Mommy Dentists in Business: Recent Episodes
Dr. Grace Yum
Dr. Grace Yum has quietly become one of the highest profile pediatric dentists in Chicago and beyond. She is in a small pool of less than 5% of all dentists who become certified in pediatrics. She also founded and built Yummy Dental and Orthodontics for Kids into a leader in its category. In this Podcast, Dr. Yum shares pearls of wisdom based on her experience that are designed to help moms be successful in their medical careers and in their lives more broadly. She interviews a rotating cast of experts who give invaluable advice from a variety of perspectives: fashion stylists, lawyers, CEOs, nutritionists, skincare experts, parenting experts and more. Along the way, Dr. Yum shares the secrets to her success in balancing motherhood and her growing business interests in dental, real estate and beyond.
This week, we're joined by Megan L. Miller, APRN-CNP, board-certified family nurse practitioner and speaker, to discuss hormone health, metabolic wellness, and the lifestyle and treatment strategies that support long term health.
Episode highlights:
- How to determine when hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate
- The impact of stress, sleep, nutrition, and gut health on hormone and metabolic health
- What to know about peptides, including current research and safety considerations
- Why liver health plays a key role in hormone metabolism
- Healthy lifestyle habits that support longevity and overall wellness
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Samira Shafaee shares how her family's experience with type 1 diabetes inspired the creation of the T1D Oral Health Foundation. She discusses the unique oral health challenges associated with T1D, common misconceptions within dentistry, and why greater education is needed to better support patients and families.
Episode highlights:
- Why oral health is often overlooked in type 1 diabetes care
- Common misconceptions dentists have about caring for patients with T1D
- The daily realities and challenges of living with type 1 diabetes
- How treating hypoglycemia with sugar affects oral health
- The mission of the T1D Oral Health Foundation to improve education and awareness
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes Parham Nabatian, Co-Founder of DocSites, to discuss how a dental practice's website has evolved from a simple online brochure into one of its most valuable patient acquisition tools. From converting website visitors into patients to leveraging AI to improve communication, Parham shares practical strategies to help practices grow more efficiently.
Episode Highlights:
- Building a website that converts visitors into patients
- Using AI and FAQs to improve patient communication
- Creating trust through personalized website content
- Maximizing the software and tools already in your practice
- Simple ways to improve efficiency and support practice growth
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes Dr. Tesa Jolly, dentist, practice owner, and MDIB Regional Leader, to share practical ways AI can improve efficiency in the dental practice. From streamlining workflows and enhancing decision-making to training teams and saving time, Dr. Jolly offers real-world examples dentists can start applying today.
Episode highlights:
- Why dentists are naturally equipped to use AI effectively
- Simple ways AI can improve daily practice workflows and decision-making
- How tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM can save time and boost productivity
- Common mistakes dentists make when adopting AI
- Using AI to create more time for what matters most
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
We're kicking off the season with financial planner and CPA Brittany Frazier of Cain Watters & Associates. In this episode, Brittany joins Dr. Grace Yum to share practical financial strategies for dentists at every stage of their career. From cash flow and investing to retirement planning and practice growth, you'll walk away with actionable insights to help you make confident financial decisions for long-term success.
Episode highlights:
- Why small financial decisions can create major long-term wealth
- How dentists should approach investing during market volatility
- The importance of understanding cash flow and financial literacy
- Ways to plan for retirement, children's education, and future goals
- How practice investments and associates can support growth and reduce burnout
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This episode features Dr. Nancy Burkhart, adjunct professor at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry and oral pathology expert, discussing how dental professionals can recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking. Dr. Burkhart shares practical insights on identifying red flags, understanding the realities of trafficking, and taking appropriate action to protect vulnerable patients while navigating ethical and legal responsibilities.
Episode highlights:
- Key signs of human trafficking dental teams should recognize
- The difference between trafficking and smuggling
- Common red flags seen in dental and healthcare settings
- How to document concerns and connect patients with resources
- Why awareness, intuition, and team training matter
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Grace Yum welcomes Shreyas Parab, CEO of DayDream, to discuss how AI is helping dental practices navigate insurance challenges, improve collections, and reduce administrative burdens. Drawing from his experience growing up in his mother's dental practice, Shreyas shares practical insights on revenue cycle management, delegation, work-life balance, and where AI is creating real value for dentists today.
Episode Highlights:
- Why many dental practices are unknowingly leaving money on the table
- How AI is being used today to automate insurance and billing workflows
- The difference between AI hype and real-world applications in dentistry
- Why delegation and clear boundaries are essential for practice owners
- Lessons Shreyas learned growing up in his mother's dental practice that shaped DayDream's mission
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we're joined by Dr. David Keith for an insightful conversation on chronic pain, TMD, and modern pain management in dentistry. Dr. Keith shares practical guidance on distinguishing acute vs. chronic pain, building multidisciplinary referral networks, improving patient communication, and prescribing pain medication responsibly in today's evolving healthcare landscape.
Episode highlights:
- Why chronic pain requires a different approach than acute dental pain
- The connection between TMD, stress, sleep issues, and mental health
- How dentists can better communicate with chronic pain patients
- Evidence-based pain management and responsible opioid prescribing
- The importance of multidisciplinary care and trusted referral networks
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Dr. Noha Nour, current President of the Orange County Dental Society, to talk about leadership in organized dentistry and the importance of building strong professional communities. Together, they discuss mentorship, advocacy, and how dentists can create meaningful impact within the profession. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:dd76235a-8f48-4ca5-9090-e8268b52cbc6-4" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:dd76235a-8f48-4ca5-9090-e8268b52cbc6-4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode Highlights:
- How adaptability and life experiences shaped Dr. Nour's leadership journey
- The value of mentorship, networking, and organized dentistry
- Conversations around private practice, DSOs, and insurance reform
- Balancing practice ownership, leadership, and motherhood
- Why attending conferences and building relationships creates opportunities
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This episode features Dr. Rania Saleh sharing her journey from dentist and practice owner to founder of Oryx Dental, a cloud-based dental practice management software. She and Dr. Grace Yum discuss how AI, automation, and smarter systems are transforming dentistry, along with practical insights on choosing software that supports long-term practice growth and efficiency.
Episode Highlights:
- How Dr. Rania Saleh turned real practice challenges into a dental software company
- Why choosing scalable, AI-powered software matters for growing practices
- Common mistakes dentists make when selecting practice management systems
- How AI and automation can improve workflows, patient experience, and profitability
- The future of dentistry and why adaptability is key for practice owners
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Joyce Kahng shares how she's built a thriving cosmetic dental practice using social media, modern technology, and patient-focused care. She breaks down 3D-printed veneers, AI smile simulations, and strategies to increase case acceptance—while offering insight into branding, consistency, and balancing motherhood with practice ownership.
Episode Highlights:
- How social media drives targeted patient growth
- 3D-printed veneers as a flexible, affordable option
- Using AI simulations to increase case acceptance
- How to read patients and tailor treatment plans
- Balancing motherhood and practice ownership through seasons
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum and Conner Ludlow, CEO of Annie, explore how AI is actually being used in dentistry today—cutting through the hype to focus on real, practical applications. They discuss how it can improve efficiency across both clinical and administrative workflows, while emphasizing its role as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human judgment.
Episode Highlights:
- How to separate AI hype from real, practical use in a dental practice
- What AI actually is (and isn't) and how it functions as a predictive tool
- Where AI fits into clinical workflows, documentation, and front-office operations
- Common mistakes dentists make when implementing AI—and how to avoid them
- How to identify practice bottlenecks and choose the right AI solutions to improve efficiency
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This episode explores how dentists can use data, systems, and mindset shifts to evaluate PPO participation and improve profitability. Dr. Stephanie Mapp, Founder of Mapp Your Practice, shares practical insights on when and how to drop insurance plans and build a more sustainable, profitable practice.
Episode highlights:
- How to know when it's time to drop a PPO plan
- Why understanding your numbers is critical to profitability
- The biggest mindset barriers holding dentists back
- Simple, strategic ways to phase out low-paying insurance
- How working less can actually increase income and case acceptance
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes back Joshua Scott, CEO of Studio EightyEight to explore what truly drives growth in modern dental practices. They discuss why marketing is about long-term momentum—not quick fixes—how digital presence shapes patient decisions, and why consistent branding and patient experience are essential for lasting success.
Episode highlights:
- Why marketing is about long-term momentum, not quick results
- How your digital presence impacts patient trust and decisions
- Common marketing mistakes like low ad spend and missed calls
- The role of branding and patient experience in practice growth
- How AI and content (especially video) are shaping the future of dental marketing
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Matt Mulcock, CFP® of Dentist Advisors breaks down the most common financial and tax pitfalls dentists face, highlighting how disorganization and short-term thinking can undermine long-term wealth. He shares why the right advisors, financial clarity, and a focus on overall life design—not just tax savings—lead to better outcomes both financially and personally.
Episode highlights:
- The biggest mistakes dentists make and why chasing deductions can hurt more than help
- How lack of organization leads to random financial decisions and missed opportunities
- Why working with dental-specific advisors can improve decision-making and outcomes
- Why high income doesn't always translate to financial peace and what's often missing
- The importance of aligning your business, finances, and lifestyle to avoid burnout and regret
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Dr. Susan Jolliff, a general dentist and practice owner in Texas, to discuss the powerful story behind her unexpected cardiac health scare—and the critical lessons it revealed about listening to symptoms, advocating for your health, and supporting one another within the dental community.
Episode Highlights:
- A life-threatening cardiac event that began with subtle, easily overlooked symptoms
- How a conference talk and peer stories led her to seek care
- A shocking diagnosis of multiple severe arterial blockages—just shy of a major heart attack
- Why women dentists must advocate for their health and not ignore warning signs
- The importance of community support and setting boundaries to protect health and family life
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Dr. Nekky Jamal to discuss practical clinical strategies for extractions, including how to improve healing, reduce post-operative pain, and minimize complications. From the role of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to surgical technique and pain management protocols, Dr. Jamal shares actionable insights to help dentists deliver smoother procedures and better patient outcomes.
Episode highlights:
- Using PRF to improve healing and reduce dry socket risk
- Pain management strategies that minimize opioid use
- Surgical techniques that reduce trauma and swelling
- Clinical tools and techniques that support more efficient extractions
- How communication and case selection help prevent complications
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Dr. Julianne Digiorno to discuss the realities of practice ownership, leadership development, and the mindset shifts that helped her navigate taking over two practices while growing professionally and personally.
Episode Highlights:
- The key mindset shift from the CEO Roundtable that transformed how she leads
- The surprising challenge that forced her into rapid growth as a practice owner
- What modern dentists must understand about practice ownership today
- The systems and boundaries that help her balance clinical excellence with CEO leadership
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we're joined by Dr. Steven Bender, Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain, as he breaks down the clinical realities of TMD and orofacial pain—what truly contributes to these conditions, what doesn't, and how dentists can diagnose complex pain more accurately.
Episode highlights:
- Why occlusion has minimal impact on most TMD cases
- How orthodontics is clinically considered "TMD neutral"
- When Botox may help—and why it's not a first-line treatment
- Recognizing neuropathic pain when symptoms persist after a root canal
- How sleep disturbances and systemic health can trigger or worsen facial pain
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum talks with Steijn Pelle, CEO and co-founder of Lassie, an AI platform designed to automate dental insurance posting, billing, and administrative workflows. Steijn explains how Lassie replaces time-consuming manual tasks, reduces errors, and helps practices reclaim valuable time—leading to smoother operations, less stress, and more focus on patient care.
Episode highlights:
- How Lassie automates EOB posting, write-offs, and digital payments
- Saving 60–70 hours per month with AI-driven workflows
- Reducing manual errors with consistent, rule-based posting
- Supporting team efficiency—not replacing staff
- What's next for AI in dental claims, billing, and scheduling
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Founder and CEO of Paragon Performance Evolution, Jeff Benton to uncover why so many high-achieving dentists and practice owners feel stuck in stress, overwhelm, and reactivity. Jeff breaks down the neuroscience behind our subconscious patterns and shares practical, science-backed tools to help leaders reset their state, improve decision-making, and show up with more presence at work and at home.
Episode highlights:
- How chronic stress is affecting leaders' clarity, communication, and decision-making
- Why subconscious patterns drive overwhelm and reactivity
- How neuroplasticity makes it possible to rewire your stress response
- How "choice points" help you shift from reacting to responding
- How coherence techniques can influence your own state—and the people around you
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum is joined by Chris Pistorius, CEO of Kickstart Dental Marketing, to break down how AI, search behavior, and patient expectations are changing how practices attract new patients. The conversation covers practical strategies for sustainable growth and the common mistakes quietly costing practices patients.
Episode Highlights:
- Why dental marketing must be customized—not one-size-fits-all
- How AI is reshaping search behavior beyond traditional Google results
- The role of websites, SEO, and content in long-term visibility
- Why tracking calls, conversions, and ROI is critical to responsible growth
- Simple, practical marketing strategies dentists can implement right now
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace Yum speaks with elder care expert Pamela D. Wilson about the hidden challenges of caring for aging parents while balancing career and family. They explore early warning signs, complex family dynamics, and practical steps caregivers can take to prepare before challenges become overwhelming.
Episode highlights:
- Early financial and organizational warning signs that may signal cognitive decline
- How proactive sibling communication prevents conflict and caregiver burnout
- The role of care managers in safety oversight and long-distance caregiving support
- What dentists need to know about patient representatives, consent, and mandatory reporting
- How long-term care insurance and advance planning help protect careers and businesses
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Grace Yum welcomes orthodontist and SuperMouth founder Dr. Kami Hoss for a bold conversation on why oral care should never be one-size-fits-all. This episode challenges outdated thinking and explores how customized prevention, smarter education, and personalized oral-care guidance can strengthen patient trust, improve compliance, and support long-term oral and systemic health
Episode Highlights:
- Why one-size-fits-all oral-care products fail across age groups and risk profiles
- Moving prevention beyond fluoride through ingredient and microbiome education
- How customized oral-care systems improve compliance and reduce emergencies
- Why dentists—not retail brands—should guide patients' daily oral-care decisions
- Reframing prevention as a clinical, ethical, and scalable opportunity for modern practices
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In the first episode of 2026, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with powerhouse dentist and Practice by Numbers co-founder Dr. Aditi Agarwal to talk about clarity, automation, and where dentistry is headed next. Drawing from her real-world clinical experience, Dr. Aditi shares how real-time data, smarter systems, and AI can reduce daily chaos, align teams, and help dentists regain time, control, and joy in their practices.
Episode Highlights: * Why clarity and accountability matter more than ever in today's dental practices * How automation can reduce stress and free up time for dentists and teams * Common technology mistakes that hold practices back—and how to avoid them * Practical ways AI supports diagnostics, follow-ups, and insurance insights * What a more predictable, proactive future of dentistry actually looks like
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum interviews Lynda Ricketson, President & CEO of Dental Lifeline Network, to discuss DLN's mission and the urgent need for volunteer dentists. Lynda shares how the Donated Dental Services program streamlines all coordination so clinicians can focus solely on care, the growing nationwide demand, and how treating even one patient a year can make a profound impact on both patients and dental teams.
Episode Highlights:
- Overview of Dental Lifeline Network's mission and who they serve
- Why the need for volunteer dentists is higher than ever
- How the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program works
- What volunteering actually looks like for dental teams
- The emotional and cultural benefits of giving back
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace sits down with Dr. Bhumika Patel—dentist, innovator, and Chief Clinical Officer of A2Z Imaging—to explore how real clinical challenges inspired her transition into dental technology. Dr. Patel shares the story behind the Air2Zed wireless solution and the DUO sensor, designed to streamline workflows, reduce equipment frustration, and deliver high-quality, reliable imaging for dental practices.
Episode Highlights:
- How clinical frustrations sparked Dr. Patel's journey into dental technology
- The origin of A2Z Imaging: eliminating wires and workflow frustration
- DUO sensor: high-quality, wireless-ready, cost-effective
- A support plan built by a dentist who understands real practice pain points
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Debra Woo, DDS, MA, FACD, FICD, Associate Professor at the University of the Pacific, joins the podcast to explore the critical role of self-care, mindfulness, and sustainable work habits in dentistry. She shares research-supported strategies for preventing burnout, improving mental well-being, and fostering a healthier workplace culture.
Episode Highlights:
- High-pressure demands in dentistry make intentional self-care essential
- Scheduled breaks and daily reset rituals help reduce stress and guard against burnout
- Strong self-care practices improve decision-making, communication, and patient interactions
- Peer support and open dialogue help decrease isolation and burnout
- Building mindfulness and resilience skills early helps create healthier long-term career habits
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich to explore the rise of regenerative medicine—how it works, what it's best for, and how to choose the right provider. He breaks down options like Sculptra, EZGel PRF, and Polynucleotides, and offers practical advice on setting realistic expectations in a trend-driven industry.
Episode Highlights:
- Clear explanation of regenerative medicine and why collagen induction matters
- Comparison of Sculptra, EZGel PRF, and Polynucleotides and what each does best
- How to choose a practitioner with the right mix of surgical and non-surgical expertise
- Tips for navigating online information and setting realistic treatment expectations
- What to expect regarding treatment sessions, healing time, and results variability
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Parham Nabatian, Co-Founder of The DocSites, to break down what truly drives effective dental marketing today. Parham shares practical, experience-backed insights on building a strong online presence, avoiding common marketing pitfalls, staying visible in both Google and AI-driven search, and tracking what actually brings new patients into the practice.
Episode Highlights:
- Low-cost marketing strategies that deliver long-term results
- How a strong dental website builds patient trust
- Common website and marketing mistakes to avoid
- Tracking what's really working in your online marketing
- What makes The DocSites stand out in the dental marketing space
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum speaks with Dr. V. Kim Kutsch, founder of Oral Biotech and creator of CariFree, about redefining how dentistry approaches tooth decay. Dr. Kutsch explains why cavities are a bacterial disease rather than a drilling problem, and how simple caries risk assessments and prevention-focused care can improve patient outcomes and practice growth.
Episode Highlights:
- Why tooth decay should be treated as a bacterial disease—not a drilling problem
- The importance of understanding why decay occurs, not just how to fix it
- Simple first steps to implement caries risk assessment in your practice
- How prevention-based care builds patient trust and practice growth
- The biggest myth in dentistry that still frustrates Dr. Kutsch today
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. David Charles, a neuropsychologist specializing in trauma and neurodiversity, joins us to explore how dental teams can better support neurodivergent patients and staff. From reducing sensory overload to improving communication and recognizing early signs of distress, Dr. Charles offers valuable strategies for creating a more inclusive and compassionate dental experience.
Episode highlights:
- How to create a supportive dental experience for neurodiverse patients
- Recognize early signs of patient distress before it escalates
- How dental teams can better support neurodivergent staff
- Addressing trauma in neurodiverse patients through empathy and collaboration
- Why ongoing neurodiversity training boosts morale and patient care
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Pamela Oren-Artzi, Co-Founder and COO of Grin, to explore how technology is transforming access to dental and orthodontic care. Pamela shares how Grin's digital monitoring platform bridges gaps in affordability, convenience, and provider access—helping dental teams better serve patients and expand their impact. From public health applications to private practice integration, she discusses what it means to "do well by doing good" in today's dental landscape.
Episode highlights:
- Overcoming key barriers in dental access—cost, convenience, awareness, and provider availability
- How Grin's remote monitoring technology supports equitable, connected oral care
- Partnering with providers to improve access across public health and community programs
- Building a mission-driven business that balances growth with social responsibility
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we are joined by Aida Bosnjak, RDH and orofacial myofunctional therapist, who shares her expertise on the basics of myofunctional therapy and why collaboration is key to supporting airway health. From infants to adults, Aida discusses common signs of myofunctional disorders and how dental teams can play a vital role in identifying and addressing them.
Episode highlights:
- The importance of implementing myofunctional therapy in dental offices
- The role of collaboration with other healthcare professionals in treatment
- Why training all team members to recognize myofunctional disorders is essential
- Common signs and symptoms of myofunctional disorders
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace welcomes Wendy Briggs, a practicing hygienist, consultant, and co-founder of The Team Training Institute. Wendy shares how intentional alignment between dentists and hygienists can transform both patient outcomes and practice performance. From improving communication around fluoride to implementing efficient systems and compensation structures, Wendy offers practical strategies to elevate hygiene productivity and strengthen the entire team dynamic.
Episode highlights:
- Why dentist–hygienist alignment is key to consistent care and long-term growth
- Using risk assessments to bring the whole team together and personalize patient care
- Navigating fluoride misconceptions with clear, science-driven conversations
- Proven strategies to boost hygiene productivity and elevate performance
- Harnessing technology, tools, and advocacy to increase treatment acceptance
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Jeff Gladnick, Founder and CEO of Great Dental Websites, returns to the podcast for a conversation on how AI is changing the digital landscape for dentists. From patient search behavior to marketing strategies and practice operations, Jeff shares practical insights on what’s working now, what to watch out for, and how to use AI as a tool without losing the human touch.
Episode highlights:
- The growing role of AI tools like ChatGPT in how patients search for and choose dentists
- Practical ways dentists can use AI for marketing, call tracking, and after-hours support
- Why original, well-structured content is still the key to standing out online
- Where AI helps (and falls short) in web design and copywriting for practices
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we are joined by Dr. Sheila Samaddar, practice owner and AGD national spokesperson, for an inspiring conversation. Dr. Samaddar shares her journey into dentistry, the value of mentorship, and her passion for technology and tools that protect clinicians’ health. She also reflects on how community and organized dentistry have shaped her career.
Episode highlights:
- The role of mentorship in shaping Dr. Samaddar’s career and inspiring her to guide younger dentists
- Must-have technology and tools to protect your body and improve patient care
- The importance of organized dentistry and building strong professional communities
- Balancing career, family, and self-care while pursuing leadership and innovation
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes back dental accountant and financial expert Brian Hanks, founder of Dental Tax Advocates. Together, they dive into the most common frustrations dentists face with CPAs, strategies for choosing the right accountant, and key takeaways from the latest tax bill.
Episode highlights:
- Why many dentists feel neglected or underserved by their accountants—and what’s really behind it
- Smart questions to ask when choosing a CPA (fees, client load, specialization, communication)
- A quick checklist of what your accountant should be doing for you each year
- Two key updates from the “big beautiful tax bill”: bonus depreciation for equipment & SALT deduction changes
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, official MDIB member Dr. Tontra Lowe, Founder of Professional Auxiliary Training, shares insights on how medical billing can create new opportunities for dentists and patients. She explains why accessing medical benefits is crucial, how it impacts patient care and practice growth, and why training the entire team is essential for success. Episode 323 is available for download now on all of the top podcast platforms or listen now by clicking the player above!
