To the editor:

To the people of Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities, I want to announce my retirement from the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is time to enjoy the next chapter of my life. Health is wealth, and I want to retire when I am healthy enough to enjoy my hobbies.

I would like to thank Dr. Terry Hopper, who started the practice and took a chance on me so many years ago. He was a great mentor and is a terrific man, besides being a good surgeon. I owe so much to him. I also want to thank Mr. Tom Tibbitts for establishing a fantastic medical staff at Trinity Regional Hospital that I worked with for years. He spent a lot of time on recruitment and retention and we had a medical staff second to none. I also want to thank my two younger partners, Dr. Eric Knox and Dr. Jon DeJong. They have been fantastic partners and will continue to provide quality oral surgery to the people of our region. I promise that I leave you in good hands. I would not have the practice that I had without the staff that makes everything happen. I am proud of each and every one who has worked in our office over the years. We have had staff who worked in the office longer than I have been working. Without the quality staff, nothing would flow and run smoothly. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

Lastly, I would like to thank the people and referring dentists in our area for trusting me with your care and your patients’ care. My lifelong goal has always been to make a bad experience as good as possible for everyone. I am not sure that I was able to accomplish that for everyone, but I tried and I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to help so many of you.

Fort Dodge and the region will always be home and I look forward to seeing all of you outside of the office in a more relaxed and comfortable setting.

Eric Pearson, DDS

Fort Dodge