Inspiring Conversations with Charles Mckenzie of Kenzie Therapeutics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Mckenzie.

Hi Charles, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2019 my then 10 year old son Scott received burns to nearly 50% of his body from a fuel tank explosion. He was taken to the Arizona Burn Center where he was treated for his injuries. He spent the first few weeks under deep sedation and intubated, an airway tube, and spent several weeks in the ICU. He underwent countless surgeries, tissue grafts, and painful daily dressing changes while simultaneously receiving both physical and occupational therapy, even in the early stages of his injuries. Our family was devastated and as parents we were completely heart broken. As his father and the person responsible for the accident my grief was beyond description. I not only felt a tremendous amount of sorrow for the pain I caused my son, but also a deep level of guilt for the hurt it caused everyone that was grieved by this accident. His siblings, cousins, friends, grandparents, and especially my wife, his broken hearted mother. It was an overwhelming situation unlike any I had experienced before. I couldn’t function. I couldn’t work. I was too afraid to leave the hospital in fear it would be the last time I would see him. My wife and I took turns staying the night and sleeping in the chair at his bedside. How could this be happening?! How could I have let it happen?! What is done, can’t be undone.
Several weeks into his stay I had the opportunity to observe the surgeons and therapists provide treatments for my son. I was impressed with their skill, creativity and compassion in the delivery of very difficult treatments under very difficult circumstances. As a dentist I appreciate the nuances of treatment techniques. It’s one thing to know what the patient needs but another to provide them in the most comfortable way possible. We all hate the dentist but it hurts a little less when they are well versed in comfortable injections and has a good bedside manor. I really appreciated the care they were providing for my son. At the same time we were receiving support from countless friends and loved ones. Meals, service to our family from people we didn’t even know, prayers from members of all different faiths and in churches throughout the world. We received messages from people in England, parts of Europe, Mexico and all parts of the US letting us know that the congregations of their churches were praying for Scott. We often came home to a fresh cut lawn, encouraging banners and more food than we could eat, stacked at our front door. There were several fundraisers for our family to help carry us through while I was unable to work. Several of Scotts classmates mowed lawns, washed windows, bagged and sold ice or anything they could think of to raise money for their friend. That jar of dollars and coins was more than just money to us. It was a reflection of what great kids are in the world and how much people care about us. Our gratitude for every act of service on our behalf cannot be measured or adequately expressed.
During one of Scott’s therapy sessions a volunteer stopped by just to say hi and offer moral support. A burn survivor himself he was able to provide support and encouragement having been down this road before. He jokingly said to Scott “make sure you do you cheek stretches or you wont be able to eat that hamburger”. After he left I asked the therapist what he meant by that. She explained that Scott’s wounds will soon become scars and those scars are not elastic like the rest of our skin. That is why the therapist put so much effort into daily stretches and splint therapies. The scars on Scott’s face can tighten and reduce the function of his mouth. Did you just tell the dentist his sons mouth is going to have problems? Okay, what treatment is needed to prevent this? What splints or devices do you have to help with treatment? Show me everything!
Microstomia is the condition caused by the tightening of the scars around the mouth. The word literally means “small mouth”. There are a few appliances out there intended to prevent microstomia but I soon observed the difficulties of each one. First of all most of them were just a slightly different version of the other ones which means they often had the same flaws. It wasn’t that they didn’t work but they are difficult to use, uncomfortable for the patient, and provided very little feedback or adjustability. Something else I observed is therapists have limited time with each patient and when the patients have multiple areas requiring their attention the areas with the least return on their time gets set aside i.e. the mouth. When I commented on the many flaws of the appliances the therapist said “Well you’re a dentist, you should figure something out.” And so it began. I couldn’t undo what had happened to my son but maybe I could at least help in some small way with his care. I spent countless hours at night while Scott slept researching affective treatments, analyzing different appliances, scribbling ideas on paper, measuring different aspects of the mouth, and scribbling more ideas on paper. If nothing else, it took my mind off of my grief and allowed me to focus on something other than myself. It became an obsession. If I wasn’t thinking about Scotts situation I was thinking about the appliance. It took on many forms but after several years of trial, error, and countless versions, we have something that is one of those “Why didn’t I think of that” ideas! I love it and our family is so proud of it, actually them. We have 2 very effective appliances and a 3rd one on the way! I sold my small children’s dental office and was able to join the dental team at the same hospital as the burn center. I get to team up with the burn team and offer an additional perspective to their treatment plans. Each time I work with them my respect and appreciation for them only grows. They are the best in the nation in part because they recognize that collaboration between multiple specialties can improve patient outcomes. They truly are remarkable!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Former Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams said “everything you want is on the other side of hard”. In addition to the ongoing healing of my son, developing this type of appliance definitely comes with it’s own set of challenges. Maybe there is a reason that there are so few options out there. From a sales standpoint it is a very niche market. For me however, money is not the reason I started down this road. I’m in it for my son and the therapists trying to help him. Taking the ideas from paper to practice has also presented some challenges. It’s those same challenges that everyone with a creative idea faces. Those challenges are called reality. The reality of what you are actually trying to do does not always line up with what you think you have a solution for. The physics, anatomy and biology of the mouth compounded by the different ways that scars form and respond to pressure all factor into the function of the appliance. The shapes of the appliances need to fit comfortably in the spaces available to place them. From there they have to provide the proper amount of pressure in the correct direction and be able to hold the correct position for the correct amount of time all without causing additional injuries to the patient. The materials need to be biocompatible and safe for use in the mouth. The appliance needs to be “off the shelf” yet fit everyone, be easy to use for both the therapist and the patient, provide measurability and feedback, oh and be affordable. How in the world am I suppose to overcome each of these challenges?! Not to mention pay for it!

We’ve been impressed with Kenzie Therapeutics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
One of the Scottish meanings of the name “Kenzie” is “born of fire”. This is especially poignant for us as our company is the result of our sons burn injury. Kenzie Therapeutics was literally “born of fire”. We are family owned, located here in Arizona and use local businesses for the manufacturing of all our products. We design and sell appliances to help with the prevention of microstomia caused by the tightening of the skin on or near the mouth. Our patented appliances are described by the users as “unlike anything else”. We are also proud to offer the first of its kind app that helps users track progress and stay on track. Everything we do is to Simplify Care

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am by no means a “risk taker” however this entire venture is one big risk. I sold my successful dental practice and took a significant pay cut to join the dental team at the hospital. I did this so I could better understand the needs of the burn professionals and patients. To avoid borrowing money from others I have “bootstrapped” the entire project with my own money. Attorney fees for patents, engineering fees for product design and development, manufacturing fees for every stage of development, marketing cost, consultant fees, plus the cost of not knowing what I am doing. Ignorance is very expensive! Each step of the way feels like another step into the darkness. Each step is a risk, however looking back and seeing the road, now lit by the light of experience, every step forward is a little bit easier than the one prior.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kenzietherapy.com
• Youtube: Kenzie Therapeutics

Image Credits
All images are courtesy of myself