Episode highlights:
- Why medical billing matters for dentists and the value it brings to a practice
- Which dental procedures may qualify for medical billing and expected payment timelines
- Patient and team benefits of integrating medical billing into a dental practice
- How Dr. Lowe’s training program equips entire dental teams to implement medical billing successfully
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes Dr. Sara Mahmood—dentist, entrepreneur, and international speaker—to share how embracing digital technology early on transformed her career. From taking bold risks as a new graduate to scaling multiple startup practices, Dr. Sara reveals how digital dentistry became the driving force behind her growth, innovation, and brand.
Episode highlights:
- Why Dr. Sara invested in digital dentistry early and how it transformed her career
- How digital technology fueled her multi-practice growth and created opportunities along the way
- The mindset shift that helped her embrace innovation and overcome fear in business decisions
- How becoming a speaker and KOL shaped her approach to technology, practice growth, and patient care
- Advice for dentists looking to expand their practices with digital technology
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week on the Mommy Dentists in Business Podcast, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Jonathan Rat, CEO of Archy, to explore how AI is transforming dental practice management. If you’ve ever felt weighed down by staffing challenges, outdated software, or endless administrative headaches, this episode is for you!
Episode highlights:
- How staffing shortages, inefficiencies, and outdated software inspired Archy
- The top pain points in dentistry today—and how Archy addresses them
- Practical AI tools that reduce admin burdens, streamline workflows, and boost patient trust
- Why gradual tech adoption matters and what switching to Archy looks like
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum speaks with dental CPA Travis Slade about approaching practice finances with greater clarity and confidence, exploring practical ways dentists can better understand and manage their financial landscape.
Episode highlights:
- The most common financial mistake dentists make
- A financial concept dentists often misunderstand and how to simplify it
- What to focus on in just 5 minutes a week to stay on top of finances
- Using practice data to make smarter decisions year-round
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Anna Cowdin, cosmetic dentist, practice owner, and entrepreneur, joins Dr. Yum this week to explore the evolving world of cosmetic dentistry. She shares how 3D printing is transforming the way veneers are designed and delivered, offering faster, more customizable solutions for patients.
Episode highlights:
- What sets 3D-printed veneers apart from traditional porcelain and composite options
- The step-by-step process for designing and placing 3D-printed veneers
- The benefits of 3D printing in cosmetic dentistry, including its effect on workflows and patient experience
- The future of 3D printing in dentistry and where limitations still remain
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Cory Pinegar, CEO of Reach, joins us to share game-changing solutions for dental practices facing staffing headaches and rising overhead. Learn how top-tier international virtual assistants can boost your team’s efficiency, reduce costs, and support smooth, secure front office operations.
Episode highlights:
- How Reach is helping practices overcome staffing challenges with international virtual assistants
- Explore the biggest practice pain points and how virtual assistants effectively address them
- The truth about working with virtual assistants — debunking common misconceptions
- Gain insights into affordable pricing and specialized support tailored specifically for the dental industry
- Learn what sets Reach apart: secure systems, flexible roles, and dental-focused assistance
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we’re joined by award-winning dentist, educator, and KOL Dr. Karla Soto to talk about how digital dentistry is transforming patient care and practice efficiency. She also shares the story behind Key Elements, her platform designed to help dentists embrace digital workflows through education, community, and support.
Episode highlights:
- How digital technology is elevating the standard of care in dentistry
- The value of comprehensive restorative dentistry for both patients and practices
- Expanding the role of iTero beyond Invisalign into hygiene, diagnostics, and treatment planning
- Dr. Soto walks through the step-by-step use of digital tools in a real patient case
- An inside look at the Key Elements program and how it supports dentists in adopting digital workflows
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, Dr. Grace Yum welcomes back Joshua Scott, CEO of Studio EightyEight, to unpack what’s really driving successful dental marketing today. From the power of a strong brand to story-driven creative and performance marketing, Joshua shares how practices can achieve consistent, predictable growth through marketing that truly works.
Episode highlights:
- Why a brand-first strategy drives stronger long-term growth than ads or SEO alone
- Creative ways to consistently capture attention in a crowded market
- How AI is changing dental marketing—and where the human touch still matters
- How intentional, value-driven content strengthens your marketing and ROI
- The long-term value of consistent marketing budgets in building trust and visibility
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we are joined by Dr. Natasha Hassam-Sarwar, a dentist turned AI enthusiast, as she explores how AI is transforming the dental field. From enhancing patient care to reducing burnout and improving practice efficiency, this episode covers why now is the time to embrace AI in dentistry.
Episode highlights:
- Learn how AI tools enhance the patient experience from first contact to follow-up
- Explore how AI-powered X-ray analysis improves education and treatment acceptance
- Discover how AI reduces burnout by automating scheduling, revenue cycles, and admin tasks
- Get practical tips for using AI in content creation, from social media to video scripts
- Understand why adopting AI is essential to staying competitive in modern dentistry
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this week’s episode, Dr. Vinni Singh—dentist and founder of DentScribe—shares how her clinical experience led to the creation of an AI-powered documentation tool designed for dental teams. Tune in to hear how DentScribe is helping practices save time, reduce burnout, and embrace technology in a way that supports smarter, more efficient care.
Episode highlights:
- How Dr. Vinni Singh’s dental experience shaped DentScribe
- Using AI to streamline clinical documentation for dental teams
- An inside look at DentScribe’s AI-powered workflow
- Addressing today’s clinical documentation challenges with smarter tech
- What sets DentScribe apart from other clinical note-taking solutions
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Deepika Ganne, Endodontist and MDIB Co-Regional Leader of Austin, opens up about breaking barriers in a male-dominated field, finding her voice as a partner in practice, and the pivotal role community played in her journey. Tune in for an honest, inspiring conversation on confidence, community, and creating a fulfilling career.
Episode highlights:
- Dr. Deepika Ganne's background and journey to dentistry
- Breaking barriers as one of the few female Endodontists in Austin
- Earning partnership, building confidence, and managing practice transitions
- Finding strength and connection through the MDIB community
- Focusing on personal growth and contributing to dentistry beyond clinical care
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this insightful podcast CE episode, Dr. Brenda Nishimura joins Dr. Grace Yum to explore the often-overlooked link between menopause and oral health. Drawing on clinical expertise, Dr. Nishimura explains how menopause impacts teeth, gums, function, and esthetics—and what dentists need to know to deliver better patient care.
Episode highlights:
- The impact of hormonal shifts on saliva production and oral health
- Changes in gum health and bone support during menopause
- Effect of menopause on teeth function, including grinding and sleep disturbances
- How menopause affects dental esthetics and treatment planning
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
In this episode, Dr. Yum sits down with returning guest Brittany Frazier of Cain Watters & Associates to discuss women and investing. Brittany explores the Great Wealth Transfer and its significance for women, highlighting the importance of being informed, confident, and prepared when it comes to managing finances and building a secure future.
Episode highlights:
- Understanding the "Great Wealth Transfer" and the role women play in it
- Exploring gender-based investment strategies
- Key questions to ask your financial advisor to align your goals
- Overcoming common tendencies that may hold women back from investing
- Navigating investment decisions during market volatility
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week’s episode features Dr. Judee Tippett-Whyte, who shares her inspiring rise in organized dentistry, her passion for advocacy, and how she’s faced life’s challenges head-on—all while balancing leadership, family, and her practice.
Episode highlights:
- Dr. Tippett-Whyte’s path and what inspired her to take on leadership
- Her journey through organized dentistry and commitment to advocacy
- Recovering from surgery and the importance of disability/business overhead insurance
- Balancing leadership, family, and running a practice
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
This week, we’re joined by Dr. Andrea Ruby—dentist, practice owner, and MDIB Minnesota Regional Leader—who opens up about her journey through practice ownership and motherhood. From the day-to-day realities of leading a practice to the meaningful support she’s found in the MDIB community, Dr. Ruby offers honest insight and encouragement for fellow dental professionals.
Highlights:
- Dr. Ruby's path to practice ownership
- Key takeaways from the CEO Roundtable
- How she’s using her MDIB membership to grow personally and professionally
- Balancing business and motherhood while making time for what matters most
Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
An experienced Dental Lab Ceramist and Academy Educator, Suzanne brings her 35+ years of experience to each course she leads to provide participants with up-to-date information about dental products and procedures. As a Chairside Specialist, Academy Educator supporting the Dentsply Sirona Restorative and CAD/CAM teams on the Blocks, Suzanne has extensive experience within the CAD/CAM market and has an in-depth knowledge of fabricating esthetic and functional restorations with both Zirconia and Glass Ceramic materials. Suzanne’s early career was spent within the Dental Laboratory space as a Ceramist—progressing to Dentsply’s R&D with porcelains, then moving into a role as Technical Communications and Sales Support and later to product development support and sales training. Suzanne’s background provides her with both foundational material science knowledge and procedure expertise that allow her courses to focus on both how to process CAD/CAM materials and where common mistakes can lead to pitfalls and inefficiencies.
Suzanne lives in New Jersey with her husband Ralph and their two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time at the NJ Shore with her family, and has recently welcomed a new granddaughter.
Brent Anderson had the opportunity to help lead the largest dental group on their M&A team buying offices all over the United States, now having been a part of over 300 practice transitions throughout his career. Brent enjoys the relationship aspect of truly understanding what’s important to his clients and building a lifetime friendship with the people he helps navigate through exploring all the different transition options that are in the market. As Brent feels it’s important to have representation to make sure you make the right choice in your decision with your future partners as you typically will only have one chance at doing this with your dental practice. With Brent’s experience on the buy-side and his passion for truly wanting to do what’s best for his clients, this will be a winning receipt for his future success for his clients.
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A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, Dr. McMahon enjoys one of the largest cosmetic dental practices in Western Pennsylvania. She is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and an invited Fellow of the prestigious American Society for Dental Aesthetics and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. An author and internationally recognized lecturer, Dr. McMahon has devoted her professional career to the pursuit of advanced technologies in cosmetic and minimally invasive dentistry. She is a past clinical instructor in Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been the Director of New Product Evaluation and a Speaker for Catapult Education. She frequently lectures across the United States on minimally invasive dentistry and conservative cosmetic dentistry for teenagers and young adults. She had been honored as a Top Dentist over 20 times. She has also been voted by her peers as a Top Pittsburgh Dentist every year for over two decades.
Along with dentistry, Dr. McMahon developed and is an active partner in Bakn restaurants in Pittsburgh. Bakn, chef driven, funky brunch-all-day restaurants have been featured on The Food Network and Travel Channel. Very Active in charity work and fundraising, she is a founding board member of Music for MS. Music for MS, Roots Music Festival, is a daylong, family friendly, live music festival held annually at Hartwood Acres. Dr. McMahon lives and raised her three children in Pittsburgh.
As Vice President of Practice Intel at Dental Advocacy Group (DAG), Cynthia bring over 20 years of experience in the dental industry, helping practices maximize revenue, optimize insurance reimbursements, and implement strategic growth initiatives.
Before joining DAG, Cynthia spent years as a dental consultant, working directly with practices ranging from solo practitioners and multi-doctor offices to large DSOs. This hands-on experience has given her a unique vantage point—she understands the challenges and opportunities that come with each type of practice model. Whether it’s navigating insurance complexities, fine-tuning operational efficiencies, or transitioning to a fee-for-service model, she’s seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t.
At DAG, her focus is on helping dentists take control of their profitability by negotiating better PPO contracts, improving fee schedules, and ensuring that insurance participation aligns with their long-term business goals. She is also leading the charge with Practice Intel, an innovative KPI analytics platform that gives dental teams real-time insights to drive smarter, more profitable decisions.
Beyond her professional work, Cynthia is a wife, mother, and proud new grandmother—so she understands the importance of work-life balance and building a business that supports your life, not the other way around. Her passion is helping dentists thrive, not just in their practices, but in their personal lives as well.
Dr. Jordan Hubbard has always had a passion for the human body, how it works, and the physiology of how it is regulated. In high school, she found her passion for dentistry. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Honors College with a BS in biology and minor in psychology in 2013. She went on to graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2017 and was awarded the AGD Excellence Award signifying she showed the highest excellence in general dentistry in her class. She also graduated with the ASDA Certificate of Excellence Award, received a Deans Circle Scholarship, and took additional courses to get her Certificate in Forensic Odontology.
After graduation, she worked as an associate while taking continuing education courses in implantology, pediatric dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. Once she purchased her practice in 2020, and had children of her own, she became fascinated with infant frenectomies and airway dentistry. She has spent the last 3 years studying her craft, and has taken courses from leading experts in the field including Dr. Richard Baxter, Dr. Soroush Zaghi, Dr. Jared Poplin, and Dr. Erin Elliot. In her free time, she enjoys giving back, and found a way to do so with the Mommy Dentists in Business. As the regional leader for MDIB of the Carolinas, Dr. Hubbard enjoys planning events and meet-ups for women in her area to have fun, talk dentistry, and provide mentorship and support for each other. She is also active in her local study clubs, is the Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists, and is the owner of her practice, Hubbard Dental, in Pinehurst North Carolina. Dr. Hubbard has 3 young boys, and is married to her husband of 8 years.
Dr. Inoue-Cheng has nurtured a deep passion for the dental field from an early age. She began her professional journey as a Dental Assistant and graduated with honours from Paulista University. After graduating from the General Dentistry program, she furthered her education by obtaining a Diploma in Endodontics and a Master’s degree.
As the founder of a private practice in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Dr. Susy takes great pride in implementing a comprehensive approach to patient care. With a commitment spanning over 25 years, she has guided her patients toward achieving their oral health objectives. Dr. Susy is dedicated to professional growth and continually seeks opportunities to enhance her skills. Her post-graduate training encompasses a variety of specialties, including Laser Dentistry, Orthodontics, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), and the intricate relationship between sleep breathing disorders (SBD) and oral health, among other interests.
Lavinia Errico, co-founder of Equinox Fitness, founder of the Inside/Out Movement, Principle in First Point Partners and pioneering MoveJoy creator, has spent a lifetime helping women find their voices and expand their potential to lead more authentic, empowered and joyful lives. As a successful and passionate entrepreneur and brand innovator, Lavinia is a highly sought-after speaker who has appeared on numerous podcasts, served on panels at thought-leader conferences throughout the county and delivered keynote addresses at several business/entrepreneurial seminars and summits. She has inspired countless women of all ages to move forward with their vision and create successful businesses across fitness, wellness, technology and the sciences.
Lavinia is curious, open, and a deeply intuitive and discerning curator of the many physical, mental and spiritual practices that transform lives, bring us closer to our essential selves and unlock the meaning and purpose we all seek. Her belief in the interconnectedness of our minds, bodies, emotions and spirits is visceral and based on years of experience. At Equinox, she disrupted and revolutionized the fitness industry by introducing the concept of wellness and seeding their clubs with eastern practices like Reiki and acupuncture, and bringing meditation and yoga classes to the masses. A visionary who always sees around the curve, Lavinia’s track record for identifying the best and most impactful innovations is exemplary. She has personally mentored several of today’s groundbreaking young female entrepreneurs and continues, through First Point Partners, to invest in new technologies and scientific breakthroughs that improve our health and wellbeing, and strengthen families and communities.
Today, her signature MoveJoy Method is creating another new paradigm and introducing people everywhere to a physical and spiritual practice that empowers, elevates and transforms through joy.
Brian Hanks owns a dental CPA firm helping dentists with taxes and helping them acquire their own practices. He is the author of How to Buy a Dental Practice, which highlights common pitfalls and provides a roadmap for success. Brian owns DentalTax & Dental Buyer Advocates providing hands-on support in evaluating practices, negotiating with sellers, securing financing, and managing transitions. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, he serves dentists nationwide.
Dr. Marta M Rivera is a solo pediatric dental private practice Invisalign Platinum Provider in Tampa, Florida. She has been providing comprehensive orthodontics to her patients since 1997. Dr. Rivera is a graduate from University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine in San Juan Puerto Rico Rico and has been providing clear aligner therapy since 2012. Dr. Rivera is passionate about providing the latest digital technologies to her patient care. In her free time she enjoys cycling, creating new recipes, and walking on the beach.
Grace has been with CEDR Solutions for ten years. She is currently CEDR’s Solution Center Manager. Prior to managing the Solution Center, she served as both a Solution Center Advisor and as a Compliance Officer with CEDR. Her favorite area of HR is paid leave laws.
Grace graduated cum laude from Georgia State University’s School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Grace received her paralegal certificate from Emory University and worked as a paralegal for a large law firm in Atlanta, GA. She recently received her Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Stanford Business School. She currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and three children.
Dr. Sarah Balaster is a board-certified periodontist and a trailblazer in modern dentistry, celebrated for her innovative approach to advancing patient care and driving industry growth. Named one of the “10 Dentists to Know” by Becker’s Dental Review, she brings a unique blend of clinical excellence and creative vision, shaped by her fine arts background.
Dr. Balaster earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and completed her periodontal residency at NYU. With experience in both private practice and clinical leadership—cutting her teeth as the Chief Dental Officer of Adult Specialty and Hygiene at a prominent Dental Service Organization—she has developed a deep understanding of patient-centered care and industry dynamics.
A certified instructor for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, Dr. Balaster empowers clinicians to adopt minimally invasive, cutting-edge techniques that enhance patient outcomes and prioritize comfort. As a thought leader, she champions technology and holistic care, inspiring providers to embrace innovation and demonstrating how modern treatments can transform both oral and systemic health. With her commitment to education and empowerment, Dr. Balaster continues to redefine the standards of oral healthcare. Follow her story at www.sarahbalaster.com.
Dr. Carliza A. Marcos is the Immediate Past President of the California Dental Association, the largest state dental organization in the nation with 27,000 members. She is the 7th female president in CDA’s 154 year history.
Dr. Marcos is part of a family of dentists. She grew up in her mother’s dental office and followed her footsteps into the profession. She currently co-owns a practice with her brother in San Carlos, California. Collectively, they have provided over 10 decades of patient care.
She graduated from the UOP Dugoni School of Dentistry in 1992. Upon graduation, she immediately joined the ADA, CDA and her local dental society. She has held multiple leadership roles in various professional organizations and within her community.
Dr. Marcos has served as Past President of the San Mateo County Dental Society, Past President of the Northern California Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Past Chairperson of CDA’s Leadership Development Committee, Past CDA Trustee and Past Director on the TDIC Board of Directors. She was elected as Secretary of CDA in 2020 and moved up the Executive Committee to become CDA President in 2024.
Dr. Marcos is a 2015 graduate of ADA’s Institute for Diversity in Leadership and has been a CDA delegate to the ADA House of Delegates for over 12 years. She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. She has also served on the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Pacific Women’s Health Professionals Referral Group and was a founding member of a local chapter of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), which is mother son leadership and philanthropic organization.
Dr. Marcos enjoys traveling, working out at the Bar Method (barre exercises) and volunteering on international dental missions. She has participated in dental missions to Belize, Uganda and to multiple provinces in her homeland, the Philippines.
She is happily married to her husband of over 28 years Chris and they adore their two “boys”- their pride and joy, Ricky who resides in New York City and their Siberian Husky named Tardis.
Dr. Sapna Amin resides in the DFW metroplex. She graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2008 with Summa Cum Laude. Two years post graduation, she bought a dental practice and then merged her office in 2021. She retired from clinical dentistry in April 2024. In conjunction with practice ownership, she has been serving as one of the co-regional MDIB leaders for the DFW chapter for many years now. Dr. Amin has lectured on various topics in the dental industry and advocates for wellness and fitness. Currently, Dr. Sapna Amin is the Client Services Director with Valuations and Negotiations at Dental Buyer Advocates.
Matt Mulcock is a CFP® professional who spent five years as an Investment and Financial Consultant for one of the largest asset managers in the world before transitioning to Dentist Advisors in 2018. His expertise includes portfolio construction, investment management, retirement planning, insurance, debt management, and tax reduction. In addition to advising dentists across the country, he oversees advisor development and the implementation of service improvements. Matt is co-host of the Dentist Money™ Show podcast and author of the “Money Matters” blog.
Jen is a 1999 graduate of the University of South Dakota with degrees in Nursing, Psychology and Dental Hygiene. Jen received her master’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Minnesota in 2013. She was previously an adjunct professor of dental hygiene at the University of Minnesota where she lectured, worked hands on with dental, dental therapy and dental hygiene students and conducted research. Jen also spent time as an investigator for the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General specializing in investigations of health care providers. She has been a licensed dental hygienist since 1999.
Jen joined 3M (now Solventum) in 2016 and is currently an Advanced Clinical Applications Specialist for the Prevention Lab within Solventum where she is a subject matter expert and assures that dental products are useful and practical for dental professionals.
Dr. Josie Dovidio is a long-time dentist, registered yoga teacher and certified wellness consultant. After 22 years, she made the difficult decision to sell her practice, in order to address health issues related to the prolonged physical and mental stress inherent to dentistry.
She now helps dental professionals "undo" what dentistry does to the body, mind, and soul through her Yoga for Dentists community on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Channel, and Podcast. As a certified wellness consultant to dentists, she offers self-paced wellness courses, webinars and works one-on-one with clients, taking them from burnout to breakthrough via her signature program: Crown of Wellness.
Dr. Dovidio lives in Southern California with her family. She is a gluten-free foodie who loves reading and traveling. You can reach her at josie@yogafordentists.net.
Are You a Passionate Practitioner or a Burned Out Dentist? This Quiz Reveals Your Dentist Archetype: https://yogafordentists.net/bquiz
Dr. Sadie Mestman is a seasoned dentist and dedicated mentor with decades of experience in clinical practice and community health education. With strong ties to Head Start programs, Sadie is passionate about guiding individuals interested in dentistry, especially those committed to serving underserved communities. She emphasizes hiring and mentoring future dental professionals, offering them pathways to success and purpose. Sadie also authored a low-literacy book to make health information more accessible, underscoring her commitment to inclusive, impactful education.
After earning her BS in Dental Hygiene from USC, Dr. Holden found her calling in a pediatric dental office in Beverly Hills. After five years, she returned to USC to earn her DDS and a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry. She was fortunate to return to the same practice for a year as an associate before opening her own Pediatric Dental office in Manhattan Beach, California. As the only female pediatric dentist in Manhattan Beach, Dr. Holden created a thriving practice. She also has a second office that serves teens and college students, catering to her older patients.
The idea for Tanner’s Tasty Paste came after struggling to find a toothpaste that her sons would actually use. The concept was born when her son first tried the toothpaste and excitedly asked, “Mom, can I brush my teeth again?” Tanner’s Tasty Paste is available in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Orange Vanilla.
Dr. Holden is married and has two sons. Her older son, Chase, just graduated from USC Film School and is seeking an entry-level position. Her youngest son, who has special needs, is the happiest guy and still uses Tanner’s Tasty Paste! It has touched so many special needs and sensory children! She still practices full time as a pediatric dentist in Manhattan Beach.
It is time to take a ride on the flavor wave!
