As Dr. Fatima Maarouf approaches her second year running Harborside Dental at 313 Main Street, her growing practice stands as a testament to her commitment to the community.
The decision to take over the long-established practice of Dr. Richard Schwartz—who had practiced dentistry in Winthrop for four decades—marked a significant turning point in Dr. Maarouf’s career two years ago.
“Dr. Schwartz retired and I took over the
practice,” Dr. Maarouf stated with pride.
Naming the practice became one of her first priorities. Wishing to honor Winthrop’s character as a waterfront community, she settled on “Harborside” as the practice name.
“I
think of Winthrop as a beach town and I love the beach and being around
Winthrop, so we decided Harborside is a good, calming name,” she explained.
Dr. Maarouf and her husband, Hugo Solis—an attorney with the BPDA and real estate agent for Coldwell Banker’s Winthrop office—relocated from East Boston to Winthrop a year ago, demonstrating their investment in the town. Both are members of the Cottage Park Yacht Club, and Harborside Dental maintains membership in the Chamber of Commerce.
The practice benefits from the dedication of its team: dental assistant Mirjeta Gjinovici and treatment coordinator Lindsey Robinson, both Winthrop residents.
Substantial improvements have transformed the office over the past two years. Dr. Maarouf undertook a complete renovation, incorporating new dental chairs, computers, software and cutting-edge equipment throughout.
Dr. Maarouf, 33, was raised in Lebanon, where she attended American University of Beirut and earned her Biology degree in 2007. Her dental education came from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, graduating in 2011. After relocating to Boston in 2012, she completed a residency at Tufts University focusing on adult special needs dental care and hospital-based dentistry.
“I ended up loving Boston and staying in the
area,” Dr. Maarouf reflected.
Working as an associate dentist at several Boston-area practices preceded her entrepreneurial venture, which she had long envisioned.
“I realized that eventually I wanted to be a
business owner,” Dr. Maarouf noted. “When this practice came up, it was in a
really cute town and excellent location with ample parking and T accessibility,
so I felt it was a great opportunity. My husband and I really love it here. My
team also lives here. We’re all invested in the town.”
Her patient base spans from infants as young as one year old through senior citizens, representing all age groups.
“We do a variety of fillings, crowns,
fluoride treatments (for children), cleanings, extensive veneer and bridgework,
implants, extractions, and teeth whitening,” Dr. Maarouf emphasized. “We also work
closely with specialists for certain procedures such as extensive root canals
and implant placement.”
Preventative dentistry forms the foundation of her practice philosophy, with Dr. Maarouf advocating for checkups every six months.
Educational outreach has become part of her mission, with visits to local preschools to discuss dental health importance. “Prevention is really important, especially when kids are young,” she noted. “I
try to teach them that it’s fun to be at the dentist.”
Recognizing the demands on her patients’ time, Dr. Maarouf maintains flexible scheduling, offering hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on certain days and opening one Saturday monthly.
Professional development remains a priority as she stays current with emerging dental technologies and techniques. “I do a
lot of continuing education courses and attend workshops and seminars
throughout the country.”
Though the decision to establish her own practice required careful consideration, Dr. Maarouf has found the Winthrop community welcoming and feels optimistic about what lies ahead.
“There are challenges that you don’t
anticipate and you’re responsible for everything, good and bad, so there’s a
lot that is put on your shoulders – but when you’re trying to create something
that you love, it makes it all worth it at the end of the day,” Dr. Maarouf concluded.