Our practice has a long history on the north side of Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs. Dr. Viggo Sorensen founded the practice after serving in WWII. He initially began as an associate with Drs. Ben and John Svoboda at their Chicago office located at six corners (Irving Park Road, Cicero Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue). In 1948, Dr. Sorensen purchased the practice and began building the foundation of our current practice, The Associates for Oral, Maxillofacial and Implant Surgery.

In the early 1960’s the practice began to expand with the addition of Dr. John Giannini in 1960, and Dr. John Sachs in 1961. Both Dr. Giannini and Sachs completed their residencies at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Together they opened an office in Mt. Prospect; this was the first oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. This office also served the surrounding suburbs including Arlington Heights and Des Plaines.

The two offices continued to grow and in 1970 another Cook County Hospital resident, Dr. Gerald Spinazze joined the practice. In 1973, Dr. Steven Verona completed his residency at Michael Reese Hospital and became a member of practice. Sadly, Dr. Viggo Sorensen passed away in 1974.

The 1980’s were a period of growth and change. In 1982 Dr. Dennis Spinazze (Dr. Gerald Spinazzes’ brother) joined the practice. Dr. Dennis Spinazze completed his residency at Detroit Macomb Hospital Association and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. In 1985 our third office was opened in the western suburb of Bartlett. Dr. John Sachs retired in 1988.

The 1990’s saw the addition of three new surgeons to the practice. Dr. Michael Zak became a member of the practice in 1992 after completing his residency at Duke University and a fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 1997, Dr. Russell Spinazze (Dr. Gerald Spinazzes’ son and Dr. Dennis Spinazzes’ nephew) joined the group after completion of his residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1999, Dr. Anthony Spina joined the practice after a two-year academic position at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Dr. Spina completed his residency at the University of Buffalo in New York and a cosmetic facial surgery fellowship in Gainesville Florida. Two surgeons retired from the practice in the 1990’s, Dr. Steven Verona retired in 1995 and Dr. John Giannini retired in 1999.