Mia L. Geisinger, DDS, MS is a Professor, Director of Advanced Education in Periodontology, and Acting Chair of the Department of Periodontology in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Geisinger received her BS in Biology from Duke University, her DDS from Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, and her MS and Certificate in Periodontology and Implantology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Geisinger is a Diplomate in the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow in the International Team for Implantology, the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. She has served as the President of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, as the Chair of the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute, and on multiple national and regional organized dentistry committees. She currently serves as the President-Elect and on numerous AAP and ADA committees and task forces. She has authored over 75 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial board of several publications. Her research interests include periodontal and systemic disease interaction, implant dentistry in the periodontally compromised dentition, and novel treatment strategies for oral soft and hard tissue regeneration. She lectures nationally and internationally on topics in periodontology and oral healthcare.
Ankur A Gupta, DDS, after completing a one-year GPR in Cleveland, started a practice from scratch in 2005. Armed with what he considered adequate dental knowledge, hand skills, and a personable demeanor, he watched as his practice floundered, finances became un-predictable, and his lower back and spirit toward his profession became worrisome. Rather than continue the trend, he made a guinea pig out of his office, family, and self, attempting any and all personal and professional “experiments” in self-improvement.
More than a decade later, he enjoys an excellent practice, a solution oriented dental team; and most importantly, a meaningful and positive identity. He happily shares the failures and successes with dental and community groups throughout the country, always ending his presentations with practical, implementable, step-by-step ways to be better.
Dr. Gupta graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2004. In 2005, after completing a one-year General Practice Residency in Cleveland, Ohio, he and his partner Dr. Nisha Gupta started North Ridgeville Family Dentistry. In addition to founding North Ridgeville Family Dentistry, Dr. Gupta is a member of the American Dental Association, Greater Cleveland Dental Society, Ohio Dental Association, ADA Success Speaker Corp and an active board member and a speaker for Catapult Education’s Speaker Bureau.
Dr. Gupta is an AGD/PACE certified provider.
Adriana is an online fitness and nutrition coach, a full-time high school math teacher, and a mother of three.
After the birth of her third child, Adriana felt lost in the demands of family life and her career. Determined to rediscover herself, she embarked on a transformative journey through healthy eating and strength training. Today, she feels more confident in her body than ever before, even more so than in her 20s and 30s.
Adriana now runs a thriving online coaching business, empowering women to achieve their wellness and body goals. Her mission is to help women reclaim their confidence and embrace their inner and outer beauty through what she calls the magical combination of mindful nutrition and physical fitness. She is also the host of the podcast ‘A Cup of Dri,’ where she shares her insights and experiences in health and wellness each week. Adriana’s passion for uplifting others drives everything she does, making her not just a coach but a mentor and inspiration to women on their own journey of transformation and self-discovery.
Dr. Kurthy has practiced in Southern California for 46 years. He graduated with highest honors from Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry in 1978 and completed a GP residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr Kurthy’s 48 years of research & development include laser and surgical periodontal bone regeneration; endodontic surgery, including bone regeneration and repair of resorptive lesions; teeth whitening; teeth sensitivity; development of several cosmetic techniques and impression techniques; and even credible, professional marketing techniques designed to attract only high-quality patients. His first participation in periodontal research was in 1976, and teeth whitening in 1977.
Dr. Kurthy is the recipient of many awards and accolades including the Mosby Scholarship Award; FDU Prosthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Awards; the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society Gold Key Award; and a commendation from the Chief Attorney of the United States Department of Defense for his role in supporting patients’ rights in disputes with insurance carriers. Dr. Kurthy’s efforts were directly responsible for forcing Blue Cross of California to correct their Explanation of Benefit comments to conform to accepted practice.
In March of 2005, Dr. Kurthy was selected as the most respected member of DentalTown.com by over 60,000 of his peers. Dr. Kurthy is an exciting and effective international lecturer and author of five popular clinical and dental marketing books. He has authored numerous articles in, and is frequently interviewed by, dental journals and consumer magazines. He has appeared numerous times on the covers of several widely-read dental journals in the U.S.; has been featured six times on national tape interview series; is a consultant to several popular consumer magazines such as People Magazine, and has been a feature writer for Oxygen women’s fitness magazine. He has been interviewed and featured numerous times in national media and was the personal dentist of the 1994 United States Men’s World Cup Soccer Team. Most recently Dr. Kurthy has been widely known for his remarkable KöR® Whitening System.
Dr. Layla Lohmann is a mom of 2 young kids, a wife, a dentist and the co-founder and Clinical Director of Apex Dental Partners. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. She has served on the clinical faculty for Texas A&M College of Dentistry, she serves on the Peer Review Committee for the Texas Dental Association and continues to see patients in a private practice. She has built a mentor program for young pre-professionals in their GAP year and has successfully helped over 30 students get into the program of their choice.
In 2020, Dr. Lohmann became involved with several non profit organizations as a patient advocate. At 12 years old, Dr. Layla Lohmann was diagnosed with Graves’ disease with xophthalmos and 20 years later during her first pregnancy learns she actually has a rare eye disease known as Thyroid Eye Disease. After attending art therapy through Prevent Blindness, she was connected with others who are battling TED. From that program, she became one of the builders of the TED Community Organization and is now the host of TED EDU webinars. She has led public forums, partaken in Patient Empowerment Programs, served as a peer mentor, patient advocate and more. She is a graduate of Glidewell's Guiding Leaders 2023 program. This is a professional development program empowering women to new levels of leadership. Through this incredible journey she hopes to reach others with her stories and experiences so no one ever feels alone.
Dr. Lohmann believes an educated person is a smart person, smart people are able to make informed decisions. Informed decisions help bridge the gap between patients and providers because the interdisciplinary approach to healthcare brings everyone into the decision making process. Education is key to understanding your choices.
Victoria Ferguson is a Financial Advisor and CFP®. She earned a degree in Finance from the University of Utah and has a background in women’s wealth, holistic financial planning, and building a strong financial foundation.
Victoria enjoys providing the tools and resources for clients so they can make educated financial decisions they feel good about. She believes that it’s called personal finance for a reason – your money and how you approach it is deeply personal. She helps clients determine when the standard cookie cutter advice doesn’t make sense.
Tracy Holland is a founder, investor, board member, and entrepreneur who is an authority on beauty and wellness with a global track record of incubating and launching brands. Tracy has dedicated her career to creating new brands and success stories by spotlighting innovation, amplifying authentic and celebrity voices in beauty and personal care, and nurturing promising talent — especially other women entrepreneurs.
Most recently, Tracy’s passion around women entrepreneurs and powerhouse women leaders was her inspiration for two initiatives, Potential to Powerhouse podcast, focused on success secrets of women leaders, and Inner Fifth, an invite only membership for elite women entrepreneurs. Tracy Holland is also a founder, and Executive Chairman of Goodwill Brands, a multi-brand, multi-category investor and operating model making both minority and majority investments into consumer focused, founder-led brands.
Formerly, Tracy Holland was Co-Founder and CEO of HATCHBEAUTY Brands, which she led for over a decade, prior to selling the company. She built HATCHBEAUTY Brands from a startup to a recognized global leader in beauty and wellness brands, generating more than $700M in cumulative revenue before selling her position. Her awards and honors include 2019 Fashion and Beauty Award for Beauty Service Provider of the Year, EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, and election to The Committee of 200, an organization of the most successful women business leaders globally.
Selected in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 in 2022 under Media & Marketing and Pacific Edge Magazine's "Social Media Influencer of the Year," Cyber Bunny is an online personality who shares her love of Japanese language and culture to her global audience.
Best known for her viral "Hiragana Song" on YouTube, she produces short lesson videos and showcasing Japanese life and culture in the form of travel vlogs on YouTube and short-form videos on unwritten rules to deal with awkward situations in Japan for foreigners.
Cyber Bunny is family-friendly and popular among young kids and parents globally. She also promotes Japanese businesses of a wide range of industries (hotels, apps, sake, snacks, e-commerce etc.). She also made her first TV debut appearance in a travel series in 2023 on Apple TV, "The Reluctant Traveler" hosted by Eugene Levy. Her style and aesthetic is mixing traditional kimono wear with a modern Harajuku twist with an effort to sustainable fashion by re-purposing her grandma's old kimonos. She is a bridge between the East and the West; traditional and modern; reality and fiction.
Dr. Bethany Valachi, PT, DPT, MS, CEAS is author of the book, “Practice Dentistry Pain-Free: Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Pain & Extend Your Career,” clinical instructor of ergonomics at OHSU School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon and Ergonomics Editor for DPR magazine.
Bethany is a doctor of physical therapy who has worked exclusively with dental professionals for over 20 years. She is recognized internationally as an expert in dental ergonomics and has provided over 700 dental lectures worldwide, which have provided pain relief to thousands of dental professionals. Bethany is also a prolific author who has published more than 70 articles in peer-reviewed dental journals, and produced a series of dental ergonomic & exercise Online CE Video Courses. Bethany Valachi is a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist and consults with universities and practicing dental professionals to improve ergonomics. She is also member of the National Speaker’s Association and is an AGD PACE approved CE provider.
Prior to physical therapy, Bethany was a classical piano performance major. She is now exploring blues piano, enjoys riding her horse in dressage competition and on the trails, downhill skiing, mountain biking, scuba diving and exploring nature with her husband, Dr. Keith Valachi, DDS.
Dr. Crystal is a comprehensive restorative dentist who practices in Mentor, Ohio. Her approach to patient care and practice management is to maintain curiosity, kindness, and excellence while providing a balanced approach, leaning in on evidenced based principles. She established her private practice in 2010 and is the sole owner operator of her boutique practice, and maintains staff dental staff hospital privileges at the University Hospital Lake Health since 2012.
An avid and curious learner, she is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine and went on to receive training at one of the most prestigious dental residencies in the nation, The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX. In private practice, Dr. Crystal keeps continuing education a top priority which countless hours of education yearly as well as remaining active in several local and national study clubs. She graduated from esteemed learning center continuums such as The Dawson Academy (2017) and The Kois Center (2023), as well as completed her MBA with emphasis on Healthcare Management in 2022.
In her free time she enjoys fitness, cooking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her two children who provide endless laughter and adventures.
Roman is a merchant processing specialist with a fresh, modern take on fintech. As the director of Nadapayments, he brings over 10 years of experience working closely with dentists and dental groups. With a background in Psychology and Business Management, Roman has a unique knack for helping business owners thrive in today's financial landscape.
Nadapayments is the pioneer and leader in dental surcharge merchant processing. Their mission is to eliminate the cost of accepting credit cards for dental practices. By offering innovative and flexible payment solutions, Nadapayments has helped thousands of practices save up to 80% on processing fees.
Roman calls New York City home, where he lives with his wonderful wife, Marina, and their adorable 10-month-old son, Matthew. When he's not at work, Roman loves diving into grassroots motorsports and enjoying the thrill of the race.
Kathryn Gordon is a wife, mother, businesswoman, movie producer, bestselling author of Relationship GRIT, host of the Kathryn for Real podcast and CEO of The Gordon Companies. A graduate of Old Dominion University, Kathryn became a top producer in sales for several companies before deciding to follow her passion as an actress and model. After the birth of her children, she focused on raising them and helping operate her husband’s growing speaking and consulting business. With her children off to college, she has returned for her second act, investing in real estate and movies, mentoring women, supporting several charities, writing and speaking to audiences about the keys to a great relationship and how to have R.E.A.L. Success. She loves sharing the truth on her podcast “Kathryn For Real”.
https://kathrynforreal.com/
Dr. Victoria Peterson combines 30 years of dental entrepreneurial experience with a degree in Spiritual Studies to bring a refreshing approach to business.
Her career began as a registered dental hygienist and leveraged her knowledge to accelerate the marketing and business outcomes for dental practices across the nation. During that time, she developed the Hygiene Mastery Program as a franchise owner in Fortune Management. In 2011 she founded Neighborhood Smiles, LLC, owning five dental practices in Wisconsin and Arizona. She is an international speaker, and the author of several books including Frustration, The Breakfast of Champions: Turn Powerful Emotions into Career Success. She was also awarded the 2013 Silver Stevie Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
Currently, Victoria is the Co-founder & CEO of Productive Dentist Academy. She is an advisor to Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW), on faculty with Dental Speakers Institute, and enjoys spending time in mission work in the Dominican Republic. Victoria also hosts the podcast “Investment Grade Practices™,” which was voted DentWoo’s second-place Fan Favorite Podcast of 2023.
Joshua Scott is a marketing speaker and fractional CMO who has spent the last 23 years in the dental industry. He is the owner and CEO of Studio EightyEight - Dentistry’s Story-Driven Marketing Agency. Recently named as the Top Healthcare Marketing Agency in the United States by Healthcare Business Review, their mission is to create more authentic marketing by telling better stories.
Josh currently resides in New Albany, Ohio where he collects Air Jordans (over 100 pairs), recently completed his level 3 sommelier (pronounced SOMM-AL-YAY) certification and typically ends his day at Crossfit. He’s been married to his high school best friend, Joanna, for 27 years and has two children, Caden (age 18) and Aliya (age 14). You can learn more about him and Studio EightyEight at www.s8e8.com.
Dr. Yazdan is passionate about cosmetic dentistry and has a practice in Newport Beach, CA offering high end cosmetic dentistry to her patients.
Having completed research and publications on enamel development and receiving her Masters in Craniofacial Biology and Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Southern California, Dr. Yazdan’s expert training and professionalism have added to her keen eye for beauty. At the Center for Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Yazdan utilizes her expertise and passion to enhance your youth and create your smile transformation.
Dr. Yazdan is also a certified coach and helps women Doctors make more money while cutting back their work hours through her program called Million Dollar Mentorship. This is a program she founded in 2019 after having her first child and going from working 12-13 hours a day to 13 hours a week and doubling her revenue. Now she spends a lot of her time helping doctors do the same. "Your business should support your lifestyle. If you want to work 3 half days a week and work part time to raise a family, you should be able to do that without taking a hit in your income.
When she's not working, Dr. Yazdan making memories with her family, playing the piano, and exercising.
Grace has been with CEDR Solutions for ten years. She is currently CEDR's Solution Center Manager. Prior to managing the Solution Center, she served as both a Solution Center Advisor and as a Compliance Officer with CEDR. Her favorite area of HR is paid leave laws.
Grace graduated cum laude from Georgia State University's School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Grace received her paralegal certificate from Emory University and worked as a paralegal for a large law firm in Atlanta, GA. She recently received her Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Stanford Business School. She currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and three children.
Welcome to a very special episode of the Mommy Dentists in Business podcast! This week, we're celebrating a remarkable milestone as we joyously mark our 7th birthday. Get ready as Dr. Yum takes the mic to share her heartfelt journey with MDIB, navigating uncertainty to build a vibrant community for mommy dentists everywhere. Join us as she reminisces about cherished milestones, shares fond memories, and reflects on the profound impact Mommy Dentists in Business has had. But that's not all—tune in to uncover exciting updates and upcoming events at MDIB. Discover firsthand why joining the Hive isn't just about professional growth—it's about becoming part of a supportive family dedicated to empowering women in dentistry.
https://mommydibs.com/
Brittany Frazier is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Master of Science in accounting. After beginning her career in New York City at PricewaterhouseCoopers she joined the Cain Watters and Associates (CWA) team in Dallas in 2013.
Brittany guides her clients to reach their financial potential and long-term wealth accumulation goals. One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is creating invaluable relationships with clients so they feel secure in their future, confident in their financial plans, and committed to the process.
Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant and an Investment Advisor Representative. In addition to her role as a financial planner, she has donated her time for 10 years with the 3to1 Foundation, helping educate Dallas Independent School District students and the community on financial literacy topics. Brittany founded the Women in Financial Planning Group at CWA, establishing mentorship programs and productive meetings to further develop and support its female leaders in their careers.
https://www.cainwatters.com/
Dr. Ashley Clark is a board-certified oral pathologist currently serving as the Vice President of CAMP Laboratory in Indianapolis, Indiana after a nearly decade-long career serving as an oral pathologist in academia. She is on the Professional Board for Oral Cancer Cause and Digital Dental Notes and the Advisory Board for General Dentistry. Dr. Clark has won several teaching awards, has provided over 100 continuing education courses, and has authored more than 40 publications and book chapters. She is a member of both the American and International College of Dentists.
Heather Chauvin is a leadership coach who helps ‘successful’ women courageously and authentically live, work, and parent on their own terms.
Heather started her career as a social worker helping adults understand children’s behavior. But it wasn’t until 2013 when a stage 4 cancer diagnosis pushed her to take a deeper stand for change, uncovering how cultural expectations sabotage our dreams. She has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Real Simple Magazine, Mind Body Green, Google, and more.
When Heather isn’t working, you will find her living out what she teaches which may include kayaking Alaska, snowboarding, hiking, or anything else that challenges what she believes is possible for herself (and inviting her children along the journey). Life is full of opportunities. It’s time to feel alive.
Gabriel Bowen is a Professor of Geology and Geophysics and member of the Global Change and Sustainability Center at the University of Utah, where he leads the Spatio-temporal Isotope Analytics Lab (SPATIAL) and serves as director of the SIRFER stable isotope facility. His research focuses on the use of spatial and temporally resolved geochemical data to study Earth system processes ranging from coupled carbon and water cycle change in geologic history to the movements of modern and near-modern humans. He has co-authored more than 180 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and his work has been supported by more than $16 million in grants from the US National Science Foundation, other US government agencies, and private foundations. In addition to fundamental research, he has been active in developing cyberinformatics tools and training programs supporting the use of environmental geochemistry ‘big data’ across a broad range of scientific disciplines. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, and Kavli Frontiers of Science program and a recipient of the American Geophysical Union’s 2012 James B. Macelwane Medal.
https://wateriso.utah.edu/findem/
Dr. Gina Dorfman, a dentist, practice owner, and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience, has made significant contributions to the field of dentistry. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Biochemistry in 1996 and completing her dental training in 2000, she opened her practice near Los Angeles, California. Despite the challenges of starting in a saturated market, Dr. Dorfman successfully expanded her practice to multiple locations, gaining unique insights into efficient practice management and team dynamics. She is a recognized speaker and author dedicated to advancing dental education and collaboration. Dr. Dorfman's commitment to continuing education and her passion for technology led her to co-found Yapi, a dental office communication and automation software. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and their Poodle, Flash.
Ann Swanson is the author of the internationally bestselling book SCIENCE OF YOGA and, recently, Meditation for the Real World, which illuminates the fascinating science behind meditation with step-by-step practices to help you find peace in everyday life. However, Ann wasn’t a naturally “chill person,” and meditation didn’t come easy to her. Overcoming chronic pain and anxiety led her to India to study yoga, to China to explore tai chi, into the cadaver lab to teach anatomy, to night school to become a licensed massage therapist, and, ultimately, to earn a Master of Science Graduate Degree in Yoga Therapy. Ann blends cutting-edge research with ancient wisdom, resulting in realistic techniques you won’t just learn – you’ll love to live by! Order her new book at MeditationForTheRealWorld.com for exclusive bonuses available to podcast listeners today.
As a lawyer recognized by US News as one of the Best Lawyers in America (top 1%), and with a career spanning 24 years, Rebecca’s credibility is well-established. Her meteoric rise going from a college dropout and single mother to a one of the nation’s most powerful attorneys representing high-profile clients illustrates her resilience and dedication. Her influence extends beyond the courtroom, Now, with over 50 million views and 400,000 subscribers on YouTube, substantial followings on other social media platforms, and a highly rated podcast which ranks in the top .5% of all podcasts globally with nearly 2 million downloads, all amassed in the just past 4 years, it is overwhelmingly evident that the world is desperately hungry for the solutions Rebecca provides to their issues. Her books, including the recent USA Today and Amazon #1 bestseller "SLAY the Bully: How to Negotiate with a Narcissist and Win," further cement her authority in this field.
Dr. Christina Jade Monford-McNish a native of Jacksonville, Florida where she and her family currently reside. Dr. Monford-McNish has been practicing for eleven years as cosmetic dentist. Her goal is to provide high quality and compassionate care for the broadest imaginable range of dental care while building meaningful relationships over the course of a lifetime.
As a cosmetic dentist, what she enjoys most is being able to transform patient's lives by giving them a new healthy smile, helping them regain confidence in themselves and providing a satisfying dental experience. Dr. Monford-McNish is a member of multiple dental organizations and a member of the Jacksonville Alumae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is very active in her local community from going to middle and high schools volunteering and speaking to hosting free dental days for those that are in need in the local community to providing $20,000 free smile makeovers.
Aside from her day to day drilling and filling, Dr. Monford-McNish loves spending time with her family, engaging in impactful community initiatives and inspiring others to adopt resilience as a principle for massive and lasting success. As an inspirational speaker, resilience enthusiast and philanthropist, Dr. Christina works passionately to spread her message in hopes that it will inspire others to overcome opposition, leverage hardships as lessons to grow and make a positive impact in the world. Through her book, speaking engagements and work through her nonprofit organization, she is shifting perspectives centered around adversity, compelling individuals to engage in purpose driven work while honoring the power of resilience and its ability to build tenacity, character and perseverance.
Dr. Suzanne is the Lead Doctor of a thriving Dental Partnership Organization practice and serves as the CFO of Apex Payment Solutions, one of the fastest-growing merchant services companies in the dental field. She has dedicated her career to serving the dental community, serving as faculty at Indiana University Dental School and as the clinic director of a community outreach facility, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing dental education and care. Dr. Suzanne is particularly passionate about engaging younger dentists, guiding them towards clinical excellence and financial awareness in their practices.
Dr. Miles Cone graduated from Tufts Dental School and completed a 3-year Prosthodontic residency in the U.S. Army. In addition to achieving board certification and diplomate status within his specialty, Dr. Cone has earned his designation as a Certified Dental Technician. Dr. Cone’s career revolves around his role as a is Key Opinion Leader, international speaker, author, and co-owner of Nuance Dental Specialists in Portland, Maine.
Dr. Sarah Khan began her dental career after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, and have since bought and grown two practices in Seattle, WA, over a span of 12 years. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to delivering exceptional dental care, coupled with a keen understanding of the intricacies of healthcare business management.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Khan's involvement as a Commissioner in the Washington State Department of Health Dental Board has allowed her to contribute to dental legislation, rulemaking, and disciplinary actions. Dr. Khan's expertise in reviewing dental malpractice cases and serving as an expert witness has positioned her as a trusted advisor and educator within the dental community.
Identifying a recurring challenge in dental practice—breakdowns in patient communication—Dr. Khan founded Dental Consent Cloud. This software enhances the clarity of consent forms and post-operative instructions, addressing a critical gap in patient care and reducing malpractice risks. As Founder and CEO, she is proud to lead a solution that significantly improves patient satisfaction and safety.
Dr. Khan's journey reflects a commitment to advancing dental care and communication, embodying the impact of innovation and leadership in the field. She shares her experiences to foster dialogue and collaboration within the dental community, aiming to navigate and improve the complexities of our profession together.
https://dentalconsent.cloud/
Dr. Laura Williams did not come from a dental family, but by the age of 12 she knew she wanted to be a dentist. Growing up in rural West Virginia, Laura and her family did not know any female dentists to serve as a role model, but her parents valued higher education and encouraged her on this career path. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Concord University, the local state college where both her parents worked, and was accepted to the West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 2001.
