1st Med Transitions Research
Advisory Approach
1st Med Transitions is a technology-driven, nationwide dental and medical practice advisory firm specializing in sell-side transitions for health care practitioners. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida, the firm operates from a fundamental belief that practice owners deserve transparent, honest guidance combined with efficient, modern transaction processes. The company thesis centers on leveraging digital marketing technology, data-driven valuations, and personalized advisory to maximize practice sale values while minimizing the emotional stress of ownership transitions.
The firm positions itself as a modern alternative to traditional practice brokers, who they assert charge excessive commissions (often 10%) and rely on outdated processes. 1st Med Transitions differentiates through commission rates of 5-7%, flexible 30-day listing agreements, and tech-enabled marketing that reaches target buyers quickly. Their advisory philosophy prioritizes client accessibility—transition advisors limit their concurrent engagements to 3-5 clients at a time to ensure 100% attention and personalized service.
Sector Focus
1st Med Transitions maintains comprehensive expertise across multiple healthcare practice verticals:
Dental Practices — The core competency. The firm specializes in general dental practices, specialty practices (orthodontics, periodontology, endodontics), and handles both private practice sales (doctor-to-doctor) and Dental Service Organization (DSO) affiliations. They have particular strength in mid-sized dental practices with $1MM+ in annual collections across all 50 states.
Medical Practices — Growing focus on physician practices including cardiology, dermatology, general medicine, and multi-specialty groups. The firm understands the unique transition dynamics for medical practitioners, including managed care contracts, payer relationships, and physician employment considerations.
Med Spa Practices — Dedicated advisory for aesthetic medicine and wellness businesses transitioning to MSO (Management Service Organization) or PE partners. The firm has specific expertise in valuing medical spa businesses, understanding the retail/wellness economics that differ from traditional medical practices.
Veterinary Practices — Advisory for veterinary clinics transitioning to private equity buyers or corporate consolidators. The firm understands the professional and clinical dynamics unique to animal healthcare practice sales.
The firm has also expanded into optometry, which indicates emerging diversification beyond core healthcare practices. Across all verticals, the minimum practice size target is $1MM+ in annual revenue/collections, reflecting their focus on substantial, viable healthcare enterprises rather than micro-practices.
Deal Track Record
1st Med Transitions has closed over $575 million in practice transactions across 374+ clients, with 30+ years of cumulative advisory experience across their team. Recent closings demonstrate consistent deal flow across geographies and practice types:
- Dental Practice, San Mateo County, CA — $1,995,000 sale (January 2026), 5 operatories, $2.3MM annual collections
- Dental Practice, Rockville, MD — $950,000 private sale (March 2025)
- Dental Practice, Redwood City, CA — $1,750,000 private sale (May 2024), strong owner cash flow
- Dental Practice, San Diego, CA — $820,000 private sale (December 2025), 4 operatories
- Veterinary Practice, Houston, TX — $545,000 private sale (December 2025), 4 operatories, $892K collections
- Cardiology Practice, Palm Beach County, FL — $450,000 private sale (March 2026), $1.4MM collections
The deal size range ($450K-$2M) reflects the firm's core focus on lower-to-mid market healthcare practices. Recent closing dates (Jan-Mar 2026) indicate continued active deal flow. Transactions span both private sales (doctor-to-doctor) and organizational buyer channels (DSOs, PEs, corporates).
Process & Fee Structure
The engagement process is straightforward:
- Initial Consultation — Transition advisor discusses seller's professional and financial goals
- Practice Review & Valuation — Advisor conducts financial analysis, determines fair market value, and recommends listing price. Free EBITDA and cash flow valuations included
- Marketing & Buyer Outreach — Multi-channel digital marketing and outreach to target buyer base
- Closing & Transition Support — Coordination with legal counsel, accountants, and financing sources
Fee Structure: Commission-based, 5-7% (vs. traditional 10%). Flexible listing agreements (minimum 30 days) with no long-term exclusivity requirements.
Buyer Network: The firm has developed relationships with independent practice buyers (other practitioners buying single practices), Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland, Aspen, and others, private equity firms targeting healthcare practices, and corporate consolidators. The buyer network spans all 50 states with emphasis on major metropolitan markets (California, Texas, Florida, Northeast corridor).
Competitive Positioning
1st Med Transitions differentiates through:
- Technology & Modern Marketing — Digital-first approach vs. traditional broker phone/relationship model
- Lower Cost — 5-7% commissions vs. 10% traditional
- Personalized Attention — Limited concurrent engagements (3-5 per advisor) ensures dedicated focus
- Rapid Process — 30-day flexible agreements and streamlined timelines
- Network Breadth — Access to independent buyers, DSOs, PEs, and corporate consolidators across all states
- Financial Support — In-depth knowledge of practice acquisition financing and relationships with lending partners
The firm explicitly positions against "large old-school brokers" in testimonials, indicating awareness of competitors like Practice Transitions Group, PBHS, and regional practice sale firms. Their messaging emphasizes efficiency, transparency, and value (lower cost + better service).
Not a Fit If
1st Med Transitions is most effective for practices with $1MM+ collections seeking to maximize sale value through competitive buyer outreach. The firm is less suited for:
- Micro-practices (under $1MM revenue) where advisory economics don't support dedicated service
- Sellers unwilling to share financial details or undergo valuation process
- Practices with complex legal/regulatory issues (though they note ability to handle pending matters)
- Sellers wanting passive, hands-off brokerage (1st Med requires active seller participation)
Team
The firm operates with a lean, experienced team of regional specialists:
Michael S. Furlong — Southeast Transition Advisor. 15+ years in dental practice sales, M&A, and transactions. Personally managed $195M+ in successful practice transactions. Primary contact for Southern US practices.
David Y. Goldstein — Northeast & Texas Transition Advisor. Dental practice sales specialist passionate about helping practitioners reach retirement and professional goals. Extensive experience across Northeast corridor and Texas market.
Alan Cox — West Coast Transition Advisor. 20+ years in finance and real estate with strong transactional M&A background. Covers California and Western US.
Pete Saladino — Midwest Transition Advisor. Deep understanding of healthcare real estate, practice strategy, and clinical operations. Instrumental in expanding 1st Med's Midwest footprint.
Geographic Coverage
Nationwide presence across all 50 states, with regional advisors covering:
- Northeast — David Goldstein
- Southeast — Michael Furlong
- Midwest — Pete Saladino
- West Coast — Alan Cox
Primary office in Pompano Beach, FL; secondary office in San Diego, CA area.
Regulatory Status
1st Med Transitions is licensed as a real estate broker in Florida (#CQ1048342), Georgia (#80215), and California (DRE #02141916). NOT FINRA registered — the firm is a real estate brokerage, not a securities broker, reflecting the regulatory treatment of healthcare practice sales as business/real estate transactions rather than securities offerings.