About The Dr.
Dentist and Owner
“90 percent of my success is because of the people who are here.” Dr. McDonnell
On top of his busy schedule as a dentist and business owner, Dr. Phil McDonnell also spent 12 years teaching young dentists at Loyola University’s residency program. As Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery, Dr. McDonnell mentored many young dentists on the verge of their professional careers. His advice, sometimes heeded, sometimes ignored, was always the same. “These were young residents, in debt, and they cared about making money,” says Dr. McDonnell. “I told them to treat everybody like they’re your favorite relatives.” READ MORE
Why Choose Us?
Experienced, Professional Staff
Our office staff is friendly, professional, and efficient
Technological Advantages
It’s a state-of-the-art facility with a crack staff; put together it results in a friendly, efficient office.
Patient Focused
“We do it right the first time.” – Dr. Phillip McDonnell. The absolute best dental care—our philosophy is really that simple.
Convenient Downtown Location
25 East Washington Street
Suite 2041
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Ph: 312.236.9322
Fx: 312.236.7115
Customer Testimonials
We have a joke here [at DePaul University], that we should bring Dr. McDonnell in two times a year to do all our cleanings. There are at least ten of us here that are patients…family, friends, significant others. I’ve never had a dentist like him before, and the staff there is amazing, too.
You go into another dentist office…it seems harried, an uncomfortable place to be. At Dr. McDonnell’s, it’s calming. All the people there are very easy going and fun, as is Dr. McDonnell. The staff is phenomenal, the office beautiful, Dr. McDonnell trustworthy. My experience there is that it’s painless, which is not something you can often say when you go to the dentist.
I have had several dentists in my lifetime and fortunately all of them have been very good. Dr Phil is the best though. The staff and facilities are top-notch and I always feel like they treat me with care and attention appropriate to my needs.
Our Team
Aloria has been working in our office for the last few years part-time and recently became full-time. She brings great skills, and a caring, gentle approach to the care of each patient.
Carolyn has spent the last 20+ years working in restorative dentistry. She worked for her father, Dr. Jim Buckman, and for the last years has worked first as a dental assistant and as a member of our front desk staff. Most recently Carolyn was promoted to the position of Office Manager and will often be your contact with our office. Carolyn will be our Facebook contact, ready to respond to your questions.
Dr. McDonnell completed his own undergraduate work at Bloomington’s Indiana University in 1984, and then went on to Indianapolis’ Indiana University School of Dentistry, where he graduated in 1988. He then did an advanced hospital-based residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago. It was during his residency at Michael Reese in the late 1980s that Dr. McDonnell met Dr. Steven Potashnick, who was one of his instructors. It was a lucky break. After Dr. McDonnell worked for a short time at a Lincoln Park office, Dr. Potashnick hired him in 1990.
“His mantra was attention to detail,” says Dr. McDonnell. “All he cared about was quality, that’s all he cared about.” Like all great students, Dr. McDonnell absorbed all his mentor had to offer and became his own man, or dentist, as the case may be. Dr. McDonnell took over complete control of the practice in 1997, building on those lessons learned to create an environment entirely focused on quality patient care. Dr. McDonnell’s practice thrives in large part on his reputation for honesty and integrity, as well as his sense of humor. Staff and patients alike laud not only his dental abilities but also his chairside manner and leadership as a businessman.
For the past 15 years, Dr. McDonnell has volunteered for the Illinois Foundation Dentistry for the Handicapped, an organization that helps provide treatment for mentally, physically and financially disabled patients. “These are people who cannot get dental care elsewhere,” says Dr. McDonnell. “We give them same exact care that we give everyone. We always have one active patient; we take them from start to finish. It’s a real source of pride for the entire office. It’s our way of giving back.” Over the years, Dr. McDonnell and his staff have provided nearly a quarter million dollars in free care to needy patients.
Dr. McDonnell stays current in his field in part through his participation in the Chicago Dental Forum, where he has been a member nearly two decades. The Chicago Dental Forum is a varied group of dentists that meet five times a year to present, discuss and review topics ranging from business to dentistry to medicine. Dr. McDonnell is also a member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society.
In her 32nd year in the dental industry, the last 15 at McDonnell, Pam has seen and done it all. Yes, she performs laboratory work, such as custom and bleach trays, and takes care of in-house whitenening. True, she works behind the scenes to clean the Autoclave and cold sterilizations, and works with suppliers on the pricing and ordering of most of the office supplies. Correct, she assists the office manager in routine administrative follow-ups. But patients probably most notice when Pam props a pillow under their heads, or gets them a blanket, changes the radio dial to their favorite opera station.
“We make patients feel comfortable,” says Pam. “I try to be personable. I love what I do, and I think patients can sense that.”
Pam started working in the industry right out of high school, and over the course of her career has assisted in general dentistry, periodontics, endodontics and pedodontics, as well as a stint at the University of Chicago’s Dental Lab. She compares the atmosphere at McDonnell favorably to every other place at which she’s worked.
“It’s just a really great work environment—very laid back,” says Pam. “That’s why I’ve been here so long. We’re very professional, and everybody here is happy. We’re all crazy about Dr. McDonnell. You don’t see anybody coming to work all grouchy and frowned up.”