Board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Amir Azari, Dr. Mark Schlam, and Dr. Garrett Welch continue a legacy of caring and commitment in the Bend community. Established by Dr. Richard Schock in 1972, this oral surgery practice is the original oral surgery practice in our area of the state.
When the founding Dr. Schock retired, his son Dr. Todd Schock dedicated his own extraordinary effort to this service until his retirement and passing. Dr. Azari, Dr. Welch, and Dr. Schlam enjoy more than thirty years of combined experience, atop the fifty years of continuous care from this father-son duo. The practice continues to deliver the highest quality of compassionate care.
In a signal of their gentle personalities and engagement with people, the practice is now known as Bluebird Oral Surgery. Conveying hope and renewal, the three doctors are honored to treat prior and new patients.
“We often find ourselves with patients who had been treated here as youngsters and who are now being treated again for new needs,” says Dr. Welch. “We also see the beauty of long relationships as families grow and children and grandchildren visit us.”
The entire atmosphere of the practice evokes serenity, evident in the grounds and architecture. The structure itself derives from an original farmhouse, and is still flanked by an old growth apple orchard near the base of our prominent and scenic cinder cone Pilot Butte. Astoundingly, a purposeful and productive garden graces the campus and enriches the feeling of peace.
“We cultivate the earth alongside nourishing people which is a reflection, once again, of the hope we feel and of our investment in people and their experiences,” he says. “Much of what Dr. Todd and Dr. Dick Schock established is still manifested here. We consider ourselves to be caretakers of the human experience, adding value to people's lives while they're with us.”
The team is genuinely warm and kind, as you’d anticipate. “We’re setting the stage for a safe and comfortable environment,” says Dr. Schlam. “We have a highly trained team that embodies our values. Our entire team is dedicated to the care of each individual. This is evident throughout each person’s course of care. We deliberately schedule generous time for patients to feel completely comfortable and confident before, during, and after procedures. We listen deliberately to every person.”
Common procedures include expert removal of wisdom teeth, dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, complex full arch rehabilitation, and sleep apnea surgery.
All three doctors enjoy working in our small (and growing!) town. “It allows us to have the flavor of the practice, which is specific and very deliberate in its approach in taking care for patients, without the hustle and bustle of a bigger city,” says Dr. Azari. “It just fits hand in glove with how we want to practice and how we want to live.”
Speaking of living, they love spending time outside with their families, and central Oregon is ideal for that. “Being sort of nestled alongside the mountains, this area offers so much for us and our families,” says Dr. Azari. “We all love to ski and bike, and just be outdoors.”
“The setting is a really lovely part of the appeal and why I think each of us found ourselves here in this town, which is true for most all of us who live here,” says Dr. Azari. “There's been so much growth and a lot of it's really just people seeking a certain life… a slower pace.”
Dr. Schlam adds, “another benefit of being in our small town is that we get to build these really profound relationships with all sorts of people, and really be ingrained within the community to provide services and help people. We get to be present for our families. We can take our kids to sports, and coach and participate a lot more, which is really important.”
The doctors are all married with two children each. They believe that working and living in Bend allows them to demonstrate their beliefs in a life well-lived which includes being accomplished surgeons as well as amazing dads. “To deliver loving care to people in this town that we've selected is really delightful,” says Dr. Welch.
BluebirdOralSurgery.com
"We consider ourselves to be caretakers of the human experience, adding value to people's lives while they're with us."
--Dr. Garrett Welch