Upon graduation, Dr. Williams returned to her hometown where she spent the next 16 years working as an associate in four different dental offices, having babies and learning as much as she could about how to successfully run her own practice. Finally, in 2021, the opportunity to purchase a thriving dental practice only 5 minutes from her house presented itself and Williams Family Dentistry was born.
Even though the path to ownership seemed bumpy and discouraging at times, Dr. Williams is grateful for every hardship, heartbreak and crazy experience because they helped hone her into the dentist and boss she is today. When she’s not fixing teeth, Dr. Williams enjoys quilting, reading and traveling with her husband, Gary, and their 4 children.
Although Jeff comes from a family of 7 dentists, he never received “the calling” and instead became a software engineer. After creating a website for his dad’s clinic, he was approached by other members of his family to create their websites, and eventually founded Great Dental Websites. What started as a family project has evolved into the company it is today, serving over 900 practices worldwide, supported by a team of over 35 employees between our Denver and Sydney offices.
https://www.greatdentalwebsites.com/
After years of filling preventable cavities, Dr. Chrystle Cu set out on a mission: Reduce tooth decay and gum disease by creating a floss so effective and delightful that people would actually look forward to using it. In 2015, Cocofloss was born. Since then, her innovative oral-health company has sold over 5 million spools of Cocofloss and gained the devotion of dental professionals and consumers alike — winning the Allure Best of Beauty Award (2022), GQ Grooming Award (2022), and the dental industry’s prestigious Cellerant Award two years in a row (2021 and 2022). Its ever-expanding product line also includes the ultra-fine Cocobrush and the new n-HA–powered Cocoshine Whitening Toothpaste. Dr. Cu continues to lead R&D at Cocofloss and serves as a visiting faculty mentor at Spear Education. A daughter of a mommy dentist, Dr. Cu's also mom to two young children and is also an OMDIB! She received a B.A. in Chemistry at Wellesley College and a D.D.S. at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.
@Cocofloss
Dr. Jeanette MacLean is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, owner of Affiliated Children’s Dental Specialists in Glendale, Arizona, and mother of two. She received her dental degree, with honors, from the University of Southern California in 2003 and completed her specialty training in pediatric dentistry in 2005 at Sunrise Children’s Hospital through the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. MacLean has become an internationally recognized advocate and expert on minimally invasive dentistry.
Eva Velasquez is the President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Eva previously served at the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for 21 years and as the Vice President of Operations for the San Diego Better Business Bureau. She is a recognized leader in the field of identity compromise and crime, cybercrime, and fraud, who has been featured on CBS Mornings, NBC Nightly News, CNBC’s American Greed, Fortune, The New York Times, NPR, The Associated Press and numerous other media outlets. Eva is a recipient of the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Consumer League’s Florence Kelley Consumer Leadership Award. She is a published author, actively contributes to various advisory boards and working groups, and is regularly invited to speak at industry and policy events, including the Identity, Authentication, and the Road Ahead Policy Forum, the MRC Authentication Summit, and the IACP Annual Conference and Exposition. Eva has also participated in briefing events for the FTC, CFPB, IRS, DHS, PRAC, DoL and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is committed to driving the ITRC’s mission to assist victims, educate the public and advocate for change for those who do not have a voice.
Dr. Rhinelle Hirose's journey from humble beginnings in Oahu, Hawaii, is nothing short of inspiring. Raised in a single parent household with limited resources, she navigated public schools and community college, earning a scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University where she completed her bachelor's degree. She then graduated from the OHSU School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon, in 2010.
Returning to her roots in Hawaii, Dr. Hirose dedicated four years to pediatric dentistry on the neighbor islands before transitioning back to general dentistry.
Dr. Hirose's professional trajectory includes diverse experiences in corporate, group, and private practices. Eventually, she took the bold step of purchasing her own practice, marking a remarkable chapter in her fulfilling career.
Dr. Grace Yum is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area, where she grew up in Glenview. She is a mother and a board certified pediatric dentist, a certification achieved by only 5% of all dentists in the U.S. Dr. Yum is the former founder and practice owner of Yummy Dental & Orthodontics for Kid and is currently the founder and CEO of Mommy Dentists in Business.
Kristine Grazioso is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She started her practice in 1999 just months after her first son was born, and finished the build out of her new office space just two weeks before son number two was born and has never looked back! She is a partner in a second practice that also opened from scratch in 2015. All these years later, she still enjoys every part of being a pediatric dentist and running small independent businesses. An activist within the dental profession, she is involved in grassroots efforts on the state and national level to promote issues important to dentistry and to the patients we all serve. She is a founding member of the Alliance of Independent Dentists and the current Vice President, and is a Principal at Shero Dental Advisors, a small advisory company that helps dentists find financial freedom and a better quality of practice life. She has spoken at dental meetings in the US and internationally on the topics of practice management, independent dentistry, and stress management.
@KristineLovePeace
Dr. Lauren Yasuda Rainey is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry and completed a General Practice Residency at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Over the last decade, she has worked in clinical practice as both an owner and an associate, and Dr. Rainey has been on the faculty at her alma mater in the Department of Reconstructive Dental Sciences and the Department of Dental Practice at the Dugoni School. She is currently on the education team at Bioclear Matrix Systems teaching injection molded composite techniques to dentists in the US & Canada and is a speakers bureau member of Catapult Education, an innovative continuing education group for dental professionals.
In her free time, you can find her outdoors with her family or whipping up a cake. Dr. Rainey is a proud alumna of the Guiding Leaders program at Glidewell Laboratories, sits on the Alumni Association Board at Pacific and has completed her MasterTrack certification with Bioclear Matrix.
www.laurenrainey.com @raineydds
Dr. Najia Usman graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 1995 with her DDS. After completing a one-year general practice residency at the Cleveland Clinic she furthered her interest in endodontics by completing a two-year endodontic residency at Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon in 2002. She was awarded her Diplomate Status by the American Board of Endodontics in 2009.
Dr. Usman has been in private practice since 2002. Though she practices full-scope endodontics, she has cultivated an interest in the endodontic management in trauma, pediatrics and resorptive lesions. She has organized and lectured in dental trauma symposiums. She has lectured and clinically taught dental students, endodontic and pediatric residents. She has lectured nationally and locally to study clubs on topics such as Endo-Perio, Atypical Facial Pain, Regenerative Endodontics and Pulpal injuries after Oro-Facial Trauma. Her study The Influence of Instrument Size on Debridement was published in the Journal of Endodontics (Feb 2004, vol 30, 110-112) has been cited over 260 times. She is the proud mother of 4 children ages 18 to 28 and has been married to and shares a private multi specialty practice with Dr. Faisal Quereshy OMFS for 29 years. They reside in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Baxter is the founder and owner of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center. He is an internationally-recognized speaker on tongue-ties, instructor of the acclaimed course Tongue-Tied Academy, and author of the best-selling book Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More.
He is a board-certified pediatric dentist, a Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (FAAPD).
He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, graduating at the top of his class. Dr. Baxter attended the residency program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH to receive a specialty certification in pediatric dentistry.
Dr. Baxter enjoys spending time with his wife, Tara, who is a nurse practitioner, and his three girls, Hannah, Noelle, and Molly. And, since he had a tongue-tie himself, and all three of his daughters were treated for tongue- and lip-ties at birth, this field is a personal one.
Dr. Linda J. Edgar, a general dentist, is the 160th American Dental Association President and 5th woman to be elected to this honor.
Dr. Edgar has been a member of the ADA since 1992 and was a member of the House of Delegates from 2005 to 2018. She served as the Eleventh District Trustee (2018-2022) of the ADA and is a former member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. She went to dental school at the age of 37 after teaching junior high school and Honors Chemistry for 15 years.
Dr. Edgar has been involved with numerous other dental organizations, including the Washington State Dental Association, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International, the Washington Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, of which she was president in 2013-2014. She served as president of the Seattle King County Dental Society from 2010 to 2011.
Dr. Edgar served in private practice for 30 years with her husband, Dr. Bryan Edgar and was involved with the University of Washington School of Dentistry as chair of their $22 million dental school campaign in support of major fundraising for over 10 years.
Dr. Edgar earned her dental degree from the University of Washington. Prior to becoming a dentist, Dr. Edgar was a national class marathon runner completing over 45 marathons setting a record of 2:43 in the Seattle Marathon and participating in the first Woman’s Olympic Marathon Trials.
She has also completed two full Ironman races. Now retired from private practice, she is currently involved with volunteer organizations which couple continuing education with increasing access for veterans and the underserved. She has an adopted son David who is a captain for Alaska Airlines and she has two granddaughters.
Marko Vujicic currently serves as Chief Economist and Vice President of the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association. In this role he oversees a comprehensive research program focusing on the U.S. dental care system. Previously, he was Senior Economist with The World Bank in Washington D.C. where he focused on health systems reform in developing countries and directed the global health workforce policy program. He was also a Health Economist with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. In all of these roles, Dr. Vujicic led large-scale strategic initiatives focused on bringing cutting edge data and research to specific health policy challenges.
Dr. Vujicic has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals such as Health Affairs, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Health Services Research, Health Economics, Social Science and Medicine, and Medical Care. He is also the lead author of the book, Working in Health, which examines health workforce challenges globally and has written several book chapters on health care policy issues. His team’s work has been cited by CNN, The New York Times, NBC News, CNBC, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, PBS NOVA, and The Atlantic. He has been invited to provide testimony to federal and state legislative committees.
Dr. Vujicic holds several academic appointments. He is adjunct senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania and affiliate faculty at the Center for Health and the Social Sciences, University of Chicago as well as the Center for Health Services and Policy Research at the University of British Columbia. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto and a visiting assistant professor at Tufts University. Dr. Vujicic obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from McGill University in Montreal.
Dr. Raymond Cohlmia is currently serving as Executive Director of the American Dental Association. He graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 1988. He was in private practice for 27 years with his father and brother, while also holding a faculty appointment at the College of Dentistry. He served as Assistant Dean for Clinical Operations from 2013 to 2015 and was appointed as Dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry from 2015 to 2021 and concurrently remained in the practice of dentistry during that time.
Dr. Cohlmia has served as a delegate to the American Dental Association and 12th District Trustee from 2015 to 2019. Along with his involvement and leadership in academia, he has served in many capacities, including presidencies at the local and state level, served on many national councils, committees, and task forces for the American Dental Association, as well as many other dental organizations.
Joy Kong, M.D. is a UCLA-trained, triple board-certified physician (by American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, American Board of Addiction Medicine, American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine). She is the president of Uplyft Longevity Center in Los Angeles, California, where she specializes in Antiaging medicine, esp. stem cell therapy and peptide therapy. Dr. Kong founded American Academy of Integrative Cell Therapy (AAICT) where she provides training to other physicians, and is the founder and CEO of Chara Biologics, a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge regenerative medicine products. She was recognized for her contribution to the field of regenerative medicine and named “Stem Cell Doctor of the Decade” in 2021. Dr. Kong’s memoir Tiger of Beijing was named “2020 Book of the Year” and showcased at Times Square.
Shital Palan is a Doctor in Physical Therapy , trained Indian Classical dancer and regular Yoga Practitioner. Born and raised in India , she has been practicing Physical Therapy for 15 years now and currently resides in Chicago where she practices in Orthopedic Clinical Setting and specializes in Women’s Pelvic Health . Shital is passionate about treating women who suffer in all kinds of pelvic issues to help them return back to their life without limitations and enable them to do what they love doing . Her mission is to normalize conversations around Pelvic Health at all phases of a woman’s life and build awareness amongst women who suffer in silence especially after childbirth and educate them on the “ false normals” our medical system may have defined for them.
Meggan Wehmeyer grew up in Colorado and attended the University of North Carolina where she earned degrees in Biology and Chemistry. She then attended the University of Iowa for her DDS and went back to the University of North Carolina to earn her Master's in periodontology as well as a certificate in clinical and translational research. Meggan started Farmer's Body in 2018 and completed her diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation and Beauty Brand Business Management. She is married and has a daughter and 2 sons and currently is the dental director for Community Dental Care of Claremont- a non-profit general and specialty practice in New Hampshire.
Mark Johnson is a thirty-year veteran of the investment and financial planning industry and a pioneer in helping emerging dental professionals with student loan repayment strategies. Since founding StudentLoansRx in 2014, Mark has educated thousands of emerging dental professionals on smart repayment strategies and has helped hundreds create plans to tackle their student loan debt within the context of an overall financial plan. Upon realizing that there were over 7,500 dental school graduates and residents entering the workforce each year, with anywhere from $300k-$700k or more in student loan debt, Mark knew he had to do something to help them.
Mark's in-depth knowledge of the various federal and private student loan repayment programs, along with his three decades in the investment and financial planning industry, allows him to create custom plans for his dental clients based on their career path (associate, public health, practice ownership and residency) and other financial goals, including insurance and investment planning.
Dolly Klock, MD is a Board Certified Family Medicine physician, founder of Adolessons, speaker, consultant and mom of two teens. Dr. Klock holds a BS from UCLA, an MD from Albany Medical College, and completed her Family Medicine residency at Brown University-Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. Through Adolessons, Dr. Klock provides individual and group consultations for parents, teens and tweens, around a variety of topics germane to child and adolescent health: childhood sexual development, puberty, teen sexuality in the digital age, body image, mental health, vaping/substance use, and more. She has over twenty years experience helping families connect over tricky topics, and believes that the best preventive medicine is delivered via effective health education. For more information, visit www.adolessonsLA.com.
“Lead with Integrity,” is Susan Gunn’s mantra. Susan is going to do just that this next hour, so, hang on, put your cell phones away and listen intently.
Susan has a background in corporate America, previously working for a Fortune 500 corporation prior to beginning her own business 26 years ago.
She has written 48 books geared for professional practices, primarily focused on financial organization using dual accounting software. Her most recent release was just last month, Managing Accounts Payable in Your Practice, now available on Amazon.
She has been recognized since 2005 as A Leader In Consulting by Dentistry Today Magazine, was appointed as an American Dental Association Consultant to the Council, Financial Matter Expert and a Guidelines for Practice Success Expert from 2015‐2020.
Susan lives in Arlington, TX and is involved in her community.
This is a Podcast CE Episode
This course is intended for Dentists & Business Owners AGD PACE Subject Code: 550- Practice Management & Human Relations 0.5 CE credits
Dr. Lorri Tomko is a general dentist who has been in the practice of dentistry for 34 years. Dr. Tomko attended Temple University School of Dentistry, and went on to receive her MBA from DeSales University in 2012. She is the owner of Tomko Dental Associates where she, and her team, practice all aspects general dentistry, as well as, Invisalign and Implant placement and restoration. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the American Academy of Implant Dentists, and the American Academy of Clear Aligners.
She has a true heart for women, and is the founder of The Well Divorced Woman, a company that helps women through all phases of the divorce process with a focus on financial, and personal security. She is also the vice chair of Bloom for women, an organization that offers sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal and employ women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
When not at work Dr. Tomko enjoys travel and playing golf. She also enjoys time with her family, which includes her husband, their dog Rona, and their 5 adult children.
A perpetual student of higher education and advanced learning, Dr Wendy Gulden comes with 20 years of experience practicing endodontics in Minnesota and California. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with her DDS and MS degree where she practiced in a group practice and opened her own office. She followed her desire to move to a warmer climate and moved to San Francisco where she practiced for 7 years. The desire for higher learning returned and she attended the University of California, Berkeley where she earned a Masters in Translational Medicine which allowed her to serve in bridging the gap between technology and unmet needs. Her training, education and cross functional strategies have been instrumental as the current Medical Affairs Manager at Sonendo. Dr. Gulden enjoys her free time living in Laguna Beach, biking, playing tennis, practicing yoga and enjoying sunset beach evenings. She is married with two college bound children.
Dr. Dana Van Elslande, DDS, MSc (D. Ortho), FRCD(C) Dr. Van Elslande is a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics as well as a member of the Alberta Dental Association & College.
Currently in private practice in Calgary and Okotoks, Dr. Van Elslande manages a dental study group in Calgary and has several publications in peer-reviewed literature.
Dr. Dana Van Elslande has been in the private practice of orthodontics for 14 years in Calgary and Okotoks. A former graduate of the University of Alberta, she runs a study group for dentists that want to learn more about multidisciplinary care and occasionally helps teach with the University of Alberta Graduate Orthodontics Program, as well as the Clinical Auxiliary Orthodontic Module at SAIT. Dr. Van Elslande has lectured with Oral B for over 15 years, and has several articles related to proper oral hygiene practices while in Orthodontic treatment.
Sonia Chopra, DDS, is a board-certified endodontist, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, author, endodontic instructor, and founder of Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sonia became passionate about endodontics after a dental patient experience, where her pain was misdiagnosed, and the wrong tooth was extracted. It wasn’t until she was referred to a caring, thorough endodontist that she was correctly diagnosed, and a root canal saved her from excruciating pain. Now she’s on a mission to save teeth whenever possible.
She is the founder of E-School, an innovative, online continuing education course in endodontics that has trained hundreds of general dentists. She has trained dental residents at Atrium Medical Center in Charlotte, regularly speaks at professional events like the Association of American Endodontists and Women in Dentistry, and contributes to scholarly journals, podcasts, and media outlets for dentists. Additionally, she is co-founder of A Night for Smiles, an annual gala to support Charlotte-area dental health initiatives.
Now, on top of running her thriving practice, Sonia provides groundbreaking digital education and community support to general dentists and endodontists who want to uplevel their technical skills, patient experience, and overall business models. Through her thoughtfully designed online course, E-School, she is revolutionizing the reputation of endodontics through the simple, tangible lessons rooted in her own diverse experience. By empowering dentists to perform better root canals, empowering endodontists to run better practices, and empowering patients to make better health decisions, Sonia is paving a new way forward for the next generation of healthy, confident, empowered people—both in and out of the chair.
Read endodontic case studies, download free resources, and learn more about E-School at soniachopradds.com.
Dr. Heidi K. Gardner is a sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and facilitator for organizations across a wide range of industries globally. Named by Thinkers50 as a Next Generation Business Guru, she is a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School and former professor at Harvard Business School. She is currently the faculty chair and instructor in multiple executive education programs at both institutions. Dr. Gardner works extensively with her team at Gardner & Co., partnering with boards, executive teams, and other senior leaders to boost performance by embedding the principles and practices of smarter, agile, cross-silo collaboration within those groups and across the broader organization and ecosystem—resulting in concrete, quantifiable performance improvements.
Altogether, Dr. Gardner has authored (or co-authored) more than 100 books, chapters, case studies, and articles. This includes Washington Post best-selling book Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos and newly published Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work. Her research received the Academy of Management’s prize for Outstanding Practical Implications for Management and has been selected multiple times for Harvard Business Review’s “best of” collections. It has also been featured in major media outlets around the globe.
Dr. Gardner has lived and worked on four continents, including as a Fulbright Fellow, and for McKinsey & Co. and Procter & Gamble. She earned her BA in Japanese Studies from the University of Pennsylvania (Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude), a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a second master’s and Ph.D. from London Business School.
Find Dr. Heidi Gardner’s book on Amazon: Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work
Learn more about: Smarter Collaboration Diagnostic Toolkit
Website: Gardner & Co.
Website: Smart Collaboration Accelerator
Find us on Social Media: @MommyDentistsinBusinessMediaNetwork @Gardner&Co
Katrina Sanders is a clinical dental hygienist, author, award-winning educator, consultant, podcaster, international speaker, sommelier, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and dog lover. Her mission is to elevate the profession by creating an undeniable movement that educates, encourages, and empowers the dental profession to rise in its power. Known as the “Dental WINEgenist™,” she pairs her unwavering desire for excellence in the dental industry with her knowledge and passion for wine. She has charmed audiences around the world with her lectures on provocative topics that leave the participants with a call to action and a renewed sense of pride for their industry. She is enthusiastic about creating an environment where the course participants are supported, energized, and connected. Her message of empowerment and her zest for dental hygiene are infused throughout her content as she brings her own unique blend of knowledge, inspiration, charisma, and humor in her approach to continuing dental education.
Katrina is the founder, CEO and keynote speaker for Sanders Board Preparatory, a comprehensive program designed to supplement student learning and enhance understanding of concepts, terminology and procedures commonly discussed in preparation for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Her desire to help hygiene students develop and succeed grew from her position as a dental hygiene faculty member. During this full-time appointment, she published three editions of her preclinical textbook, developed programmatic competencies, spearheaded curriculum design, and served as a faculty representative for community oral health partnerships.
Katrina is the Clinical Liaison, Hygiene Excellence and Innovation for AZPerio, the country’s largest periodontal practice. She treats advanced periodontal patients clinically, while working alongside Diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. Katrina perfected hand skills during L.A.N.A.P. surgery, suture placement, IV therapy and blood draws. She instructs on collaborative professionalism and standard of care protocols while delivering education through hygiene boot camps and study clubs.
Katrina is the host of Fast Facts Perio Edition Podcast with A Tale of Two Hygienists and co-host the Floss & Flip Flops Podcast with her sister Dr. Elizabeth Sanders, DPM. She is a published author with RDH Magazine, Inside Dental Hygiene, Oral Health Group, DentalTown and Today’s RDH, a columnist and advisory board member for Modern Hygienist, editorial advisory member for the Dental Academy of Continuing Education and brand ambassador for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.
Katrina is a Level 1 Sommelier as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers. A member of GuildSomm, Premium Wine Lover with Direct Cellars, and VIP member with Aridus Wine Co. In 2022, she co-founded The Wine Op with her business partner and fiancé Dale Stewart, bottling beautifully curated wines that honor her hygienist heroes with proceeds providing support to underserved populations. Proudly, her wines speak to the empathetic and humanistic side of what it means to be a provider.
Her philanthropic efforts include dental humanitarian work in developing countries, most recently in Kigali, Rwanda, supporting abused and homeless animals and spreading awareness about the benefits of organ and tissue donation in loving memory of her late mother, Linda Marie Sanders. Visit: www.katrinasanders.com. Handle: @thedentalWINEgenist.
Dr. Meghna Dassani is an internationally educated dentist practicing in Houston, Texas. She received her initial dental training from the University of Mumbai, India where she graduated in 1996 and she operated a successful practice there for 6 years prior to moving to the US. She is a 2005 graduate of the Boston University (BU) Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where she was actively involved in research projects and she enjoyed working in communities surrounding the dental school.
She has been practicing in Houston, Texas for the last 17 years. She has a passion for providing patients with the highest quality of care that will benefit their overall health. Screening and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children is an integral part of her practice. Her vision and goal for herself and her team is to help patients with sleep disordered breathing get the treatment they need to live healthier, happier lives.
Bestselling author and training development expert Jim Moore has been creating Smart Training content since the company’s inception. Jim is also a Certified HIPAA Professional and his guidance often proves invaluable to our healthcare clients. Jim got his start in broadcasting and lends his unique voice to most Smart Training modules.
