Dental Leadership Summit Podcast

About Dental Leadership Summit Podcast

The Dental Leadership Summit Podcast is the official podcast of the Dental Leadership Summit, the industry’s premier gathering for decision-makers shaping the future of dentistry. Each year, the Summit brings together practice owners, DSO executives, founders, and industry partners for a retreat-style experience focused on strategic growth, operational excellence, and meaningful peer connection. It’s where leaders step away from day-to-day operations to think long-term about capital strategy, acquisitions, people systems, compliance, technology, and scalable infrastructure. This podcast extends those conversations beyond the stage Hosted by the team behind the Dental Leadership Summit, each episode features operators, CEOs, investors, compliance experts, and growth strategists discussing what’s actually working in today’s DSO and multi-location landscape. We cover: • Scaling without breaking culture • HR and compliance as leadership strategy • Capital markets and acquisition readiness • Technology, systems, and operational clarity • Building organizations that last AI beyond the hype: practical application, operational leverage, and responsible implementation This isn’t theory. It’s applied leadership for dental groups navigating their next phase of growth. Expect honest dialogue, strategic frameworks, and shared experiences from those scaling practices, navigating acquisitions, strengthening people systems, and redefining what sustainable growth looks like in dentistry. If you value depth over hype and peer-driven insight over transactional content, you’re in the right place. Learn more about this year’s Dental Leadership Summit, happening September 16–18 at the stunning Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. Join the industry’s top decision-makers for three days of strategic conversations, peer-led insight, and leadership-level clarity in a retreat-style setting designed for depth and connection. Explore the full agenda and secure your seat at dentalleadershipsummit.com (http://dentalleadershipsummit.com).

Publisher

Dental Leadership Summit

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Feb 2026

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026

   Insurance, Risk & the Hidden Costs of Growth: What Every DSO Needs to Know

   Insurance, Risk & the Hidden Costs of Growth: What Every DSO Needs to Know Is your dental practice or DSO actually protected? Or just covered on paper? In this episode of the Dental Leadership Summit Podcast, Ralph Tomandl sits down with Monty Dise, Senior Vice President at Hub International, the world's largest privately held insurance broker, to pull back the curtain on the insurance decisions that quietly make or break dental practices and growing DSOs. Monty has been insuring dental practices since 1991, starting from a basement office and building a specialty firm before joining Hub. With decades of experience serving solo practices and multi-location DSOs, he brings a level of niche expertise few brokers can match covering both employee benefits and property and casualty under one roof. We Break Down Why health insurance will be your largest insurance expense, and what smaller practices must know before it catches them off guard The workers’ comp and malpractice mistakes that cost fast-growing DSOs thousands in unnecessary premium When a master insurance program outperforms a location-by-location approach, and the threshold that triggers it What loss runs reveal during M&A due diligence that certificates of insurance never will Why water damage is one of the top claim categories in dental, and how to get a premium credit for preventing it How cyber liability requirements have shifted from best practice to carrier mandate The 49% health insurance rate increase hitting one DSO right now, and what it signals for the next three to five years How to use claim-free credits, risk management discounts, and level-funded plans to reduce your total insurance cost Whether you're running a startup practice under 50 employees, rolling up locations into an emerging group, or preparing for an acquisition, this conversation delivers the insurance clarity most dental operators never get until it's too late. Visit https://www.hubinternational.com/en-us/ (https://www.hubinternational.com/en-us/) to learn more about insurance solutions and https://hrforhealth.com/ (https://hrforhealth.com/) to learn about managing your dental practice teams efficiently and compliantly.

2. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Don't Copy Broken Systems: The Right Way to Scale Your Dental Practice

   Don't Copy Broken Systems: The Right Way to Scale Your Dental Practice Are your practice’s operational systems aligned to support your vision, or are you scaling broken processes? In this episode of the Dental Leadership Summit Podcast, the HR for Health team sits down with Bob Affleck and Jayden Bell of Dental Coach USA. Together, they bring decades of industry expertise to discuss what it truly takes to transition, grow, and lead a high-performing dental practice. Bob and Jaden share their journey of filling critical gaps in the dental industry: moving beyond transactional acquisition support to deliver hands-on, end-to-end operational and leadership coaching. They break down why jumping to open multiple locations often magnifies existing flaws, how to establish "the Chick-fil-A effect" in your operations, and why combining numbers-driven analytics with empathetic leadership transforms team culture. Learn more about Dental Coach USA at https://dentalcoachusa.com/ (https://dentalcoachusa.com/) We Break Down Why doctors often struggle after acquiring a practice, and how to bridge the management knowledge gap The "Chick-fil-A Effect": Why bulletproof scripting, processes, and systems must precede practice expansion Why a practice can look financially successful on paper while the culture is completely broken How to introduce operational changes without causing team turnover or friction Aligning your team through a clear vision, mission, and values The power of outside coaching and diagnostic evaluations for long-term practice profitability Balancing analytical business metrics with genuine care and positive leadership What the rise of entrepreneurial-minded dentists means for the future of dentistry If you’re looking to purchase your first practice, scale your existing location, or unite your team under a shared vision, this conversation provides real-world strategies for sustainable growth and culture-driven success. To learn about how HR for health can help support your growth visit https://hrforhealth.com/ (https://hrforhealth.com/)

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Culture Is Not a Buzzword: The Operational Truth Behind High-Performing Dental Teams

   Does your practice just talk about culture? Or does it actually live it? In this episode of the Dental Leadership Summit Podcast, HR for Health Chief Growth Officer Jill Hasselmann sits down with her longtime friend and industry colleague Vanessa Buchheit, dental operations expert, fractional COO, and former national coaching consultant, for a frank, high-energy conversation on what culture actually means in a dental practice, and why most leaders are getting it wrong. Vanessa has spent over two decades working across every layer of the dental industry, from front desk to COO. Most recently, she took a struggling 11-location DSO from $9.6M in revenue to $14.7M by cutting underperforming locations, rebuilding leadership infrastructure, and building the kind of objective, trust-based culture that makes growth stick. Note: This episode was filmed before Vanessa joined the HR for Health team as their General Manager We Break Down Why “we have a great culture” is often the biggest lie in dentistry How Vanessa grew a DSO from $9.6M to $14.7M by shrinking from 11 locations to 8 The first things to fix when you inherit a broken team: pay tiers, clarity, and systems Why rewards without accountability breeds entitlement — and how to avoid it The leadership consistency principle: your team learns from how you behave under pressure Why culture failures are almost always operations failures in disguise How “stay interviews” can reduce burnout and tell you exactly what your team needs What leaders get wrong about promoting from within — and how to survive the transition If you’re a dental practice owner, DSO operator, or operations leader trying to build a team that actually performs, this episode cuts through the culture clichés and delivers the tactical, honest playbook you need to lead with consistency, create objective environments, and build organizations people actually want to work in.

4. 

   19 Jun 2026

   Healthcare Practice Lending Explained: How Banks Evaluate Growth, Risk & Smart Expansion

