Dr. Monzer Shakally
Founder & Dentist, DDS
4731 E Southern Ave Phoenix, AZ 85042Dr. Monzer Shakally is the founder and owner of Southern Smiles. Born and raised in Syria, he came to the United States as a refugee at age 17 and settled in Iowa. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa in 2022, then moved to Phoenix and practiced under experienced dentists before opening Southern Smiles in March 2024. His approach emphasizes compassionate, patient-centered care and long-term relationships with families. He also serves on Arizona Dental Association committees and is pursuing fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry.
Topics
Appearances (1)
2026-09-02
From Refugee to Practice Owner: Building a Mission-Driven Dental StartupDr. Monzer Shakally, a dentist and founder of Southern Smiles in South Phoenix, discusses his journey from being a Syrian refugee to establishing a mission-driven dental practice. He emphasizes the challenges of starting a dental startup, including high initial costs and the importance of building trust with patients. Shakally's practice focuses on serving a diverse community, primarily uninsured patients, and aims to provide quality care while navigating the complexities of the dental industry.
Notable quotes
“I was born and raised in Syria. I moved here to the US when I was 17 years old. I came here as a refugee.”
“If you are an immigrant or maybe the son of an immigrant, there's a joke that we say to each other is that you have 3 options. You can be a doctor, an engineer, or a disappointment.”
“My success leads to better confidence leads to longer living, leads to happier lives.”
“Trust is something that is very difficult to build sometimes, but takes— it's very easy to break.”
“I would rather be not busy than have somebody that will make my life miserable.”
“The feedback that I really enjoy is when somebody is telling me, hey, I appreciate you taking the time to spend with me and educating me.”
