Dentist Brian Palank shakes hands with longtime patients at his retirement party on May 8. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The waiting room of Shepherdstown Dental was filled with well-wishers on May 8, as they bade goodbye to the practice’s founder, Brian Palank.

Over the past 44 years since he opened the practice, Palank has formed a number of close friendships with his patients and become known for his compassionate care. And in the case of patients like Dawnia Blackwell, who has an intellectual disability due to a blow to the head as a baby.

“We’re really going to miss him. He’s made her feel so special, with her handicap. He’s been wonderful!” said her sister, Cathy Brant. “A lot of times, she feels insecure with medical caretakers and will shy away from them. But with Brian? Never.”

While Blackwell has been a patient of Palank’s for a number of years, the Thompson family goes even further back in their connection with the practice.

“My husband was his second patient, so I’ve known him for a long time!” said Nell Thompson, of Shepherdstown. “While Dr. Palank examined him, he told my husband about problems with his lawnmower. So when he was all done, my husband went over to his house and fixed his lawnmower! It was the start of a good friendship.”

Dentist Brian Palank hugs one of his longtime patients, Dawnia Blackwell, goodbye, as Cathy Brant looks on at his retirement party on May 8. Tabitha Johnston

Four generations of Thompson’s family have been patients of Palank. According to Nell’s daughter, Christine Thompson, that loyalty could be attributed to Palank’s high quality of customer care. Up until the last week of his work at Shepherd Dental, Palank could be found going the extra mile to help even those who were not longtime patients.

“The nursing home lost her dentures,” Christine said, referring to her fiance’s mother-in-law. “He made new dentures for her and then saw her just yesterday to shave them down to fit her mouth. That was above-and-beyond, when he was getting ready to not be here anymore, as of today!”

Former Shepherd University football coach Monte Cater could be found at the refreshment table, filling up a plate with corn chips and dip.

“I got here in ’87, and he’s the only dentist I’ve ever seen! At some point in time, he’s seen our whole family,” Cater said. “It’s going to be tough, not having him as my dentist anymore, but he deserves it!”

The retirement party was set up as a surprise for Palank by his dental assistant of 25 years, Paula Roll.

Community members come and go, during the retirement party for Brian Palank at Shepherd Dental on May 8. Tabitha Johnston

“He thought the hygienist and I were taking him to lunch today! That was the only way I could think of, to make sure he didn’t make plans,” Roll said, mentioning she was assisted by two of Palank’s longtime patients, Mary Elizabeth Shipway and Joyce Thornton. “In between patients, I was setting this up. And then I had a couple of wonderful patients who picked this stuff up for me!”

Roll noted that she will be staying on at the practice, which was purchased last May by Patrima Chandler, D.D.S.

“We are definitely going to miss having his energy, his love for his patients and his love for the staff,” Chandler said, noting another dentist, Anita Chitnis, has been hired on part-time at the practice. “We’re happy that we’re going to have another person to serve patients, but we’re definitely going to miss Dr. Palank a lot!”

Saying goodbye to Shepherd Dental was a difficult decision to make, but after seeing Chandler settle into running the practice over the past year, Palank realized it was the right time to retire.

“I’ll be 71-years-old on Monday. I wanted to be done when it was my choice, instead of having my health go down the tubes. I am in good health, but I didn’t want to wait until it was too late,” Palank said. “I knew it was time. It was very much like graduating — I loved my school, I loved my college — but when it was graduation week, I knew it was time to leave that behind and welcome graduation.

“In 44 years, I’ve not missed a day of work!” Palank said. “I’m very proud of that.”

Palank said his life as a retiree will hopefully be filled with a lot of travel, including a golfing trip with his son to Scotland.