   Are you growing your healthcare practice strategically or just taking on debt because someone approved it? In this episode, HR for Health CEO, Ali Oromchian, dives into healthcare practice lending with Krystle Clark from Bank of America Practice Solutions, to discuss what banks really look for when financing dentists, physicians, veterinarians, and emerging group practices. Krystle shares how traditional healthcare lending differs from private equity funding and why “fast approvals” don’t always mean smart decisions. As technology accelerates underwriting and lending processes, borrowers face a new risk: scaling too quickly without the right operational foundation. We discuss: How banks evaluate startup practices vs multi-location groups What underwriters actually look for in financial statements Why structure and team matter more than rapid expansion The danger of growing too fast without operational infrastructure How lending relationships evolve as practices scale Why not every borrower is ready for expansion financing The difference between transactional lending and long-term banking partnerships How technology is changing (but not replacing) thoughtful underwriting If you’re a dentist, physician, veterinarian, or healthcare entrepreneur looking to open, acquire, or expand a practice, this episode will help you understand how to prepare for lending conversations, avoid common mistakes, and build a financial foundation that supports sustainable growth. Chapters 00:00 Warp Speed Lending & Risk 02:21 Traditional Lending vs Private Equity 04:29 How Banks Evaluate Growth 07:09 Cheap Money & Weak Foundations 08:16 What Lenders Look For 10:47 Not Every Borrower Is Ready 13:43 Growing Too Fast: A Real Example 16:31 Building a Long-Term Lending Relationship 20:18 Technology in Modern Healthcare Lending Scaling a dental organization is challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Join us September 16–18 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa for the Dental Leadership Summit, where the industry's top decision-makers come together for three days of candid conversations, practical insights, and leadership-level strategy. Leave with the clarity, connections, and ideas needed to lead your organization through its next stage of growth. Register today at DentalLeadershipSummit.com/register (http://DentalLeadershipSummit.com/register) and use the code DLSPODCAST10 for an exclusive 10% discount.

5. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Scaling Practices: Culture, AI & Patient Experience Lessons from Providence Dental

   Scaling Dental Practices with Culture, AI & Patient Experience: Leadership Lessons from Providence Dental What if the real key to scaling a dental practice isn’t more locations, but stronger culture, better systems, and a redesigned patient journey? In this episode, Phil Cassis, CEO of Providence Dental, shares his journey growing up in a dental family and building a multi-location dental organization rooted in culture, patient experience, and disciplined growth. We explore what it really takes to scale in today’s dental environment where reimbursements are flat, costs are rising, case acceptance is under pressure, and burnout is real. Phil discusses: Why culture is the foundation of sustainable growth How patient journey mapping increases case acceptance The role of staff training in improving treatment acceptance rates How to evaluate acquisitions beyond just financial performance Why leadership maturity matters more than rapid expansion The risks of growing too fast without infrastructure How AI and technology can support and not replace teams Navigating headwinds like flat reimbursements and staffing shortages You’ll also hear how Providence evaluates potential partnerships, what red flags to look for during expansion, and why chemistry and values alignment are non-negotiable in growth. If you’re a dental practice owner, emerging group leader, or healthcare entrepreneur trying to scale responsibly while protecting culture and patient trust, this episode offers a practical look at leadership, systems, and long-term thinking. Chapters 00:00 Career Path & Dental Family Background 04:15 Patient Experience & Value-Based Care 06:31 Building a Culture That Prevents Burnout 08:16 AI, Technology & Team Empowerment 10:06 Evaluating Acquisitions & Culture Fit 13:36 Industry Headwinds & Flat Reimbursements 15:41 Improving Case Acceptance Rates 18:06 Patient Journey Mapping Explained 21:06 Leading Through Pressure & Growth Resources HR for Health https://hrforhealth.com/about (https://hrforhealth.com/about) Providence Dental Partners https://providencedentalpartners.com/ (https://providencedentalpartners.com/) Dental Leadership Summit https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/ (https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/) -- Scaling a dental organization is challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Join us September 16–18 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa for the Dental Leadership Summit, where the industry's top decision-makers come together for three days of candid conversations, practical insights, and leadership-level strategy. Leave with the clarity, connections, and ideas needed to lead your organization through its next stage of growth. Register today at DentalLeadershipSummit.com/register (http://DentalLeadershipSummit.com/register) and use the code DLSPODCAST10 for an exclusive 10% discount.

6. 

