What does your dentist do on his or her day off? If you or your kids see Dr. Mark Perelmuter or Dr. Brad Goldberg of Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics, you’re likely to see them coaching a cycling team, kicking off a school reading program or cheering on a bunch of youth swimmers.
“We’ve always felt like it was important to give back to the community, plus we treat a lot of kids,” says “Dr. Mark,” as Perelmuter prefers to be called. “That’s always been our focus: helping kids out.”
The Dupont Road practice, which helped pioneer the use of the Invisalign orthodontics device in Kentucky, sees a lot of patients. Perelmuter has been in practice for over 30 years, and his partner, “Dr. Brad” Goldberg, joined six years ago. The two like-minded DMDs fell into alignment without any wires, rubber bands or achiness, committing at least as much time to the young people outside the dental chair as in.
“Where do I start?” says Perelmuter, when asked about the office’s extracurricular activities. “There are so many schools or other programs, and they always need money and involvement. Money is important, but instead of just throwing money at programs, we try to get involved.” Perelmuter and Goldberg sponsor youth baseball teams and are longtime boosters of the Gators swim team at Jewish Community Center as well as JCC’s youth outings, theatre program and summer camps (where Perelmuter, a klezmer musician, has led singalongs with local mainstay John Gage). The doctors are also active supporters of more than a dozen schools around Louisville. “We’ll go the ball games, or we’ll throw a pizza party or awards dinner,” Perelmuter says. “In fact, when I bought this building, it was a Japanese restaurant. We donated the equipment for the snack bar at St. Bernard’s (Elementary School).”
Goldberg is also very hands-on. In his spare time, the Morehead native coaches Red Zone Cycling, a local mountain bike racing team for kids. “I love kids,” he says. “There’s no negativity in their minds. I’d rather have a conversation with a kid than an adult because they’re not influenced by negativity.” Through this positive example, Drew Gilman, a local cyclist, turned around a difficult childhood and won a college scholarship. “He wants to be a dentist, and he will probably get to go to school for free because of cycling,” says Goldberg proudly. Both he and Perelmuter have also helped Family Scholar House – a program that helps single parents get college degrees – with fundraising and financial assistance, and they are very active in Best Buddies, an organization that partners intellectually disabled adults with mentors. In fact, last year, Goldberg was honored as a Best Buddy of the Year for his commitment.
The office’s social mission isn’t limited to the two orthodontists, but applies to everyone on staff. “The first criterion is they have to put the patients absolutely number one,” Goldberg says. “It isn’t just moving the teeth and creating nice smiles – which are very important – but if the patients and their families don’t have an outstanding experience, we haven’t done our job.”
Perelmuter lives with his wife, Marci, in the Lime Kiln area and has two grown sons. Neither son went into the family business, but Perelmuter has great hopes for his colleague, a new dad who lives in the Highlands’ Belknap neighborhood with his wife, Candice. “Maybe that’ll be the next generation,” he says.
Goldberg certainly intends to raise young Max with strong values. “With kids, we help them raise money and encourage them to be healthy and not let their parents do everything for them,” the younger orthodontist says. “I grew up in a used car lot, and Dr. Mark grew up in a pawnshop. You learn and you teach priorities. We know that there are too many greedy people out there, and if you don’t give back to your community, you shouldn’t be a part of it.”
Perelmuter & Goldberg Orthodontics is located at 916 Dupont Road. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (502) 897-1112 or visit www.greatersmiles.com.
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