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player ready...If you are a senior citizen especially, you may have faced the difficult situation of your longtime physician or dentist announcing his or her retirement. Without your long trusted friend, it can be a bit daunting to find a new professional, and you would like it to be just the right person.
In 2016, Dr. Kim Young retired from the dental practice founded in 1957 by her father, Dr. Keith Young. The Young family was proud of their opportunity to serve several generations of many families in and around Aurora, but their patients then faced a future of uncertainty. Who would be taking over for the retired Dr. Kim Young, and would he or she be right for carrying on the tradition?
Having already joined the team at Young Dental about seven years ago, Dr. Amy Newkirk took over as head of the practice in March of 2016. In the years that followed, almost all patients agreed that she was the “real deal.” Her demeanor and kindness were much like those of Dr. Young’s, but she also brought her own brand of caring and gentleness.
Almost all of the office staff stayed on during that transition, and were more than pleased with the new head of their “family.” She was a warm person who was impossible to not like.
It was with much sadness that we all learned last month that Dr. Amy Newkirk passed away at the age of 45 from cancer. It was devastating to all as she was so young and had so much more left to give her family, staff
and patients.
In January of 2020, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and spent the next 12 months undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Incredibly, except for a period of shutdown during the pandemic, she continued caring for her patients during that year, and did it with no associate dentist on the staff. Some patients did not even know of her illness.
In January of 2021, she learned that the cancer had spread to her lung and lymph nodes, and her private battle then kept her from doing patient care. Dr. Bindi Patel then stepped into a leadership role at the practice and continues today as its new owner.
To find out more about Dr. Amy Newkirk and her wonderful legacy, I talked with staff members Nina Race and Jay Gembeck, who were with her on a daily basis from the day she arrived. Gembeck has been on the staff since 1995, and Race since 1997.
“Dr. Amy saw the good and the positive in everyone, and that was amazing,” Gembeck said. “She was such a great example for us all, and I will always remember that. Serving people gave her joy and happiness.
“We’re all made in God’s image, and Dr. Amy had a talent and a gift from God as His creation. She was His image bearer,” Gembeck said.
Gembeck also praised Dr. Amy Newkirk’s husband Randy and children Reilly (age 12) and Garrett (age 10).
“The kids came to visit in the office and to ‘help’ and had their own folders with all the employee folders. Her husband and kids were strong through her illness — that would be my first word,” Gembeck said.
Dr. Amy Newkirk’s obituary also mentioned that her generous spirit brought her skills to those in need both in our area and in impoverished communities in South America.
As office manager and close friend, Race also mentioned that Dr. Amy had an interest in helping special needs patients in her previous practice and also in Aurora. Race had many special memories, which began with her taking over what had always been a “family” practice.
“She took over this practice because of the generations of patients that we had. That inspired her,” Race said. “She was able to continue to develop relationships with them. As a wife and mother, she had compassion for families.”
But the special memories offered by Race included times both before and during Dr. Amy Newkirk’s illness.
“She had a wonderful gift of articulating her words,” Race said. “She was a calm and amazing communicator. All of us here took her illness very hard.
“I want people to know that she was special and would want everyone to carry on with her wonderful attitude and spirit. She would not want people to be sad. She fought to the end because she did not want to leave her babies.”
As said in her obituary, her kindness, braveness and beautiful smile will always be remembered.
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Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.