   5 Jun 2026

   DSO Market Trends & The Dental Leadership Summit: What’s Coming, What’s Changed, & What to Expect

   Is your DSO still scaling without solving staffing, culture, and technology adoption or are you ready to learn from the groups that already figured it out? In this episode of the Dental Leadership Summit Podcast, host Ralph Tomandl sits down with David Howard, HR for Health’s Director of Group Practice Sales and Partnerships, for a candid market update and a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the Dental Leadership Summit itself. David brings a front-row perspective from months on the road visiting practices, conferences, and DSO leaders across the country. His observations on staffing, culture gaps, acquisition scarcity, and AI adoption reflect what’s actually happening in the market, not just what’s being talked about on stage. We Break Down: Why staffing and hygienist retention remain the top operational challenge for DSOs of every size How culture gaps are quietly showing up in EBITDA even before a DSO is formally structured Why acquisition targets are scarce and what that means for practice valuations right now The three types of DSO leaders when it comes to AI adoption  and why the “still on paper” group is running out of time How outside-industry hires are bringing fresh energy and challenging the “we’ve always done it this way” culture Why the Dental Leadership Summit is shifting back to a workshop-style format and what that means for attendees How the Leadership Labs in Dallas are proving the concept ahead of the September summit in Austin What emerging DSOs with 2–30 locations can actually learn from groups like Heartland Dental How the summit selects speakers and partners based on problem-solving fit, not just sponsorship Whether you’re a solo practice owner just starting to scale, an emerging DSO leader navigating your first acquisitions, or an operator trying to get a real return on your technology investments, this episode gives you a direct line into what’s working, what’s not, and where the industry is heading, straight from someone in the rooms where it’s happening Chapters 00:00 — No One Has the Guts to Ask That 01:17 — DSO Market Update: What’s Changed in the Last 12 Months 03:01 — The Staffing Slug: Is Talent Acquisition Getting Any Easier? 05:25 — Culture Gaps and EBITDA: Where the Problem Really Shows Up 08:04 — Blind Spots: Public Perception and the DSO Reputation Challenge 10:06 — Three Types of DSO Leaders on AI Adoption 14:06 — Shifting Gears: The Story Behind the Dental Leadership Summit 18:14 — Why Workshop Style Beats 500-Person Panels 20:10 — Leadership Labs: Proving the Concept Before Austin 25:33 — What Emerging DSOs Actually Learn From Heartland The 2026 Dental Leadership Summit is happening in Austin, Texas this September 16–18. With Pat Bauer headlining as a featured speaker, an all-female panel joining the lineup, and a roster of operators and innovators who are actually in the trenches of building successful group practices, this year's summit is shaping up to be the most compelling one yet. Designed for emerging DSO leaders with 2–30 locations, the workshop-style format means you won't just sit through presentations, you'll leave with real frameworks, real conversations, and real relationships that move your business forward. If you're serious about scaling the right way, Austin is where you need to be. Register today at https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/register (https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/register)!

7. 

   12 May 2026

   HIPAA, OSHA & HR Compliance: Why Doing the Minimum Will Cost You More

   Is your practice doing just enough to get by on compliance or building the foundation that actually protects it? In this episode, HR for Health's David Howard sits down with Matt DiBlasi, co-founder of Abyde, to break down why compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s a genuine growth strategy for healthcare practices. Matt shares the founding story of Abyde, built on the belief that HIPAA and OSHA compliance should be as simple as filing your taxes. He explains how a comprehensive, software-driven compliance program can streamline workflows, energize staff, and differentiate your practice from every competitor down the street. The conversation covers: Why one CC instead of BCC triggered a state attorney general investigation How the Alcoa story proves compliance drives profitability — not the other way around The TurboTax model: making HIPAA navigable without a law degree Why most practices think they’re compliant and aren’t The real cost of templated policies vs. a dynamic compliance program How AI is becoming the next major compliance challenge for dental practices Why you can’t have HR done right without compliance and vice versa If you’re a dental practice owner, DSO leader, or healthcare operator, this episode will help you understand why doing compliance right the first time is always cheaper than fixing it later. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & What Is Abyde? 00:51 – If Abyde Were a Dental Procedure 01:48 – Compliance Horror Stories: The CC Breach 03:21 – Founding Abyde: TurboTax for HIPAA 06:51 – Compliance as a Growth Strategy, Not Just Risk Avoidance 07:16 – The Alcoa Story: How Safety Drove Profitability 09:36 – Abyde’s Standout Feature: Dynamic Policy Generation 10:54 – The Comprehensive Compliance Approach Practices Are Missing 12:25 – The Biggest Compliance Challenge Coming: AI 14:44 – The Real Cost of Getting Compliance Wrong

8. 

