When Dr Sath Saranathan arrived in Shepparton in 2003, he didn't plan to stay. Three years later, when the opportunity arose to take over Goulburn Valley Dental Group, he took the leap - and never looked back.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
It wasn't an easy start. The practice was small, operating from a modest two-surgery building next door to where the clinic stands today. Dr Sath took out bank loans with his parents' home as collateral to get the business off the ground - a weight he carried through those first challenging years as he found his footing as both a clinician and a leader. His wife, also a dentist, was by his side every step of the way. Without her support, he'll readily tell you, none of it would have been possible.
Two decades on, the transformation is remarkable. Goulburn Valley Dental Group now operates from a modern, purpose-built home with 10 surgeries in Shepparton, plus a second clinic in Numurkah. The team has grown into a warm, high-performing group of clinicians and support staff - many of them bubbly, hard-working locals who reflect the spirit of the region. Dr Sath is proud of a culture that nurtures graduate dentists straight out of university, with Dr Tom Mackey recently stepping up as a new director - fresh eyes alongside two decades of experience.
What keeps Dr Sath most motivated, though, isn't the bricks and mortar. It's watching children who once sat nervously in his chair now bring their own kids in for their first check-up. That sense of generational trust, built one appointment at a time, is what Goulburn Valley Dental Group is all about.
With technology continuing to push the practice forward and a dedicated team committed to making every visit as comfortable as possible, the next 20 years are looking bright.