Robert G. Ritter D.M.D., has a practice that focuses on adhesive esthetic dentistry. He promotes esthetic dentistry as part of his mainstream dental care. He was raised in Palm Beach County and resides in Palm Beach Gardens.
Dr. Ritter received his dental degree from The Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 1994. He is Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry, Dental Research Administration at Tufts School Of Dental Medicine.
He is a Fellow of The American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and a member of The American Academy of Restorative Dentistry. He is a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and the American Society for Color and Appearance Dentistry. He is a member of The American Dental Association. In addition he is a board member and Past President of The Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He was a member of the Seaside Study Club, a component of the Seattle Study Club. He is a member of the International Association of Dental Researchers. Dr. Ritter is both a Kois Center graduate and a Spear Education graduate. He and his partner are the directors of their own course, The Protocol, a live in person teaching curriculum.
Dr. Ritter is on the editorial board of Inside Dentistry and The Journal of The Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and has published many articles on adhesive and cosmetic dentistry in several publications, including PPAD, Signature, Spectrum, Dentistry Today, DPR, Contemporary Esthetics, and Inside Dentistry. In addition, Dr. Ritter is an Editorial Board member of REALITY, a publication to keep dentists up-to-date with advances in the products, techniques and research of esthetic dentistry. He is also a product consultant to numerous dental manufacturers. He lectures over 30 times a year nationally as well as internationally on cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry, materials, and social media as well as digital technologies in and for the modern dental office.
Dr. Ritter and his wife Dr. Isabelle Ritter have a daughter Olivia and enjoy golf, tennis, the beach, movies and travel.
A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Rahman has tailored her practice to meet the needs of women for gynecologic and cosmetic services. After years of practicing obstetrics and gynecology in a variety of large academic settings and locations, she started her own practice - Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics - to focus on her special areas of interest to ensure patients have their best quality of life and to empower them to be better versions of themselves.
As for her academic appointment, she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in downtown Chicago.
Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Rahman attended Duke University for her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology where she also specialized in Women’s Studies. She then continued in her home state at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her medical degree. As women’s health care and women’s issues have always been on the forefront of concerns for her, she moved up north for her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Massachusetts. She has traveled internationally with the World Health Organization as well.
Distinguished as a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), the doctor is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Through her research and dedication, Dr. Rahman is one of the few physicians nationally to receive the designation of ISSWSH (International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health ) Fellow (IF) and is actively involved with cutting edge approaches to sexual pain and sexual dysfunction. She is on the Board of Directors for ISSWSH as well as the educational committees for both ISSWSH and ISSM (International Society for Sexual Medicine)
Moreover, she is an active member of the American College of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Physicians, the International Pelvic Pain Society, and specializes in a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pelvic pain. For midlife women, she is also a specialist in menopause management with the designation of Certified Menopause Physician through the North American Menopause Society (NCMP).
Education:
Bachelor of Science degree: Duke University
Medical degree: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Residency: University of Massachusetts
Fellow:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
Memberships:
International Society for the Study of Vulvo-vaginal Diseases
The International Pelvic Pain Society
International Society of Sexual Medicine
Sexual Medicine Society of North America
North American Menopause Society
The Yummermann's are here again! Dr. Yum and her husband, Kent Zimmermann discuss "mitzvahs," and how those acts of kindness have been creating lasting life lessons. Kent Zimmermann is one of the leading strategy advisors to law firms in the U.S. A former general counsel and chief executive officer, Kent counsels and provides insights to industry leaders on the challenges and opportunities they face as a result of the globalization, consolidation, specialization, and segmentation. Originally from Connecticut, he graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis and earned his J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Samantha Cheetham started as a sales rep for SDI in Australia, then became a regional manager for the company in California. Samantha returned to Australia in 1998 when she eventually became in charge of global sales and marketing. In 2016, Samantha became CEO/Managing Director for SDI.
Brittany Frazier is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Science in accounting.
Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City before moving to their Dallas office. There, as a senior associate, she worked extensively in tax compliance and consulting services in both the financial and private-company service industries. She joined the CWA team in 2013.
Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant and an Investment Advisor Representative. In addition to her role as a financial planner, she has donated her time for 10 years with the 3to1 Foundation, helping educate DISD students and the community on financial literacy topics. Brittany founded the Women in Financial Planning Group at CWA, which has coordinated mentorship programs and productive meetings to discuss big ideas and support the firm’s female advisors. She lives in Dallas with her husband and two young sons.
Bossy little girls become strong leaders – Anne Duffy is proof of that. CEO and Founder Anne Duffy created Dental Entrepreneur Media to impact the dental profession by creatingcommunities of influencers that come together to share their stories. Her publications, Dental Entrepreneur: The Future of Dentistry and Dental Entrepreneur Woman, are the foundation of DEM’s digital platforms, podcasts, virtual summits, and in-person retreats.
This “pushy broad,” or as we like to say, “DeW Extraordinaire,” is revolutionizing the male-dominated industry of dentistry by empowering women in the field so they get their dues. With nearly five decades of scrubs-deep experience in dentistry, Anne’s first-hand knowledge of the challenges presented to women in the industry is behind the Dental Entrepreneur Woman (DeW Life) movement, established in 2016.
The Dental Entrepreneur Woman community highlights, inspires, empowers, and connects all women in the industry worldwide, building a brighter future for women in dentistry.
Jessica Nunn is the founder of Maven Financial Partners who takes pride in her experience helping business owners increase their financial awareness. Jessica Nunn launched her career as a CPA in Big 4 public accounting firms preparing tax returns for business owners. Later, at middle market accounting firms, she provided financial planning, business consulting, and tax planning strategy to small businesses and their owners. Her years of experience and attentive service to her clients have been instrumental in forming Maven Financial Partners.
Over the course of her career, Jessica has built trust with her clients by making the complex simple; she delivers financial solutions that are meaningful and advice that is relevant to her clients’ lives and businesses.
Heather Hansen know how to build belief. She was a trial attorney for over 20 years and was consistently named one of the Top 50 Female Attorneys in Pennsylvania. She combines that experience with her psychology degree, her mediation training. and her experience as a TV anchor to help her clients build belief and advocate for their ideas, products and services.
She’s been an anchor at the Law and Crime Network and has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and CBS. She’s worked with Harvard Business School, Google, LVMH, Sav A Tree, and the American Medical Association among others.
Heather is the author of the best-seller “The Elegant Warrior: How to Win Life’s Trials Without Losing Yourself” and the host of The Elegant Warrior podcast. Heather’s latest book is Advocate to Win-10 Tools to Ask for What You Want and Get It.
Dr. Laurene Duke has been happily practicing dentistry for over 30 years. She was first introduced to dentistry as a 5-year-old patient in Dr. Beckman’s practice, with a full garden in the backyard visible from every operatory. While attending Long Beach State University, Dr. Beckman introduced her to his daughter who was attending UCLA dental school. This was the first time Dr. Duke learned that women can really be doctors! During her dental school interviews Dr. Duke was told by the USC interviewer that she shouldn’t attend dental school, that she would be taking the place of a man and she’d practice for a couple years before having babies and staying home. This was 1979; USC was the first acceptance letter she received and the first one she, very nervously, declined.
After graduating UCLA dental school in 1984 she practiced in different clinics and practices, learning the type o dentistry she didn’t want to perform and honing her skills to practice dentistry how she wanted. All through school and the beginning of her career she kept in close contact with Dr. Beckman and started working as his associate in the years after graduating. While in school she married an engineer, Scott, and they became parents in 1985 followed by a second in 1987. In 1989, while very pregnant with her third child, Dr. Beckman casually asked her if she wanted to buy his practice. It was probably the easiest practice sale in history. Dr. Beckman stayed on for a few years, as her associate, seeing patients so Dr. Duke could be a mom to three small children and see patients 1-2 days a week. One of the best things Dr. Beckman told her was to “work hard and enjoy what you do, but it is important to make time for family and life.” She has taken that through her entire career, always sure to make time to be a mom and LIVE. She has always taken time off for school and sport events with her children and family vacations, now averaging about 6-12 weeks a year out of the office. In 1994 the opportunity came for Dr. Duke to purchase the building, which she did and admits it was one of the best professional decisions she’s ever made. In 1999 she navigated her way through a terrible embezzlement and learned more about being a business owner. Dental school introduces students how to be clinicians, but nothing about how to actually practice and own a business.
In 2017 Dr. Duke was diagnosed with breast cancer. There was very little knowledge and resources to find out how to practice post-surgeries and during treatment. There was no timeline for coming back following a bilateral mastectomy. Dr. Duke and her small team figured out how best to do it for her practice and for her sanity. She learned more about how to help herself heal and how best to keep herself healthier, reading every journal and article she could find. She used HBOT and THOR laser religiously following her mastectomy which helped her heal quickly and well. Learning to re-use muscles, following both the mastectomy and then again after her final reconstruction surgery, was difficult and sometimes surprising when the simple act of using an instrument for a routine filling became more difficult. It was a journey that helped her become a healthier person and more understanding, educated doctor.
In her free time Dr. Duke enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, and spending time with her family- especially now that there are grandchildren.
Amanda has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Liberty University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with a deep understanding of investment strategies and the holistic nature of effective planning. Her financial career began in 2008 and was honed by her experience as an advisor for high net worth clients at Vanguard. At Dentist Advisors, Amanda gives her top-tier institutional experience a personal touch as she helps dentists implement investment plans and overall wealth-building strategies.
Lyndsey Harper, MD is a Board Certified Ob/Gyn, Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn for Texas A&M COM, a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Dr. Harper is the founder and CEO of Rosy, an award-winning women’s health technology company that connects women who have sexual health concerns with hope, community, and research-backed solutions. She has been named Forbes Top 53 Women Disrupting Healthcare, People Newspapers’ 20 Under 40, a Top Innovator in North Texas for 2020 and a DBJ Top Woman in Tech.
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar's life took a different trajectory when she lost her only and younger sibling, Dr. Manu Dua, to oral cancer. He was a dentist, as well. Following his death, Parul devotes her time to educating doctors and patients about risk factors, prevention, and early detection and treatment of oral cancer.
Parul is a frequent contributor to publications both in dentistry and beyond. She also co-authors healthcare journal articles. She is regularly requested as an expert for others’ podcasts in addition to facilitating her own. Posthumously, Parul co-authored her brother’s book, Life Interrupted, Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide, which won a CIPA EVVY Award for Motivational / Inspirational books.
Parul practices general dentistry in her Long Island, New York practice. Speaking to audiences across the nation, she shares her experience and knowledge while guiding audiences in developing their understanding, skills, and preventive solutions.
The Yummermann's are back! Dr. Yum and her husband, Kent Zimmermann cover their relationship milestones and how they influenced one another through their joint and personal successes.
Kent Zimmermann is one of the leading strategy advisors to law firms in the U.S. A former general counsel and chief executive officer, Kent counsels and provides insights to industry leaders on the challenges and opportunities they face as a result of the globalization, consolidation, specialization, and segmentation. Originally from Connecticut, he graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis and earned his J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Kara McKeage is passionate about helping successful women ease the mental load with skilled household support. She is the founder of Pepper’s Personal Assistants, a sourcing and placement agency for highly vetted personal assistants.
Kara McKeage is passionate about helping successful women ease the mental load with skilled household support. She is the founder of Pepper’s Personal Assistants, a sourcing and placement agency for highly vetted personal assistants.
She started the business as a side hustle for income and flexibility while raising young children. The company has grown organically to a team of 24 employees. She believes that it’s time for professional women to let go of the shame around outsourcing household tasks so they can find more time, feel organized, and have peace of mind.
Dr. Victoria Peterson combines 30 years of dental entrepreneurial experience with a degree in Spiritual Studies to bring a refreshing approach to business. Victoria is the CEO & co-founder of Productive Dentist Academy, a four-time recipient of Inc 5000 fastest growing privately held companies. She has also been awarded 2013 Silver Stevie Female Entrepreneur of the Year. She is an advisor to Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW) and on faculty with Dental Speakers Institute and spends time each year in mission work in the Dominican Republic. She is also the host of the podcast Investment Grade PracticesTM.
Dr. Sam Shamardi earned his DMD at Tufts University and his Periodontal certificate at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery and practices full-time while teaching part-time at the Harvard Division of Periodontics.
Dr. Shamardi lectures nationally and internationally on topics within periodontics and hearing loss in dentistry and has published multiple articles. He is a member of the prestigious Catapult Education Speakers Bureau and is recognized as a dental entrepreneur for his revolutionary EarAid product. He is also the author of The Financial Survival Guide for Dentists, a book geared towards helping early career dental professionals establish a foundation in the business aspect of their careers. In his spare time enjoys traveling and spending time with his dog Luna, and is an avid supporter of his favorite team Real Madrid.
Suzanne R. Mericle, DMD, has been practicing for over 30 years on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia where she received her BS in Microbiology. She then attended dental school at the Medical College of Georgia and graduated in 1991 with honors. Dr. Mericle is a KOL /lecturer for Glidewell Dental, Den Mat, and Dental Excel and Practical Sleep Education. She is also a KOL for Smile Direct Club. She has written several articles on Dental Sleep Medicine, TMD/TMJ, Periodontal Disease, Botox and several others on dental products. She is the Lead Investigator for Abbie- Allergan for the uses of off label use of Botox. Dr. Mericle is a well-known speaker and is frequently heard on podcasts, webinars and is very knowledgeable on a variety of Dental topics. She is a VIVOS provider and focuses on children and adults in her practice. Dr. Mericle also is a TAO provider TMJ/TMD.
Dr. Mericle is a Diplomat with American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and American Sleep and Breathing Academy. She has her Fellowship with Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and American Academy of Facial esthetics. She maintains professional membership in the Georgia Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, Sleep Group Solutions, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Medicine, and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and VIVOS. Dr. Mericle offers many services in her dental practice. Her menu of services includes TMJ/TMD, Dental Sleep medicine for children and Adults, Implants, All on Fours, Periodontal program, Frenectomies, Tongue Ties, Crown and Bridge, Veneers Conscious Sedation, Botox, Filler, Skin Care, and she offers Clear Aligners, as well.
Grace has been with CEDR Solutions for eight years. She is currently CEDR's Solution Center Manager. Prior to managing the Solution Center, she served as both a Solution Center Advisor and as a Compliance Officer with CEDR. Her favorite area of HR is paid leave laws.
Grace graduated cum laude from Georgia State University's School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Grace received her paralegal certificate from Emory University and worked as a paralegal for a large law firm in Atlanta, GA. She recently received her Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Stanford Business School. She currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and three children.
Born in Fort Dix, NJ to an Army dentist father & stay at home mother, Dr. LeeAnn McQuade, the eldest of 3 daughters. Her parents settled in Texas after her father retired from the Army in 1989, and she’s been there ever since.
She received her undergraduate BS from Texas A&M and attended dental school at Baylor College of Dentistry, followed by pediatric residency at University of Texas at Houston in 2002.
She practiced as an associate near Houston for nearly 7 years before starting her own practice…while pregnant…as the sole income earner for her family.
Dr. McQuade has been an owner/private practitioner since 2008 & recently added an associate. She has a busy FFS practice that’s grown nearly 100% based on general dentist referral & word of mouth.
Like all MDIBs, there’s so much more to her story than being a dentist.
The twists & turns of her personal life threaded through her career moves & ultimately resulted in her being a single mother of 2 daughters, 1 adopted & 1 biological. The lessons she learned as a person & parent along the way influenced how she refined her patient care & how she runs her practice.
Her mission as a parent, employer & pediatric dentist is to advocate for those who aren’t yet ready or able to do so themselves. And to encourage those in her area of influence to expect respect from those they trust & to speak up otherwise… her daughters , her employees, her patients & their parents.
Dr. McQuade’s mission to support women & children also influences her philanthropic choices, she was on the Board of a local Children’s Advocacy a center for several years, her office collects donations for their local women’s shelter & recently they are developing a partnership with our local organization that helps children who are victims of sex trafficking.
But more than anything else about her, most people know of her life-long involvement with horses, they’ve been the constant in her life, only taking a break from training & competing during her 4 years of dental school. In fact, Horses are THE reason she went into dentistry. She even has a horse in my business logo. Dr. McQuade and her youngest daughter travel to various parts of the country with their 4 horses to train & compete.
And finally, she does her best to be a good steward of the planet, at home & in her business, in fact, she’d love to get her practice B Corp certified.
With more than 20 years in the dental publishing industry, Kevin Henry is the former group editorial director for Dental Products Report, managing editor for Dental Economics, and editor-in-chief for DrBicuspid.com. He now serves as the co-founder for IgniteDA, a community designed to empower, enlighten, and educate dental assistants. He has spoken to dental assistants throughout the world, in person and through the Dental Assistant Nation podcast series, reminding them of the important role they play every day in their practice. He is also certified as a DiSC trainer, helping dental practices learn how to understand each other better through personality assessments and training.
Dr. Natanya Brown is a board certified endodontist with training from Tufts, Harvard, and the Univ of Illinois at Chicago. And now resides in SF Bay area since 2009.
Dr. Natanya is also a certified life and weight loss coach with training from The Life Coach School. Having struggled to lose the weight after her second pregnancy, Dr. Natanya learned how to lose weight without relying on deprivation or willpower, or even intense exercising. Dr. Natanya is now on a mission to help dentists live at their goal weight through Weight Loss for Dentists, a program she created combining mindfulness and coaching with the goal of helping dentists make more mindful choices to end the struggle with weight and have fun in the process.
Having been raised abroad, Dr. Natanya enjoys learning languages and international travel. A fun weekend involves going for hikes with her husband and two boys, watching documentaries, and playing tennis.
Eddie Johnson is the founder of Lancier Legal, PC. His firm helps professionals protect their families and secure their legacies through estate planning. Eddie has tailored his practice to focus on providing his clients with peace of mind, rather than just documents and deliverables. When he’s not helping families and business owners, you can find Eddie spending time with his wife, Anna, and his sons, Jake and Luke.
A wife of 20+ years, mother to 3 incredible children, a healthcare professional, small business owner, community volunteer, and lecturer, Dr. Truvella “Trudy” Reese wears many…many hats. She is a general dentist in a Las Vegas-based, private practice. Opening Generations Dental in 2012, she quickly outgrew her location and purchased Crowne Dental in 2016. In the decade that she’s been in private practice, she has become one of the highest-rated and most sought general dentists in Las Vegas. Dr. Reese is an Infection Control Officer for the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners & a peer-review advisor for several insurance companies. She is a national speaker with Physicians Against Trafficking Humans; a prevention, education, and advocacy organization. Her passion project is restoring the smiles of human trafficking survivors. Her most recent accomplishment was being named Nevada Mother of the Year 2021.
All-American bombshell and true Texas girl, R’Bonney Gabriel is proudly born and raised in Houston to a Mom from Beaumont, small-town Texas, and a Dad who immigrated to America at age 19 on a college scholarship. As the first Filipina-American to proudly wear the Miss USA crown, she brings her southern charm married with her value for hard work as the foundation blocks of her career in pageantry. R’Bonney not only commands the room with her stately poise and stunning beauty but also enchants any audience with her talent as she frequently flaunts her own hand-crafted garment designs. This force for good in the world of fashion is ready to bring her visionary aesthetic along with her passion for making a sustainable difference in the lives of women to the Miss USA platform and beyond.
While growing up, R’Bonney was always called to creative forms of expression. She recalls being a part of everything in middle school - from the yearbook to volleyball, even playing the oboe and clarinet in the school band - she left no extra-curricular stone unturned as she honed in on her passions.
When considering her pageant journey, R’Bonney encourages young women to use failure to their advantage. After placing runner-up on her first try in Miss Texas, she was devastated as she thought that it was her last year of eligibility. Upon further investigation, she realized that she had one more year to compete. She didn’t want to have any regrets and as such in 2022, she went for it again - and WON!
Citing self-doubt as her biggest hurdle, R’Bonney’s greatest lesson which she wants to leave with young women everywhere is - “never let someone else’s opinions of you become your reality - I learned the beauty of reframing my mindset and that’s been the starting point of all my successes”.
Sarah Walton is a business mentor who’s been featured on The Today Show, speaks at women’s conferences all over the world, and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE. She honed her business-building skills working with startups and large corporations where she managed a P &L worth hundreds of millions of dollars. She’s the host of the Game On Girlfriend Podcast, and she's known for her weekly "Coffee With Coach"; streaming video conversations on Monday mornings. Sarah speaks across the nation has become the go-to source of inspiration, no-nonsense teaching, and practical integration for women in business, ultimately putting more money in the hands of more women.
After graduating from University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio Dental School in the year 2000, Dr. Scaggs continued her education by completing a 12 month Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Texas A&M (Baylor) College of Dentistry. She then entered private dental practice, purchasing her first office in Carrollton, Texas, in 2003. She diligently took many hours of Continuing Education and by 2008, had been awarded the prestigious Master status in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Scaggs began specifically marketing to Senior patients in 2014 and has focused on treating this special population ever since. She has been married for 25 years and has a 10 year old son, named Wilson.
Lea A. Ellermeier is the President of SheepMedical USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of SheepMedical Ltd, the #1 Japanese orthodontic aligner manufacturer. She is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded and served as CEO of three dental technology companies 2C MedTech, REPLICATE Dental Technologies and Lingualcare, Inc. Lingualcare was purchased by 3M Company in November, 2007. Post-acquisition, she was president of 3M’s Lingualcare subsidiary and a member of the management operating committee of 3M Unitek.
Lea has spent her career building disruptive technologies with executive roles at OraMetrix, acquired by Dentsply (NYSE:XRAY) AutoTester, partially acquired by Compuware, now BMC Compuware and marketing and international sales roles at XTRA On-Line, Micrografx and GeoWorks.
Lea earned a B.A. in Political Science (Cum Laude) from the University of Texas El Paso and an M.B.A. from Thunderbird, School of Global Management in Glendale, AZ.
Lea is a mentor at Tech Wildcatters and Health Wildcatters and has served on the board of TeXchange. She frequently speaks at start-up technology and healthcare forums and is a guest lecturer at SMU’s Cox School of Business, University of Texas Dallas and Dallas public schools. Lea is also a painter and a writer. Her first book, Finding the Exit; It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish, was published in 2018. Lea’s art can be viewed on Instagram @leaellermeier.
Dr. Lois Duerst, DDS is currently Staff Dentist for 3M Oral Care Solutions Division. She earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her DDS from the University of Minnesota –Minneapolis. She joined 3M after more than 30 years of general dentistry experience.
She has been active, both locally andnationally, in the American Dental Association, Minnesota Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry and has earned a Fellowship and Mastership Award in the Academy of General Dentistry. She has also earned Fellowship in the American College of Dentists. She remains active in her local Spear Study Club.
