Our History
Dr. James (Jim) McIlwain opened his first office nearly 50 years ago on July 1, 1978, at 2901 St. Isabel, located right behind St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa. The office was organized by his wife, Pat, while Dr. McIlwain completed his teaching contract at the University of Texas in San Antonio. The staff initially included one chairside assistant, while Pat managed all business operations.
In 1979, Dr. McIlwain joined the staff at St. Joseph’s and University Community Hospitals, where he treated special needs patients and became part of the craniofacial team. In 1981, he founded the Tampa Bay Pediatric Dental Association.
After five years, the lease on the original office expired. With new construction underway on a multistory medical building on Habana Avenue, Dr. McIlwain purchased an office unit at 4710 N. Habana. This new location offered increased space and parking, including five dental chairs, a quiet room, and dedicated areas for X-ray equipment and laboratory use. During this time, his daughter, Leigh Ann, worked in nearly every capacity within the office, from chairside assistance to reception, and even handling legal matters related to unpaid bills. Dr. McIlwain also taught in the pediatric dental residency program at the University of Florida in Gainesville and later partnered with Dr. Frank Collins to develop and teach an introductory orthodontic course for UF pediatric residents.
As the Habana office continued to grow busier, Leigh Ann McIlwain—who graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the University of Florida Pediatric Residency Program—joined the practice. She introduced sedation services, obtained surgery privileges at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and assumed responsibility for practice management. Her leadership expanded the staff, modernized equipment, and strengthened financial operations, allowing Dr. McIlwain to focus more heavily on orthodontic growth within the practice. Later, Leigh Ann and her husband, general dentist Dr. Michael Chiaramonte, purchased the neighboring office space to add general dentistry services. This expansion created a seamless transition for families as children aged out of pediatric care and provided comprehensive dental care for parents as well.
The practice continued to grow with the addition of pediatric dentist Dr. Claudia Marinelli. In 2004, Dr. Mike McIlwain, nephew of Dr. James McIlwain, joined the practice after completing his pediatric dental residency at the University of Florida. Dr. Mike grew up with seven siblings and was a Division I collegiate soccer player at the University of Maryland. Known for his generosity and compassion, Dr. Mike assumed responsibility for hospital cases involving special needs patients, joined the Tampa Bay Cleft and Craniofacial Center, and partnered with Dr. Hector Vila and the Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Association to expand in-office IV sedation services. He was beloved by patients and colleagues alike and was known for never turning away a patient. In June 2025, Dr. Mike passed away after a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer. Even throughout his treatment, he continued to work daily, helping as many people as possible. He often stated that he trusted his legacy only with the doctors he worked alongside.
In 2014, the practice welcomed Dr. Matthew Ahrens for orthodontics and Dr. Rebecca Warnken for general dentistry. Both later served as Presidents of the Hillsborough County Dental Association. In 2019, Dr. Kara Ford joined the practice on the general dentistry side and transitioned in 2024 to focus on children’s dentistry. Dr. Mary Awadallah joined in 2020 to support orthodontic care, followed by Dr. Justin Mitchell in 2021 for general dentistry. Together, these doctors continue to uphold the values and standards established by those who came before them.
Throughout McIlwain Dentistry’s history, the practice has maintained a warm, family-oriented culture, largely due to its dedicated staff who treat the practice as their own. Across every generation, the doctors have believed that the quality of care they provide is a direct result of the exceptional team supporting them.
In 2025, Dr. Leigh Ann McIlwain, Dr. Michael Chiaramonte, and Dr. James McIlwain retired to begin the next chapters of their lives. They take great pride in knowing that the current doctors continue to carry forward the McIlwain legacy by providing the highest level of dental care for every patient and family they serve.
