud and grateful to have served so many wonderful people over these decades.”
There are no immediate plans after retirement for Leatherwood, who has four adult children and ten grandchildren with his wife, Cheryl.
“We’ll see how the Spirit leads,” Leatherwood said.
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