Jean Madden, Global Scientific Affairs Manager, has earned both Technical and Marketing Excellence awards during her career with 3M. She has also led new product introduction teams, founded and edited a global key opinion leader newsletter, and has lectured extensively in her travels around the world. She has been the lead Scientific Affairs Manager on a number of new products including 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative and the 3M™ Filtek™ Matrix. Jean’s hobbies include environmental activism, tennis, and spending time with her husband and two outrageously tall sons.
Kathy Magee founded Operation Smile in 1982 with her husband, Dr. Bill Magee, and currently serves as its president on a full-time, volunteer basis. Kathy is also a lifetime member of the Board of Directors, overseeing funding and long-held organizational relationships. Kathy shapes future strategy and leads project design within medical mission programming and the education, training and student departments.
Kathy travels overseas extensively to expand in-country boards while cultivating key corporate, diplomatic, government and medical partnerships that enable Operation Smile to carry out its mission. She fosters university partnerships and research with academic institutions, such as the University of Southern California through the International Family Study, which contributes to understanding the causes of cleft.
Kathy is deeply involved in Operation Smile Student Programs, which provides opportunities for students to volunteer, engage and support Operation Smile’s work by raising funds and awareness. She leads the International Student Leadership Conference that annually brings together more than 600 selected leaders from 35 countries.
Kathy, Bill and Operation Smile received the first $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 1996 and the Servitor Pacis Award from the Path to Peace Foundation in 1997. In 1999, the Magees received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 2004, the Magees were awarded The Humanitarian Rose Award from The People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc., in London. In 2007, USAID presented the Magees with the President’s Call to Service Award from President George W. Bush. In 2009, U.S. News and World Report named Kathy and Bill among “America’s Best Leaders.”
Kathy is the recipient of honorary degrees from Fordham University, Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, Loyola University in Maryland, Old Dominion University, Misericordia University and Denison University and was inducted into the Alumni Association Hall of Fame of the University of Maryland in 2000. In 2014, she received a prestigious honorary doctorate from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. She has also remained active in the World of Children organization and serves as a member of the Hilton Prize Coalition Executive Committee.
Kathy helped secure Operation Smile’s future by establishing the Operation Smile Global Headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, dedicated in 2013, as a permanent facility built in tribute to the humanitarian spirit and ongoing mission of cleft care and safe surgery around the world.
As a New Jersey native, Kathy received her B.S.N. from Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, her M.Ed. from the University of Maryland and her M.S.W. from Norfolk State University in Virginia. She also completed graduate work at the University of Virginia and the Jung Institute in Switzerland. She is a mother of five and grandmother to 14, all of whom participate in Operation Smile to promote service for the next generation.
Candy Coles Jones, DDS, is a University of Tennessee Health Science Center graduate. Currently, she is the dentist for an oral health study done at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis. She is also a plant-based mom to a nine-year-old and gut health enthusiast.
Shawn Terrell is a financial advisor, podcaster, author, and speaker. He is also the founder of Dentist Exit Planning, an independent financial planning firm for dentists.
Shawn began his career in the financial services industry in 2011. In 2021, he founded Dentist Exit Planning to provide fee-based financial planning only for dentists. Shawn is also the host of Dentists, Puns, and Money – a podcast focused on the business of
dentistry and the financial lives of dentists. In 2020, Shawn authored a book – The Professional Practice Trap. It focuses on the problems faced by service firm owners, like dentists. Shawn lives in West Des Moines, IA with his wife and son. Away from work, he enjoys following the Iowa Hawkeyes, listening to Pearl Jam, and riding his bike as much as possible.
Jared is a partner and co-founder of Duckett Ladd, LLP, a dental-specific accounting firm serving dentists nationwide. Duckett Ladd strives every day to make the lives of their team members and clients better. They realize many dentists struggle with the business side of the practice and feel chained to the chair, so their team provides guidance to help dentists create the business that supports the life they want to live.
Dr. Laila Hishaw is a thought leader and change agent for diversity in dentistry, and authority in children’s oral health. After earning her dental degree with honors in Pediatric Dentistry from UMKC School of Dentistry, she specialized in pediatric dentistry at UT Health—San Antonio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Hishaw's demonstration of professionalism, leadership, and service to others has been recognized by two prestigious honorary dental societies, the American College of Dentists, and the International Colleges of Dentists. She currently serves on the ADA Task Force to Eliminate Barriers for Underrepresented Minorities into the Dental Profession and volunteers on the Board of Directors for Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation and the Arizona Dental Foundation. She is an alumna of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership.
Dr. Hishaw is the founding partner of Tucson Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and was featured on Discovery Health Channel for her role in diagnosing a rare disorder in her patient. Her book, Cavity Free Kids: How to Care for Your Kids’ Teeth from Birth Through Their Teenage Years, is an Amazon bestseller. She is a national speaker on pediatric dentistry, DEI and belonging, and topics relevant to women in healthcare. She has been published in Thrive Global, the Journal of Dental Education, Incisal Edge, Spear Digest, and the ADA News with multiple interviews on podcasts and panel discussions worldwide.
In 2018, Dr. Hishaw founded the national nonprofit, Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships Inc. to encourage Black and other students from historically underrepresented groups to consider careers in dentistry through mentoring from middle school to dental school. The organization has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, Black Enterprise, and The ADA News.
As a wife, mother of three, dentist, and social entrepreneur, Dr. Hishaw is passionate about sharing her tools and experiences to aid her colleagues and emerging leaders in dentistry toward success in every aspect of their lives. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her family and her rescue pets, Stormie & Miles. For more information on her passion projects, please visit drlailahishaw.com
Sylvia started her career as a dental assistant in private practice. She is an experienced dental professional with more than 25 years in the Dental and Healthcare field. Her career came full circle when she was hired as a Human Resource Manager in the College of Dentistry in her province. Through her experience with surgical menopause, she put her efforts into a natural healthcare journey while learning more about menopause symptoms. Sylvia is a breast cancer survivor who inspires and educates midlife women to take control of their health and embrace menopause through education, empowerment and humor on her Instagram page @sassy_withstyle. In 2019, at the MDA convention, she spoke to the Dental Team about Menopause in the Workplace and how to navigate through the work day. Breaking down the stigma and opening up a dialogue around menopause.
Dr. Porchia James, also know as “The Style Doctor,” is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon that specializes in Oral reconstruction and facial cosmetic surgery. She’s also a wife, mother of a 4 year old daughter, Pharrah, and currently 6 months pregnant with her second daughter.
She is native of Dallas, TX, and graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana where she received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Pre-Medicine. She went on to attend Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, and later entered the imported an AEGD and also served in the US Air Force as a General Dentist where she was active duty for 4 years. During her time in the Air Force, treating injured airmen and Veterans, her desire for “fixing faces” and later returned to Meharry to complete a surgical residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
She also owns a private practice, About Face: Oral & Facial Surgery in Frisco, TX. She practiced full scope Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and her private practice consists of complex dental implant cases, wisdom teeth extractions, IV sedation, biopsies and she also performs facial cosmetics procedures such as submental liposuction, buccal fat pad reduction, Botox, and fillers.
Dr. Porchia always had a love of style and beauty, and worked as a freelance makeup artist through undergraduate and dental school. Her keen eye for esthetics and impeccable fashion sense prompted her luxury medical apparel line, PHRESH by Dr. Porchia, where she brings fashion to the healthcare industry through her couture lab coats. In addition, her upcoming book, “From Scrubs to Stilettos,” discusses how professionals can look great at work and transition to evening attire in an effortlessly chic manner.
Bethany Gettis is a highly dynamic Internationally known Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant™ and REAL Food Advocate. Bethany is focused on guiding busy, health-conscious mothers to their own optimum healthy lifestyle through nutrition while creating constant
holistic balance and harmony. After all, she created her business Nutritious & Delicious because she believes a healthy family starts with a healthy parent.
Dr. Thomas Lambert is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has practiced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry for 3 decades in Grand Rapids, Mi. During the past two years he served on the American Dental Association’s Council on Communications where he and his team helped shape messaging to guide dental offices thru the Covid Crisis.
Dr. Lambert has lectured for over 25 years on a variety of topics ranging from “The 5 key ingredients to an exceptional dental practice” to “Changing your patients lives with fixed implant restorative care”.
Dr. Lambert is a Key Opinion Leader for P and G Oral B and in April 2022 published a research study in Compendium on the reduction of peri-implant mucositis utilizing the Oral B IO toothbrush with the new Targeted Clean Brush.
Dr. Thomas Lambert is a graduate of the Ohio State University and has practiced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry for 3 decades in Grand Rapids, Mi. During the past two years he served on the American Dental Association’s Council on Communications where he and his team helped shape messaging to guide dental offices thru the Covid Crisis.
Dr. Lambert has lectured for over 25 years on a variety of topics ranging from “The 5 key ingredients to an exceptional dental practice” to “Changing your patients lives with fixed implant restorative care”.
Dr. Lambert is a Key Opinion Leader for P and G Oral B and in April 2022 published a research study in Compendium on the reduction of peri-implant mucositis utilizing the Oral B IO toothbrush with the new Targeted Clean Brush.
Brittany is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Science in accounting.
Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City before moving to their Dallas office. There, as a senior associate, she worked extensively in tax compliance and consulting services in both the financial and private-company service industries. She joined the CWA team in 2013.
Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant an Investment Advisor Representative and a proud mommy to her two young sons. She founded CWA’s Women in Financial Planning organization in 2020, aimed to help professional women collaborate to reach success both in the workplace and home life. Brittany is passionate about financial education, which is exemplified through her volunteer work with the 3to1 Foundation, which teaches financial literacy to youth in Dallas and beyond.
Brittany is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Science in accounting.
Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City before moving to their Dallas office. There, as a senior associate, she worked extensively in tax compliance and consulting services in both the financial and private-company service industries. She joined the CWA team in 2013.
Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant an Investment Advisor Representative and a proud mommy to her two young sons. She founded CWA’s Women in Financial Planning organization in 2020, aimed to help professional women collaborate to reach success both in the workplace and home life. Brittany is passionate about financial education, which is exemplified through her volunteer work with the 3to1 Foundation, which teaches financial literacy to youth in Dallas and beyond.
Dr. Mario Romero is the clinical director of Romero Dental Seminars. He received his DDS from the University of Guayaquil (Ecuador) School of Dentistry in 1995. He completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health where he was granted the Handleman Award for Excellence. In 2016 Dr. Romero was awarded the Augusta University and the American College of Dentists Outstanding Faculty award for his achievements in scholarity, research and service. In 2018 he received the Research and Scholarship award from the Dental College of Georgia for his contributions to dentistry, in 2019 he received the Excellence in Dental Education Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy and in 2020 he was inducted in the OKU Dental Honor Society. He has over 50 publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and has lectured extensively on topics related to dental photography, occlusion, direct and indirect restorative dentistry.
As a Kleer Growth Specialist, Whitney helps practices across the country grow their membership plans. Backed by her day-in and day-out experience working with independent and group practices of all shapes and sizes, Whitney’s expertise is essential in guiding practices through key areas like plan pricing, marketing and growth strategies, and performance measurement.
When away from Kleer, Whitney enjoys going to the beach, listening to Motown music, and caring for her two toddlers and three adopted pets.
Dr. Taylor Clark is the author of the hit book Beating All Odds- Discover Exactly How You Can Succeed in Life and Work. He is a dentist, entrepreneur, author, business coach and speaker whose passion is making life better for people. His accomplishments have been recognized in newspapers, magazines, radio and television in many cities throughout the United States. He can tell you how to set and begin to achieve big goals quickly and easily. He can also tell you how to avoid the mistakes that may be
killing your chances for personal success and happiness. Be sure to have a pen and paper handy. He’ll be giving you information you won’t want to miss.
Shelli Warren is a team and leadership coach and the host of the BizChix sister podcast; Stacking Your Team. At BizChix Inc. she leverages her 26 years of experience leading technical teams to deliver multi-million dollar projects for billion-dollar brands at Procter & Gamble Inc. to now help small business owners to hire, fire, and inspire an incredible team of high performers. Shelli is also known for her teaching style, her passion to inspire more women leaders, and her ability to say the right thing in delicate situations. She lives in Canada where she coaches BizChix clients across the globe and spends her Flow Fridays with her daughter Danielle, and grand-baby Ellie.
Dr. Sam Shamardi earned his DMD at Tufts University and his Periodontal certificate at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Surgery and practices full-time while teaching part-time at the Harvard Division of Periodontics.
Dr. Shamardi lectures nationally and internationally on topics within periodontics and hearing loss in dentistry and has published multiple articles. He is a member of the prestigious Catapult Education Speakers Bureau and is recognized as a dental entrepreneur for his revolutionary EarAid product. He is also the author of The Financial Survival Guide for Dentists, a book geared towards helping early career dental professionals establish a foundation in the business aspect of their careers. In his spare time enjoys traveling and spending time with his dog Luna, and is an avid supporter of his favorite team Real Madrid.
Behind the start-up culture, ping-pong table and beer fridge, you’ll find culture-maker and entrepreneur Laura Maly, the Co Founder of Wonderist Agency. After 10 years working with Fortune 500 Companies and their agencies (General Motors, Kohl’s Department Stores, Microsoft, and Sony Pictures), Laura gave her resignation to corporate America and jumped into entrepreneurship. While her expertise in dentistry runs deep, so does her passion for life (her kiddos, coffee, boating, reading, travel) and giving back (San Diego County Dental Foundation, Junior League of San Diego, and animal rescue). She loves to meet people- come introduce yourself and tell her what you’re working on, where you’re traveling or what you’ve been up to...or swap dog photos.
Dr. Daniela Toro is Board Certified Orthodontist with a private practice in Burlington, MA. She became the owner of Burlington Orthodontics 6 years ago. She is originally from Venezuela and moved to the US to pursue her MSD in Orthodontics and DMD degree from Boston University. She is married to her highschool sweetheart, Cesar, and is the mother of three young daughters, Sofia (7), Emilia (5) and Daniela (2y). She is also a former clinical instructor at the Orthodontic Department at Boston University and currently invited to participate in lectures. Dr. Toro is also on a personal journey to create awareness about the risks of breast implants. Having had breast implants placed 17 years ago without knowing any risks and implications of breast implant illness or BII, she has dedicated herself to educate other women. After learning about BII and seeing it first hand, being a mother of three young daughters, she decided to have explant surgery to remove her breast implants. She is very open about her experience and has guided many other women in their explant journeys as well. She believes that information is power.
Tim Cluley is the chief operating officer and co-owner of Midwest Dental Equipment and Supply, with headquarters in Wichita Falls. Tim has spent the past 40 years in distribution, including the last 30 with Midwest Dental, during which he has managed many different segments of the company. Seven years ago, Tim began to focus on the growth and success of the private, independent dentist. His extensive research has led him to become well-versed in the nuances of private equity funded DSOs, emerging group markets, and group purchasing organizations.
After her first year building her side business it had surpassed her corporate income so she made the leap into full time entrepreneurship. Kacia quickly discovered her LOVE for the journey she was on, in pursuit of her BIG vision. Leveraging her entrepreneurial experience, Kacia launched the EmpowerHER Podcast in 2018. Her goal was to help ambitious women fall in love with the PROCESS of following through on THEIR big ideas, too. The EmpowerHER Podcast quickly rose in popularity, with over 3 million downloads in the first two years of its release. Using her ‘come with me’ approach, Kacia continues to pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING she’s learning about mindset, business, relationships, health, and more.
Dr. Sable Muntean is a native of California and graduated from LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Florida, simultaneously earning her degrees as a Doctor of Dental Medicine and Master in Health Services Administration. She then attended Southern Illinois University, where she completed an AEGD Residency and Implant Fellowship. Dr. Muntean now practices in St. Louis, Missouri.
Barry E. LoSasso, M.D. was born in New York City and received his undergraduate degree from Yale University. He attended medical school at the University of Florida and completed his fellowship in pediatric surgery at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1984. Dr. LoSasso started his pediatric surgical career practicing at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego, California. From there he opened his private practice in 1987, which continues today. In early 2017, Dr. LoSasso joined the Pediatric Surgical Associates, P.A. in Paramus, New Jersey.
In addition, Dr. LoSasso served as the Director of Trauma Services at Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego from February 1998 until June of 2006, Chairman for the Safe Kid’s Coalition in San Diego from 2001 until 2006, and Scientific Coordinator for the Fourteenth Annual Pediatric Critical Care Colloquium in San Diego in October 2002.
Dr. LoSasso has spent extensive time working with world renowned, Dr. Donald Nuss, creator of the Nuss Procedure, at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. LoSasso has devoted much of his practice to the research and performance of the minimally-invasive Nuss Procedure for the correction of Pectus Excavatum( also known as sunken chest), developing the successful Center of Excellence for Pectus Deformities in 2006.
Joshua Scott is a marketing speaker and consultant who has spent the last 21 years in the dental industry. He is the owner and CEO of Studio EightyEight - Dentistry’s Story-Driven Marketing Agency. Recently named as the 148th Fastest Growing Company in the Midwest by Inc. 5000, their mission is to create more authentic marketing by telling better stories.
Josh currently resides in New Albany, Ohio where he collects Air Jordans (over 100 pairs), recently completed his level 2 sommelier (pronounced SOMM-MAL-YAY) certification and typically ends his day at Crossfit. He’s been married to his high school
best friend, Joanna, for 25 years and has two children, Caden (age 16) and Aliya (age 12).
You can learn more about him and Studio EightyEight at www.s8e8.com.
Dr. Anne Stuccio is a general dentist who has been practicing for over 20 years. Her love/hate relationship with dentistry almost caused her to walk away from the profession after suffering from burnout and closing the doors on her practice 10 years ago. During a time when speaking about career fatigue was taboo, she began a journey in conquering burnout and rediscovering a new purpose. Through her knowledge gained, comedic writing and passion for helping people, she began a new mission to help women in dentistry never feel alone, ashamed or unsupported in their struggles with burnout. Through her snarky Rants from the Dental Operatory blog and her popular The Brighter Life for Dentists subscription box, she is now bringing smiles and a message of hope (and humor) to her fellow dental colleagues. Dr. Stuccio is married with two teen girls at home and lives and practices dentistry in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Tali Kogan is a stylist with magic powers to empower women through fashion. She can empower you because she has learned to empower herself. Fifteen+ years ago she was overweight and frumpy. Tali wore dark baggy clothes to hide. She had a boring job as an accountant. And she was married to an abusive man. Tali did not yet realize who she was on the inside. She wanted change and so she began by changing her outside appearance. Tali wanted to create what felt more like herself, so she started exercising and dressing differently – with more fun. And then, Tali dumped my husband. As she began to wear bright, fun expressive clothing, she began to know just who she really is inside. (Just follow her Instagram and you’ll see that she no longer holds anything back!) And as Tali showed her true self more and more, she began to love herself, feel empowered, and attract great people into her life. This is the gift Tali wants to give you. Today Tali is married to the love of her life Jason, and they have 3 beautiful children. And as much as she loves her family, she also loves the styling business she has created to empower women to truly shine as their true selves.
Aimee Lipkis is an equity partner at Cray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal LLC focusing her trial practice almost exclusively on defending medical professionals. She has extensive experience in complex medical and professional negligence cases having defended a vast array of medical professionals at depositions, mediations and jury trials. Coming from a family of physicians, she understands how the reputation of the medical professional can be impacted by claims of malpractice and she has helped defend the reputations of hundreds of physicians and healthcare providers including, but not limited to, internists, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, infectious disease specialists, dentists, podiatrists and nurses. Aimee’s practice also includes advising medical providers in professional liability avoidance techniques. Her detailed record reviews, knowledge of the medicine, discovery and trial skills, legal strategy and fierce personality have resulted in successful resolutions of attacks against her clients.
Whit is an E2M certified personal trainer for one of the best virtual personal training companies. E2M stands for Eager to Motivate and that’s exactly what she stands for. Balancing being a mom and living a healthy lifestyle is what Whit drives for daily. Helping over 90,000 people all over the world reaching their health and fitness goals. Training how to manage daily life while taking care of your mind and body. She loves helping her clients make healthier eating choices and working out with them all in the comfort of their own home. You could say it's her passion.
Dr. Stephanie Mapp has over 25 years of real-world dental experience as well as continuing education. She has practiced in all types of dental offices from Public Health to Corporate DSO practices. Her experience presented her with exposure to many types of management systems. She has started a practice, purchased a practice, closed a practice, and sold a practice. Having been both an associate dentist and hiring associate dentists, she has a unique perspective on how to be an employee as well as an owner.
Dr. Mapp attended the University of Florida College of Dentistry after only three years of undergraduate education in Psychology. In 2018 she founded her consulting company Mapp Your Practice to help new and existing owners set up systems for dealing with PPO insurance and its effects on practice profits. She has contributed to dozens of online podcasts and webinars as well as live seminars and two books: Mommy Dentists in Business: Juggling Family and Life While Running a Business by Dr. Grace Yum and No-Nonsense Dentistry for Dental Peeps by Drs. Emily Letran and Steven G Mautner. She lives in Fleming Island, Florida with her son Charlie, three dogs and her ER doctor boyfriend, Howard. Most of her time away from the office is spent traveling the globe and cheering for the Florida Gators.
Dr. Richard Mounce graduated from Northwestern Dental School in 1985 and received his endodontic certificate from Oregon Health Sciences University in 1991.
Aside from continuous clinical practice in a variety of settings (ownership, associateship, public health, DSO, among others) he has had a unique career path as a dental expert witness, industry consultant, and key opinion leader. Dr. Mounce has written hundreds of clinical and management articles/columns for global dental trade magazines and lectured widely across the globe.
Dr. Mounce is learning to play guitar, collects glass float balls, enjoys all things outdoors and is the proud owner of a female German shorthair pointer, “Zinho.”
Achieving excellence consistently requires dedication. Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell has close to 30 years experience in providing state-of-the-art dental care. She is committed to keeping pace with the exciting new changes in dentistry today by raising patient awareness while providing the highest standard of care possible in a warm and caring environment.
Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell is a graduate of the Philippines' premier university, the University of the Philippines, where only the cream of the crop are admitted as scholars of the state.
Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell is committed to community service. After completing her dental degree in 1992, she interned as a volunteer at the St. Martin de Porres Charity Hospital, the birthplace of Operation Smile International. It was there that she first trained in providing comprehensive care to the underprivileged. She worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team that provided care to people with facial deformities.
After moving to the United States, she completed the DECOD Program, a Post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of Washington, a program that focused on providing care for persons with disabilities. It was this love for people who were unable to receive care due to physical, mental and psychological issues that led her to pursue a relationship with the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). This has allowed her to provide care to people who are afraid of coming to the dentist. Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell is one of the few dentists in California and the US who have a permit to provide Adult Oral Conscious Sedation in an office setting.
Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell actively participates in advanced continuing dental education programs which provides you with the most recent technology and procedures in dentistry. She has participated in the Mastership Series at the Newport Coast Oral-Facial Institute, one of the leading training and research centers dedicated to mastering the use of the clinical microscope for all disciplines of dentistry. She has also participated in the PAC-live Aesthetic Continuum founded by Dr. William Dorfman of TV's Extreme Makeover fame.