   9 Apr 2026

   Patient Trust in Dentistry: Why Google Reviews Don’t Tell the Full Story w/ Jill H. & Carolyn Brown

   Do Google reviews really tell you whether patients trust your dental practice? In this episode of the Dental Leadership Summit Podcast, Carolyn Brown joins HR for Health Chief Growth Officer, Jill Hasselmann, to discuss one of the most overlooked drivers of growth in dentistry: trust. Carolyn is a dentist with a background in public health who has spent years working with providers, payers, and dental organizations to improve transparency, reputation, and patient experience across the industry. Jill and Carolyn explore why traditional reputation signals like online reviews often fail to reflect the real patient experience and why dental leaders need better ways to measure what patients and teams actually feel inside a practice. They also discuss how team culture, patient experience, and leadership decisions shape long-term reputation, and why practices that grow without systems for feedback often lose touch with what patients are actually experiencing. Jill and Carolyn discuss: Why Google reviews don’t accurately measure patient trust How trust changes as dental practices scale Why patient experience and team experience are closely connected How leadership culture influences recruiting and retention The role of Net Promoter Score (NPS) in understanding patient feedback How AI tools can help practices capture real insights from patients and teams If you're a dentist, practice owner, or healthcare leader, this conversation offers practical insights into building a practice that patients trust and teams want to work in. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Carolyn Brown’s Background in Dentistry & Public Health 02:18 Truth or Trash: Do Google Reviews Mean Patient Trust? 05:08 Why Trust Gets Harder as Practices Grow 09:21 Why Reputation Is More Than Online Reviews 11:24 Recruiting & Retention Through Trust 16:23 How Team Turnover Impacts Patient Trust 21:20 Using AI to Understand Patient Feedback 23:24 Net Promoter Score in Dental Practices 27:55 An Unpopular Opinion About Dental Growth 29:43 Workforce Shortages & Team Recognition

9. 

   12 Feb 2026

   Tax Minimization & Wealth Building for Doctors with Ali Oromchian and Carson Henderson

   Are you building real financial independence or just earning a high income without a long-term tax strategy? In this episode, we break down practical wealth-building and tax minimization strategies for doctors and high-income professionals. Carson Henderson (CPA and wealth advisor) explains how integrating tax planning and investment management can dramatically impact long-term financial independence. The conversation covers retirement planning strategies 401(k), Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Roth conversions), the Rule of 72, asset location for tax efficiency, and why starting early matters more than investing aggressively. We also explore advanced tax strategies including tax loss harvesting and Opportunity Zone investing and how these tools can help offset capital gains from selling a medical practice, real estate, or other large assets. If you're a doctor, practice owner, or high-income professional, this episode will help you understand: How to reduce taxes legally How to structure retirement accounts correctly The difference between employee vs owner retirement strategies Why emotional investing destroys long-term returns How small tax improvements can significantly extend retirement Whether you're early in your career or preparing to sell a practice, you'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to build wealth strategically, not just accumulate income. Chapters 00:00 – Why High Earners Still Struggle With Financial Freedom 00:17 – Why Most Doctors Overpay in Taxes (And Don’t Realise It) 03:22 – The Biggest Wealth Mistake Doctors Make 05:00 – Where Your Investments Should Actually Sit (Tax Strategy 101) 07:16 – The 62-Year-Old With Millions… Sitting in Savings 10:06 – The Rule of 72: How Your Money Secretly Doubles 15:04 – Employee vs Owner: Different Retirement Playbooks 22:26 – Tax Loss Harvesting Explained (Offset Capital Gains Legally) 27:00 – Opportunity Zones: A Hidden Way to Reduce Capital Gains Tax 32:06 – The Emotional Investing Trap (Why Fear Costs You Millions)

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