She is also one of the few Senior Master Providers for FASTBRACES® in the world today.
Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell is a member in good standing of the California Dental Association-Santa Barbara-Ventura County Dental Society and the American Dental Association.
Prior to opening Dental Designs in Oxnard, Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell ran a successful practice in La Jolla, California. Moving to Ventura County allowed her to be closer to her family. Together with her husband, Todd, they are raising two beautiful boys.
Since 1992, Dr. Marie Alejandrino-Buell has positively impacted the lives of her patients by enhancing their smiles.
Nathaniel Lawson DMD PhD is the Director of the Division of Biomaterials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and the program director of the Biomaterials residency program. He graduated from UAB School of Dentistry in 2011 and obtained his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2012. He has served as an investigator on over 50 clinical and laboratory research grants, and published over 150 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and research abstracts. His research interests are the mechanical, optical, and biologic properties of dental materials and clinical evaluation of new dental materials. He was the 2016 recipient of the Stanford New Investigator Award and the 2017 3M Innovative Research Fellowship both from the American Dental Association. He has served on the American Dental Association Council of Scientific Affairs and is on the editorial board of The Journal of Adhesive Dentistry and Compendium. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the subject of dental materials. He also works as a general dentist in the UAB Faculty Practice.
Jennifer Pearce has been involved in dentistry since 1995. Acting as a practice administrator for 18 years, Jennifer thought she understood all of the pain points that come with working in a dental office. However, after co-owning several successful dental practices over the course of 4 years, she can now confidently say she has seen it all.
With over 26 years of dental experience, Jennifer has led successful teams as an accomplished practice manager. She has led solo practices to produce up to $3 million, as well as being co-owner of 2 thriving dental practices. Known as “the connector” due to her uniquely engaging personality, she will show your team how to successfully lead your team and close dentistry through building relationships.
Jennifer Pearce takes on a different level of practice consulting by identifying with each and every dentist she works with. Most coaches only look at improving a practice from one perspective, while Jennifer takes a holistic outlook because she has worked in every area. Her coaching is taken from the practice administrator’s, team’s, and doctor’s point of view, because she believes running successful dental practices require a multi-pronged approach—or as she puts it, “Nothing changes without training and integrative coaching.”
Ashley Heenan founded DentalAssistEd, a continuing education program and practicum for the dental community, after spending over a decade as a hygienist and office manager. And despite its steady growth, she remains happily committed to her first job - MOM to Adelaide (5) and Charlotte (2). She currently resides in Park Ridge, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.
Lea A. Ellermeier is the President of SheepMedical USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of SheepMedical Ltd, the #1 Japanese orthodontic aligner manufacturer. She is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded and served as CEO of three dental technology companies 2C MedTech, REPLICATE Dental Technologies and Lingualcare, Inc. Lingualcare was purchased by 3M Company in November, 2007. Post-acquisition, she was president of 3M’s Lingualcare subsidiary and a member of the management operating committee of 3M Unitek.
Lea has spent her career building disruptive technologies with executive roles at OraMetrix, acquired by Dentsply (NYSE:XRAY) AutoTester, partially acquired by Compuware, now BMC Compuware and marketing and international sales roles at XTRA On-Line, Micrografx and GeoWorks.
Lea earned a B.A. in Political Science (Cum Laude) from the University of Texas El Paso and an M.B.A. from Thunderbird, School of Global Management in Glendale, AZ.
Lea is a mentor at Tech Wildcatters and Health Wildcatters and has served on the board of TeXchange. She frequently speaks at start-up technology and healthcare forums and is a guest lecturer at SMU’s Cox School of Business, University of Texas Dallas and Dallas public schools. Lea is also a painter and a writer. Her first book, Finding the Exit; It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish, was published in 2018. Lea’s art can be viewed on Instagram @leaellermeier.
Dr. Sonia Chopra is on a mission to save teeth. Before she became a Board Certified Endodontist, she was a patient. Born without 8 teeth, she frequently visited the dentist office, but it wasn’t until a tooth was mistakenly extracted that she discovered the importance of root canals.
Today, she is the creator of E-School, an online education forum for general dentists worldwide, sharing knowledge on how to perfect endodontic skills, improve diagnosis, and deliver compassionate solutions by considering whole patient care.
She is also founder of Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, NC, where she is a leader, teacher, and mentor in the local dental community. Through all aspects of her work, she emphasizes the importance of helping patients understand the “why” and “how” of their procedure.
Dr. Chopra is a Director for the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Endodontics, and on the CE Committee of the American Association of Endodontists. And if that weren’t keeping her busy enough, she is a wife and mom of 3!
Join her email list at https://soniachopradds.com/ to be the first to hear about regularly-published case studies and endo tips, plus you’ll receive free post-op instructions to use within your practice to help your patients know what to expect. You can also find her on Facebook at "Sonia Chopra, DDS - Endo for All" and Instagram @SoniaChopraDDS.
Dr. Nada Albatish owns and operates a multidisciplinary practice, All Smiles Dental Centre, just north of Toronto. As a passionate learner, she first completed a GPR, followed by hundreds of hours of CE each year. She is a fact finder - always researching, looking for evidence, and understanding the whys of what we do in practice as dentists.
Nada started her current practice from scratch as a solo practitioner and quickly realized she needed a strong support team as well as a team of skilled doctors in multiple specialties to help her achieve her goals as a comprehensive dentist. Today, Nada’s niche is complex and rehabilitative dentistry, supported by a team of 30, including general practitioners and specialists.
She is passionate about what she can do for patients, always excited about training and advancing her team, and she is energized by sharing with her colleagues. She loves to create opportunities for her patients, team, and colleagues to help each reach further than the success they thought possible.
Nada is honored to serve as a curator for Restorative Nation, co-author a book, write articles, and speak at various dental events. Nada is inspired by helping dentists to achieve excellence, predictability, and confidence in their craft. She is committed to the success of her patients, colleagues, and the advancement of the dental profession at large.
As a mother to two beautiful girls, Nada is blessed everyday to be able to see the world through the eyes of her little people. In her free time, which she has learned to intentionally create on a weekly basis, she loves to exercise, eat good food, and spend time with her girls doing absolutely nothing except living in the moments. During the 20% of the year that Toronto has good weather, she finds peace in water sports, especially paddle boarding on the lake under the sun. The rest of the year she creates the same feeling by traveling!
Johnny Young, aka JohnE Upgrade, is a 35-year veteran of the cybersecurity industry. He’s recognized as one of America’s top corporate cybersecurity experts and is a much sought after thought leader in the field today. Johnny’s career has been devoted to neutralizing hackers globally for Fortune 500 corporations, and prevent data breaches before they happen, along with the inevitable loss of consumer trust, shareholder confidence, and devastating financial losses they bring. His book “Don’t Hack” will be released in November of 2021.On September 27th, 2021 Johnny Young launched CyberD TV, the first streaming service in history dedicated to cybersecurity training for the general public which he describes as the "Netflix of cybersecurity.
A special discount for the Mommy Dentists in Business audience: 50% savings off the regular $19.95 subscription rate for six months, bringing the price to $9.99 per month to access the entire video library.
Go to www.cyberd.tv and enter the code MOMMY to receive the six month discount of 50%.
Alina Trigub joined the TF Management Group LLC team in February 2021. She spearheads marketing and investor relations, as well as education activities for the group.
Alina’s expertise had been built upon her personal journey as an equity investor, as well as through SAMO Financial – the company she founded and built to provide education and alternative investment options to her clients. Through SAMO Financial, Alina and her investors have been able to build an extensive investment portfolio and invest in various commercial real estate including but not limited to apartment buildings, self-storage, mobile home parks and many other commercial assets. Alina's business motto has been articulated well by Warren Buffett’s quote; “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago". Her passion is to teach others how to build wealth by investing passively.
Alina holds a Bachelor Degree in Accountancy from Baruch College, CUNY (City University of New York) and MBA in Finance and Management from Rutgers University.
Alina is the founder of the virtual Meetup group named, “The Power of Passive Investing through Real Estate”. As part of helping investors to obtain education about alternative investing, Alina offers instructional webinars in collaboration with various administrators of self-directed IRA companies.
Alina is a sought-after speaker, including presentations at the Private Wealth Management Summit, Raising Money Summit, Multifamily Foundation Workshop, Hunter College (CUNY), Stockton University and many other places.
Alina’s interviews and quotes have been featured in many major publications, including but not limited to Forbes, GoBankingRates, MSNMoney, BankRate, IdeaMensch, and a number of others. Alina has also been featured in the 60 Minute Startup and Immigrant Hustle books.
Contact Alina Trigub: alina@tempofunding.com
Over the last 4 years, Dr. Grace Yum has been interviewing a rotating cast of specialists who give invaluable advice from a variety of perspectives. Along the way, she has created a network of friends and experts who help busy professional mothers find balance in their lives. In celebration of the podcast's 4th birthday, Dr. Yum once again becomes the guest and reflects on the growth and popularity of the podcast as interviewed by special guest host Kent Zimmermann.
Dr. Cindy Hylton graduated with a psychology degree from Radford University and herDMD from Medical University of South Carolina. She bought a private dental practice immediately after graduation and is still practicing in same town, but now in her own building as of 2006. She resides and practices in Summerville, SC. Dr. Cindy Hylton has been married for 27 years and has 2 children, 1 dog and 2 cats. She loves animals and volunteers at local animal shelter.
Tidbits:
She has Celiac Disease and has spoken at conferences concerning this and dentistry.
She has the BRCA2 gene mutation and had prophylactic surgeries in 2015 and 2016 and is an advocate for genetic testing.
She started E2M in 2020 and we now have almost 150 MDIBs (including Dr. Grace Yum). She thinks she was the first MDIB!
She loves to read.
She misses the mountains (grew up in mountains of Virginia) and want to move back when she retires.
She loves Halloween.
She loves anything purple or pink :)
Vicki Thomas is a co-founder, owner and the president of She Designs Dental Studio. She has 27 Years of Dental Laboratory Experience and is currently pursuing her AACD certification and her CDT certification in Ceramics. Carolynn Capps is co-founder, owner and ceo of She Designs Dental Studio. She has 28 Years of dental laboratory experience. She is a Certified Dental Technician (CDT) in Ceramics and has a Master's of Business Administration. The two proudly boast over 25 years of dental laboratory ownership.
Dr. Heather Zak-Ramsay grew up in Dover, De. She earned her BS degree at the College of Charleston in South Carolina in 1996 and her DMD degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2001. She then completed a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia. For the last 18 years, she has been the owner of a general dental practice in Suffolk, Virginia. Dr. Zak-Ramsay is married to Jamie Ramsay, DMD and together they have three beautiful boys.
Dr. Melissa Seibert is the creator and host of the Dental Digest Podcast and CEO of Dental Digest LLC. In 2020 her podcast was awarded “Most Educational Podcast in General Dentistry” and it reaches a global audience of thousands of dentists. She is a dentist proudly practicing in the United States Air Force. She received her Doctorate of Medicine in Dentistry at the University of Louisville. Prior to that she received her Bachelors in Science and commission as an Officer in the United States Air Force from the U.S. Air Force Academy where she graduated in the top of her class. Dr. Seibert is a graduate of the United States Air Force’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD). She is well trained in disciplines and procedures such as IV sedation, complex third molar exodontia, digital dentistry workflow, limited orthodontics, biomimetic dentistry, periodontal surgeries (such as crown lengthening, flap osseous, guided tissue regeneration) and esthetic dentistry. She is presently a resident dentist in the Air Force’s highly competitive two-year AEGD.
Sandy Jones, RDH is a Sales Representative with Midway Dental Supply in the Chicagoland Area as well as the MDIB Community! She has been a member of the dental team since age 16. She started her dental career as a dental assistant, then attended Dental Hygiene school and practiced for 21 years before transitioning to dental distribution sales. Sandy is passionate about dentistry and building relationships with her clients.
MaryJane Hanlon, RDH, DMD, MBA has an extensive and varied background in the field of dentistry. Since 1997, Dr. Hanlon has been active in the dental industry and owned and operated her own practice for 15 years. Dr. Hanlon combined her passion for dentistry with her acumen for business in 2012 when she obtained her MBA from Suffolk University.
During her two years of matriculation, she created a list of all the things she wished she knew prior to beginning her dental practice. This list was translated into the creation of a course given at Yankee Dental every year in conjunction with Bentley University called the “Mini MBA for Dentists”.
In 2014, she became Assistant Dean of Predoctoral Clinical Education at Tufts where she works to revamp the overall clinical environment. In 2016, she became Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs overseeing all of the undergraduate and postgraduate clinical operations for the school.
Dr. Hanlon is highly involved with the Massachusetts Dental Society and was its fourth female president in 2020. In addition, she has served in many roles on the Yankee Dental Organizational Committees, ADA House of Delegates, and was Chair of Yankee Dental Congress 2017 meeting.
Dr. Miles Cone is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and completed a three-year Prosthodontic residency program while serving in the United States Army before being honorably discharged as a field grade officer in the rank of Major. In addition to achieving board certification and diplomate status within his specialty, Dr. Cone has also successfully challenged all the requirements necessary to earn his designation as a Certified Dental Technician. Currently, Dr. Cone’s career in civilian life revolves around his dual role as the owner of Nuance Dental Specialists, a private practice dental clinic limited to prosthetic dentistry in the heart of Portland, ME, and his role as a Key Opinion Leader. When Dr. Cone is not at the chair, in the classroom teaching, or at the lab bench, he can be found lecturing on the international circuit, publishing extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and relaxing at home with his wife, four children, and two English Bulldogs in Maine.
Joe Oxman received his Ph.D. in organic photochemistry from Northwestern University (1983). He has been employed by 3M for 38 years and is currently a Corporate Scientist. A developer of many dental and non-dental technologies and is considered a global expert in photocurable systems, nanotechnology, structural composites, hard tissue adhesives, glass ionomer materials, orthogonal smart-materials, bioactives and technologies to minimize polymerization shrinkage stress. He has 112 issued US patents, more than 100 publications/abstracts in peer reviewed journals and has been an invited global lecturer for more than 350 keynotes, presentations, and dental school curricula. He has received many international recognitions including induction into the prestigious 3M Carlton Society (2003), two American Chemical Society (ACS) Cooperative Research Awards (2007 and 2020), the University of Colorado Engineering & Applied Science Corporate Advocate Award (2007), the IADR Peyton Skinner Award for Innovation in Dental Materials (2013), ACS Industrial Polymer Science Award (2016) and induction as an ACS Polymer Fellow (2017). He was instrumental in co-establishing the NSF Cooperative Research Center on “Fundamentals Applications of Photopolymerization” (Universities of Iowa and Colorado). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the AADR, the MinnCResT External Review Board and previously served as the 3M Director of Research for University of Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics and as a coach and judge for the Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Business owner, award-winning financial planner, and pizza aficionado Justin Goodbread launched his first business when he was 15. From Brunswick, Georgia, he grew up running around barefoot and chasing alligators. His love for helping others with their finances evolved over time, but it began with a bet. A friend bet $5,000 Justin wouldn’t be able to pass three financial tests. With only a month to study, Justin passed the first time. That ultimately led him to become a Certified Financial Planner™ and later added Certified Value Growth Advisor®, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor to his expertise.
Justin is the owner of Financially Simple, a company that aims to help business owners manage their wealth, sell their business and prepare for retirement. Financially Simple has been featured nationally in Forbes, Fox News, NerdWallet, Yahoo! Finance and Investopedia. Justin runs the Financially Simple blog, podcast and YouTube channel. He’s been awarded Knoxville Tennessee’s 40 Under 40, Investopedia’s Top 100 Advisor, Exit Planning Institute’s Leader of the Year and more. He’s been a featured speaker for the University of Tennessee MBA Finance Department, the Exit Planning Institute, various professional workshops and more.
Justin lives on a small farm in the country with his wife and three beautiful children. He’s an avid outdoorsman who loves, farming, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, and traveling. He’s also completed several half Ironman races, marathons and other endurance events.
Susie Reilly is an investor, trader, and community builder, in the cryptocurrency space. Until recently Susie owned and operated a successful general dental practice with her husband outside of Atlanta, GA for the past 23 years. That all changed in 2021 when she remembered she had purchased Bitcoin a few years ago after being pressured by her son. She took the earnings from that purchase and began a trading career that has led her to leave her dental practice and pursue crypto full time.
Susie is passionate about creating safe spaces for new investors to enter the crypto currency market. She’s the founder of 3 crypto communities The Hyve, Fomonomo, and The Crypto Garden. When she’s not reading a Bitcoin chart Susie can be found with her husband and four children traveling, exploring the outdoors, competing in triathlons, and enjoying a great glass of wine.
You can join her new crypto investor community created specifically for professional women www.cryptohyve.io
With over 20 years’ experience in healthcare information technology, Seth Mendelsohn is a seasoned veteran in the industry. After graduating from Kansas State University with a major in management information systems he spent most of his career implementing healthcare IT systems at hospitals across the country. However, with a wife and two kids at home, he really wanted to do something different so he could spend more time with family. Since Seth was really interested in dentistry and his wife had a fast-growing dental practice, he decided to switch careers and help his wife grow her dental practice.
This career switch couldn’t have gone any better. Seth found he had a passion for dentistry and thrived as the Director of Operations for his wife’s dental practice. In under two years with Seth’s help, the dental practices revenue nearly doubled.
Seth’s favorite part of his job was performing SEO. Not only is he extremely good at it, but he really enjoyed this part of his job (maybe a little too much according to his wife). Since Seth had such a huge passion for SEO and excelled at it, he decided to start a dental marketing company help other businesses with getting new patients though SEO.
Originally from Kansas, Seth currently lives near Denver, Colorado. When Seth isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, hiking, fishing, and traveling. Speaking of traveling, he loves working so much he’s typically working during his vacations. But working is more fun on vacation than at home, right?
Dr. Talia Nutting has provided exceptional dental care in Knoxville since 2009. She has studied extensively on implant restoration at the Zimmer Implant Institute and with Biomet’s Synergy Program. Dr. Nutting has received intensive training on Cerec CAD/CAM technology, which allows the office to offer crowns in one day. She is also a member of the prestigious Kois Center in Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Nutting grew up just down the road in Kingston, Tennessee. She was a hygienist for 3.5 years and then went on to study at the University of Tennessee, earning high honors at the College of Dentistry. Dr. Nutting went to work as an associate at a practice in Knoxville, until she was convinced to buy a practice that was about 70% HMO. After a divorce 2 years into ownership, Dr. Nutting pretty much gave up everything but her practice and started over. She got off the HMO and got involved in airway.
Dr. Nutting and her husband Marshall, along with their two children, reside in West Knoxville. When not at the office, you can find her lending support to her children's school and sports activities and making a point to hear great live music. She loves hot tea, coffee and the Rolling Stones.
Brandi Hooker Evans is an experienced team trainer, motivational speaker, and an engaging continuing education provider. Brandi has been a clinical dental hygienist since 2007. She uses her master’s degree in health education as well as specialized adult learning tactics to help dentists and their teams achieve their highest potential as professionals. Brandi’s training approach is encouraging and efficient, additionally her enthusiasm is contagious! Dentists and their teams swiftly adopt the skillsets and mindsets needed to achieve healthy patients and practices, all while being healthy providers!
Dr. Bar lives in Katy, Texas with his wife, Dr. Katie, and his son, Bailey. He is the founder and owner of Adventure Orthodontics located in Spring, TX.
As a Board Certified Orthodontist married to a biological dentist, his philosophies and treatment goals are in alignment with biological, airway, and whole body wellness. He believes that orthodontics treatment should provide all of his patients with a more Confident and Healthier Smile! He is passionate about spreading education and awareness about orthodontics. He realized that the majority of his patients are of Generation Z who are born into technology and social media. This is how he became known as ‘Dr. Bar The Braces Doc’ among his followers and subscribers on TikTok and YouTube.
He has had great success using TikTok to reach his patients with engaging, fun, and educational videos delivered in a way patients of all ages can relate to and enjoy. He has amassed a strong following and loves to deliver new content to his followers on TikTok and YouTube.
When he’s not making video content, Dr. Bar and his family enjoy traveling, skiing and golfing.
Here are a few of Dr. Bar’s favorites:
Favorite vacation spots: Sedona, Iceland, Cancun, and Japan
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Food: Seafood
Favorite Drink: Mojitos
Ally Tompkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience treating a range of clinical issues across a diverse adult population. Ally earned her BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago and her Master’s degree in clinical social work from Loyola University Chicago.
Ally works with individuals seeking therapy as a means of improving their lives. Whether it’s managing stress, finding work/life balance, coping with role changes (marriage, divorce, parenthood, job loss) or working to feel “un-stuck,” Ally creates a warm and inviting environment for her clients to explore the barriers in their lives. Ally also specializes in the treatment of disordered eating, anxiety, OCD, depression, PTSD, grief, and body image disturbance. Her work is informed by a “Health At Every Size” (HAES) framework, allowing her clients to feel accepted and safe in their bodies and in the therapeutic space right from the start.
Ally uses a range of evidenced-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Ally cares deeply about the populations she has served, and over the years she has presented on eating disorder treatment to professionals, consumers, and students. Ally loves to learn and teach and is always seeking out new trainings and workshops to further her expertise in the areas most important to her clients.
For almost two decades, Dr. Gina Dorfman has continually proved herself to be an innovative leader in the field of dentistry. As a dentist, practice owner, and entrepreneur, Dr. Dorfman has had the opportunity to engage with dental professionals across the country with the goal of helping them grow and thrive.
Dr. Dorfman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1996, earning a degree in Biochemistry. She completed her dental training at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry in 2000 and shortly after started her practice near Los Angeles, California.
While starting a practice in a saturated market came with its own challenges, the practice grew tremendously over the years, expanding to several locations. Because of her experience running multiple practices and leading a big team, Dr. Dorfman developed a unique insight into how efficient practices organize and operate and how dental teams can work together to overcome obstacles and reach their goals. A recognized speaker and author, Dr. Dorfman is regularly invited to teach other dentists across the country. She has presented at multiple local and national dental meetings, such as the Townie Meeting and Practice on Fire Live. Recently, she’s had the honor to join the faculty at the Dental Success Network, a unique community dedicated to advanced learning and collaboration.
Dr. Dorfman is also a frequent contributor to several industry blogs and the host of Behind the Smiles Podcast that features the most disruptive and influential members of the dental community who are moving dentistry forward.
Dr. Dorfman spends numerous hours in continuing education each year to further her dental expertise and is always on the cutting edge of technology.
Her passion for creating systems and leveraging technology to streamline practice operations is what eventually led her to co-found YAPI, a paperless dental software, where she is currently serving as the CEO of the company.
When she is not working, Dr. Dorfman enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her husband Ken, their two children, Mila and Lenny, and their German Shephard named Axel.
Amy Morgan joined Spear in 2018 as Vice President of Consulting Strategy. For more than 25 years as a consultant and trainer, and as former CEO of Pride Institute — a nationally acclaimed, practice management consulting company — she and her teams have revitalized thousands of dental practices using management systems proven to help dentists become more secure, efficient and profitable.
Dr. Julia Latham enjoys working with people of all ages and genuinely cares about improving the oral health of her patients. Dr. Latham grew up in New Zealand and moved across the Pacific in 2001 for her undergrad at Boston University, completing her DDS from the University of Michigan school of dentistry in 2011. While attending UMSoD, Dr Latham was the recipient of the William S. Kramer Award of Excellence, inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society and served as co- chair for the Scholars Program in Dental leadership where she led a capstone project collaborating students, faculty and community dentists to increase the efficiency and efficacy of local children’s clinic to help improve access to care. Additional honors include: the 2009 Periodontal Alumni Association Award for excellence in preventive periodontics and the 2011 American Academy of Oral Medicine Award.
Dr. Latham began her dental career as a general dentist for the US Navy serving in a military dental clinic in Rota, Spain and returned to the US to practice general dentistry with Tidewater Dental Group in Virginia Beach, VA. In 2014, Dr. Latham partnered with a successful multi-disciplined practice, Brush and Floss Dental Center in Stratford CT, where she now maintains a private practice focused in orthodontic and restorative care.
In her not so spare time, Dr. Latham is the proud mother of two young sons, and enjoys making rap videos with her husband, an emergency room physician at Bridgeport Hospital, including a recent video about dentistry they made during the Covid-19 shutdown.
Dr. Latham may be contacted at julialathamdds@gmail.com.
Mikaeya Kalantari has been a practicing pediatric dentist since 2012. Always one to have side hobbies, Mikaeya started a personal blog in 2015 and began to dive into the world of SEO and social media. When her family moved across the country and opened a dental practice in competitive Southern California, she began to use her SEO and social media knowledge to grow the office brand and spread the word about the family’s new dental practice. Dr. Kalantari now teaches other dentists how to do their own branding, SEO and social media marketing in her online courses which can be found on ThinkingOutsideTheDrill.com. Along with teaching other dentists, Dr. Kalantari also runs the Facebook and Instagram page Thinking Outside The Drill and is a contributing writer for both Dr. Bicuspid and the Orange County Mom’s Blog
Dr. Tina Saw is a General Dentist in Carlsbad, California. She obtained her DDS at Loma Linda University. She currently is a practice owner at Elevated Smiles in North San Diego. Dr. Saw founded Light Solutions Dental in 2020, bringing affordable wireless loupe lights to the dental market. In 2021, Dr. Saw founded her third company, Oral Genome, to help people understand what affects their dental health and how to target specific salivary factors to reduce their risks for dental problems.
Zeeba is an internationally experienced Ayurvedic clinician, meditation teacher, energy healer and motivational speaker who uses holistic treatment to restore her patients’ mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and to prevent disease. She is a leading practitioner with Mindvalley’s Soulvana, and was honored to be part of a session hosted by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Zeeba is certified in the Ayurveda Sciences and is a registered member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.
Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva earned his DMD from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. V spent the next few years working at various DSOs and private practices, recognizing the benefits and challenges of each. Dr. Villanueva is the founder and CEO of MB2 Dental—the original Dental Partnership Organization. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver’s seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth.
Ben is a vice president, wealth advisor with RMB Capital and works with clients across the country. He is passionate about helping successful families and individuals navigate all aspects of their financial lives. He is a registered CPA and a Certified Financial Planner. Outside of work, Ben loves spending time with his wife and their dog Olive. As a cancer survivor, Ben actively volunteers with Imerman Angels, where he provides support, empathy and understanding to those currently battling the disease.
Julie Woods has worked as a periodontist, graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2004 and has owned a practice for 15 years. In 2017, at the height of office production, she was burned out and making less money than ever before. Thankfully, someone suggested she read Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. She believed in the system so much that she pursued certification as a Profit First Professional and helps dental colleagues implement the PF cash management system within their own dental practices.
John provides marketing strategy development along with helping dentists find untapped profit in their dental practices. He has over seventeen years of experience working exclusively with high-end, fee-for-service dentists to develop marketing campaigns that work. Becky has business management and marketing degrees and has been working in the healthcare industry for 20 years, spending the last 7 years focused on the dental community and helping dental offices increase efficiency and profitability.
Dr. Hema Patel received her dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry and also holds a dental degree from Gujarat University in India. She is a seasoned business executive and medical professional with 20+ years of business development experience in the medical and adventure-business sectors. She sold her accomplished dental practice in 2014 to be able to balance her devotion for clinical and business of dentistry with family life and her passion for adventure travel.
Dr. Mario Romero is the clinical director of Romero Dental Seminars. He received his DDS from the University of Guayaquil (Ecuador) School of Dentistry and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the University of Rochester. Dr. Romero was awarded the Augusta University and the ACD Outstanding Faculty award, the Research and Scholarship award from the Dental College of Georgia, the Excellence in Dental Education Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy and was inducted in the OKU Dental Honor Society.
John McCarthy joined TeamSmile as Executive Director in May of 2017 and is excited to help fulfill the mission of using sports as a force for good. McCarthy has been involved in various capacities within college athletics for over 25 years and very engaged in the non-profit community since 2013. He has become one of the country’s pre-eminent authorities on small college basketball and travels the country speaking to coaches and athletic administrators. He resides in Kansas City with his wife and son.
Dr. Madelyn Fletcher-Stark attended Loma Linda University in California, graduating with honors in 2000. After teaching and practicing, she completed a three-year master’s degree in Graduate Prosthodontics in Seattle, WA. She was an associate professor in removable prosthodontics at Loma Linda University and was owner of a general dentistry and prosthodontics practice in Albuquerque, NM until it was closed in March 2020. She decided not to re-open and is starting a Remote Reiki Energy Healing Practice.
Dr. Dana Van Elslande is a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, in addition to being a member of the Alberta Dental Association & College. Currently in private practice in Calgary, Okotoks, and Canmore, Dr. Van Elslande manages a dental study group in Calgary and has several publications in peer-reviewed literature.
Dr. Tarryn MacCarthy is a Motivational Speaker and Podcast Host of The Business of Happiness Podcast, empowering business leaders and leaders of their own dreams to strive for inner fulfilment. Dr. MacCarthy is an Orthodontist and co-owner of Mbrace Orthodontics in Maine a top 1% Invisalign Provider in the US. Dr MacCarthy coaches business owners across the globe on empowering their teams to be ambassadors of their dreams and how to redefine success to find happiness in work and, ultimately, in their lives.
Meagan Landress is a student loan consultant for Student Loan Planner. Meagan was the first person in Georgia to acquire her CSLP® designation, as a Certified Student Loan Professional®. Her specialized education around student loan debt allows her to guide borrowers through informed repayment decisions, taking into account their full financial situation and financial goals. Meagan joined Student Loan Planner in 2019 and has consulted on $128M of student loan debt for over 800 households.
Dr. Effie Habsha earned her DDS, Diploma in Prosthodontics and Master of Science degrees from the University of Toronto. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center and instructs both at the undergraduate and graduate level in Prosthodontics at U of T. She is also the founder of Women in Dentistry: Work. Life. Balance, maintains a private practice limited to Prosthodontics in Toronto and lectures nationally and internationally.
Dr. Bilski owns and operates a private practice in Independence, Ohio. He continues his pursuit to promote clinical awareness through educational courses focusing on emerging dental technology and trends for treatment devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty and health to the patient. He is an active member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Midwest Implant Institute as Co-Director, Certified CEREC Doctor & The United States Dental Institute.
Suzanne R. Mericle, DMD, has been practicing for 29 years in her home-town on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia where she received her BS in Microbiology. She then attended dental school at the Medical College of Georgia and graduated in 1991 with honors. She has written several articles on Dental Sleep Medicine, Periodontal Disease, and several others on dental products. Dr. Mericle is a diplomat with ASBA, Qualifying Dentist with AADSM, and has her Fellowship with DOCS.
Ross Kimbarovsky, founder and CEO at Crowdspring, where more than 220k experienced freelancers help agencies, small businesses and entrepreneurs with custom logo design, web design, graphic design, product design, and company naming services. Crowdspring has worked with the world’s best brands, including Amazon, LG, Starbucks, Microsoft, Barilla, Philips, and thousands of entrepreneurs, startups, and non-profits. Before founding Crowdspring, Ross practiced law for 13 years as a successful trial attorney.
Dr. Maneesha Chigurupati is from Indiana but after being married to a Marine Officer she calls home wherever her family is together. For her undergraduate studies, she attended Purdue University and later attended Virginia Commonwealth University and earned her Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Accompanying her husband on multiple moves over the past ten years, she has worked as a dentist in Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina and Hawaii. When not practicing dentistry, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Dr. Stacy Ochoa graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Michelle Weddle graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University College of Dentistry and is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Alongside a third partner, they developed a system for treating the pediatric airway and sleep pathway. They founded ASAP Pathway to teach other dentists how to implement in their practices.
Dr. Maggie Augustyn graduated as University Scholar from Benedictine University with BA in Molecular Biology and went on to University of Illinois at Chicago to graduate with a DDS. 18 months following graduation, she began her life as co-owner of Happy Tooth in Elmhurst, IL. A transplant from Poland, she has struggled with depression and self image issues since 2nd grade. Her hobbies include volunteerism, art projects of any kind, non-fiction reading/writing and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Dr. Jennifer White has been the sole owner of Brite White Dental in Manton Michigan since December of 2013. Upon graduating from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2006, she moved to northern Michigan with her husband Dr. Benjamin Seymour, who is also a practicing dentist. She has two boys, Zach 8 and Zane 5 and has been a devoted Official Mommy Dentist in Business since fall 2018. She aspires to be a public speaker in the future and can often be found making MDIBs laugh with her custom memes.
Robert Martin is one of the nation’s leading experts on violence prevention and threat assessment. During his 28-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department, he served as Commanding Officer of Detective Headquarters Division and Personnel Division. He founded the first Threat Management Unit in the country and was the recipient of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Service Excellence Award. He also guest lectures at the University of Southern California on issues related to domestic violence.
Sam Munakl serves as the owner of Cytek, a cybersecurity firm located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at Damascus University and continued his professional training by earning several Microsoft certifications including Microsoft Certified System Engineer and System Administrator. Sam is HIPAA Security Certified and earned his Master’s degree of Science in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland. Cybersecurity is his passion.
If you’ve heard of Ground Marketing, then you’ve probably heard of the guy who coined that term: Michael Arias. Michael teaches you exactly that. He has been Ground Marketing for a little under a decade now and has mastered the way to get new patients from schools, clinics, day cares, senior homes, small business, banks, gyms, spas, restaurants and more locations all around your community! You can read, see and hear him execute these strategies on The Dental Marketer Podcast or www.thedentalmarketer.org
Dr. Angie Nauman has been practicing dentistry since 2001 and is living her dream job. A dental graduate of the University of Nebraska, she is a constant student, learning new and innovative ways to provide care to her patients in Tulsa, OK. She has a special passion for dental sleep medicine and during COVID, she learned more about pediatric sleep management. She is a mom of 5 children and she and her husband enjoy spending time with their children riding 4-wheelers and teaching them life lessons.
John Vuong is the owner and founder of Local SEO Search, a boutique agency from Toronto, Ontario. He studied finance at University in London, Ontario and spent the next several years working in print advertising, specifically with the printed directory market, including Yellow Pages. John focuses on helping small, service-based businesses rank on Google in their local market. He also works with a lot of local dentists to help new customers find them.
Dr. Rolando Nuñez obtained his DDS degree from Central University in Venezuela then he obtained a MSc Biomaterials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He maintains a private practice in Venezuela and has served as a clinical and research consultant for BISCO Inc, where he now acts as Clinical Research Manager. Dr. Nuñez has lectured worldwide where his main topic of interest is the development of novel restorative materials as well as clinical protocols applied to restorative dentistry.
Prior to founding Heartland Dental in 1997 and introducing dentists to the highest quality non-clinical administrative support, Dr. Rick Workman practiced dentistry for nearly 20 years. Realizing there had to be a better way, he assembled a team that would grow to provide support to more than 1,050 offices nationwide. Today, Dr. Workman serves as the company's Executive Chairman. An advocate for professional development, he devotes time to providing leadership advice through various speaking engagements.
Dr. Scott never imagined she would be a dentist and took a windy road of various studies which eventually led her to graduate from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2007. Dr. Scott started a private scratch practice in rural South Dakota 2 months after graduation and has practiced there for the last 13 years. She has been able to travel the world with her husband and 3 children on credit card points and looks forward to being able to travel again. #mom_before_dentist
Dr. Rich Constantine, practicing in Greenville, SC, has brought smiles to millions of people worldwide with his fun and light-hearted dance moves and content on social media. He is changing the way the world feels about going to the dentist while sharing the universal message of positivity and joy to millions of people and encourages people to “Just Keep Smiling”. He mentors professionals one-on-one and also trains teams to adopt healthier daily practices.
Dr. Suzanne Ebert graduated from University Of Louisville College Of Dentistry in 1998 and enjoyed being a private practitioner for 11 years. Upon the sale of her practice, she elected to continue her career by providing dental care to indigent populations as the Dental Director at a local Federally Qualified Health Center. Dr. Ebert is unwavering in her desire to protect private practice dentistry and is a vocal advocate of having a strong association to lead the dental profession.
Dr. Erin Merrifield attended Western Washington University followed by Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ for dental school. She grew up in the Seattle area and now lives in Eastern Washington, just off the Idaho border with her husband, a program manager at an aerospace company and their three children. Dr. Merrifield started practicing dentistry in 2013 but ended her career September 2020 due to bilateral arthritis, carpal tunnel, and cubital tunnel.
Chef Mike Haracz is a senior research & development chef with over 20 years of experience, graduating from Johnson & Wales with degrees in Culinary Arts and Culinary Nutrition. He has spent the last 14 years developing recipes and products for a variety of chain restaurants, as well as other food service, and retail segments including the Manager of Culinary Innovation at McDonald’s for the US menu. He has a YouTube channel called, ‘Chef Mike Does Stuff,' and is a certified BBQ judge and competitor.
Doug Eaton and a high school friend, who after both having had successful +20 year careers, started on an unlikely journey to revolutionize the rapidly growing Indoor Air Cleaning industry worldwide. After the addition of a third founder, SCA took off and is now the trusted brand of medical and dental professionals, pro sports teams & Fortune 500 companies to clean, purify & re-energize their air. Return guest and Director of Business Development, Kelly Hayes, or "Clean Air Kelly," joins the episode.
Amy Moran, LCPC, CST is an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, and the owner of Spark Chicago Therapy. She has years of extensive clinical experience in relationship and sex therapy, addressing common goals including enhancing the experience of sex and sexuality and reducing relational conflict. As an LGBTQ-, kink- and non-monogamy-affirming therapist, she works with individuals and couples experiencing sexual desire discrepancies and for improvement and revitalization of intimacy and sexual satisfaction.
Carly Fox is a third year dental student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Before dental school, she spent two years working with Dr. Yum and her staff at Yummy Dental and Orthodontics for Kids as a dental assistant and insurance coordinator. She is currently serving as the president of the U of M student chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and is planning to apply for pediatric dental residencies beginning next fall.
Alli is the events coordinator for Sodium Dental and is a graduate from University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s in communications and Media Studies. She enjoys being able to network and chat with dentists at dental shows and meetings. Most recently, she started the podcast, "Dental Tech Chat," that you can find on YouTube, Spotify or wherever you listen! Alli loves helping connect dentists to the equipment and technology solutions that will benefit their practices.
Dr. Brett Wells is the founder and CEO of DentalHQ, a practicing dentist in Raleigh, NC, and a frequent podcast guest star. A serial entrepreneur, a foodie, and a die-hard Carolina Panthers fan, Dr. Wells started DentalHQ to help his fellow dentists increase patient care and case acceptance with in-house membership plans.
Neha Batra, D.D.S., attended Kalamazoo College before Her love for science and art led her to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Upon graduation, she completed a general practice residency at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Dr. Batra is married to a pediatric dentist and also co owns a pediatric dental practice with her husband. When Dr. Batra is not doing dentistry, she is a busy mom raising 2 boys and loves traveling and creating new cocktails.
Natalie Berse is a Bethel University graduate who has spent the past several years working in sales in the dental industry. Most recently, Natalie works for Dentsply Sirona as a territory manager in the Preventive division. Natalie strives to help clinicians expand their knowledge surrounding preventive procedures and infection prevention protocols in the dental setting. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys staying active in barre classes, cooking in the kitchen and spending time with her family and friends.
After two tours overseas and 9 wonderful years in the ARMY, Andrew Brightman moved on to graduate from Mankato State University with a bachelors in Biology with a zoology emphasis. He's competed and placed in the top 5 in national bodybuilding competitions, collected NASM, ISSA, NETA training and nutrition certificates. Having held every position within the health and wellness industry Andrew is carrying out his dream of changing lives with his company Resolute Fitness.
Laura Meierkort has 17+ years of knowledge and experience as a former nanny, Certified Lactation Counselor and Holistic Infant and Child Sleep Consultant. She created Nest Family Sleep Consulting to empower families in solving their children’s sleep challenges in a mindful, holistic way. Her passion for healthy sleep led to creating the podcast, The Little Sleep Show, which is part of her mission to help as many parents as she can with sleep and learning to be more present for our children and ourselves.
Erick Rupprecht received his DDS degree from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. After practicing over thirty years he retired from clinical dentistry due to a vision issue. Dr. Kim Sena attended University of Michigan School of Dentistry and had a long-standing practice in Grand Rapids, MI. He retired from full-time practice earlier than expected due to a chronic neck condition. Both now use their knowledge and experience to help colleagues as they purchase, grow or transition their practices.
Dinesh Sakhrani is a Boston College graduate who majored in Finance. He spent the first 6 years of his career at Morgan Stanley as an investment banker. Soon after that, 16 years ago, he started DDS Dental supplies with his wife, Diya. They are both hands on and work with clients throughout the day. Their goals are simple- to maximize savings in the most efficient way possible with their amazing team. When not working, Dinesh enjoys spending time with his family, home renovation, and traveling.
Dr. Louis Malcmacher maintains a cosmetic and general practice in Bay Village, Ohio. He is an internationally recognized lecturer and author, known for his entertaining and comprehensive teaching style. He has vast experience in total facial esthetics and has taught tens of thousands of healthcare professionals in the areas of smile design esthetics and facial injectable therapy. He has also lectured at many major medical and dental meetings throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
Commander Corinne Devin lived in six different military bases while her father served in the Dental Corp and inspired her to pursue a career in the United States Navy. She deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009 and has been awarded five Navy achievement Medals, Fleet Marine Force Officer Insignia and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. CDR Devin is the Department Head of Dental Specialties and the sole orthodontic provider at United States Naval Hospital Sigonella.
Joshua Scott is a marketing speaker and consultant who has spent
the last 18 years in the dental industry. He works with dentists and
dental service organizations around the country to create confident
marketing strategies as owner and CEO of Studio EightyEight, dentistry’s story-driven marketing agency. S8E8 provides high-end, custom design with storytelling messaging, to create marketing that’s truly unique to their clients. He resides in Ohio with wife and high school best friend, Joanna, and their 2 kids.
Dr. Anna Finis is the Director of the Child Mood & Anxiety Program at Compass Health Center and a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Rachael Levine is the Director of Young Child Programs, also at Compass Health Center, and a licensed clinical psychologist and a nationally certified school psychologist. Drs. Finis and Levine specialize in individual, family, and group psychotherapy with children and adolescents presenting with a wide range of behavioral, social, and emotional challenges.
Karson L. Carpenter is a practicing dentist and serves as President of Compliance Training Partners. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and has over 25 years experience designing educational programs to bring dental and medical facilities into compliance with governmental regulations including OSHA, HIPAA and infection control.
Dawn Johanknecht, CPA is a Principal with the Health Care Group of CliftonLarsonAllen specializing in providing accounting and consulting services for medical clinics, physician and dental groups, and other healthcare organizations. These services include financial statement services, income tax preparation and planning, business operations advisory consulting, revenue cycle management, merger and acquisitions of independent practices, financial analysis, and practice management.
Shane Simmons is the founder and CEO of Crimson Media, located in Indianapolis, IN, who says he wants to transform the way dental practices build relationships in their communities through online marketing. The slogan, "Helping dentists build freedom in their practice," sums up the company mission. Fun Fact: Shane is a two time Emmy Award winner who embeds storytelling into his clients marketing. If you'd like to learn how Crimson Media can help grow your practice, visit www.crimsonmediagroup.com.
Dr. Jessica Bertoglio graduated in 2002 from the University of Illinois at Chicago college of dentistry. She started her own practice in Hoffman Estates, IL and understands dental anxiety runs deep. Her desire is to provide a fun and pleasant experience. She is able to achieve this with in office therapy dogs, a fantastic staff and many personalized touches. She and her husband spend their free time with 3 daughters traveling, riding and competing with their horses, and relaxing at home with their dogs.
For the last 2 and a half years, Dr. Grace Yum has been interviewing a rotating cast of specialists who give invaluable advice from a variety of perspectives. Along the way, she has created a network of friends and experts who help busy professional mothers find balance in their lives. In celebration of 100 episodes, Dr. Yum becomes the guest and reflects on the growth and popularity of the podcast. Bonus: Dr. Yum's team joins the show for a very special 100th episode lightening round segment!
Dr. Kathy O’Loughlin is the executive director of the American Dental Association. She joined the ADA in 2009 after serving as the chief dental officer for United Health Group and as the chief executive officer for Delta Dental of Massachusetts. She speaks around the country about the profession of dentistry, oral health care delivery, and public health policy. Dr. O’Loughlin was the first female dental school class president and valedictorian of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Kimberly Williams is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist with offices in Long Island and Brooklyn, New York. She has exceptional expertise in the evaluation of children with giftedness, academic and learning problems as well as psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, difficult or oppositional behaviors and those with developmental delays and social deficits. She regularly consults and provides workshops and training in issues related to COVID-19 crisis and aftermath.
Dr. Grace Yum, the founder of Yummy Dental and Orthodontics and Mommy Dentists in Business, typically shares the secrets to success in balancing motherhood and growing business interests in dental, real estate and beyond. This week's episode is different. Week 3 into dental office shut down and voluntary quarantine, Dr. Yum reflects on the changes that have occurred, her feelings about her current situation and thoughts on what's to come.
Dr. Laura Brenner graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2001, then moved to Denver to establish her dental roots. She worked in private practice for 10 years until she left clinical dentistry behind for good. As the author of the Lolabees blog and “10 Reasons Your Dentist Probably Hates You Too,” she connected with other dentists who wanted more from their careers. This inspired her to become a Certified Professional Coach who is passionate about helping dentists find joy in their careers again.
Amy is both a Yoga teacher and a Reiki Master and has committed the last 10 years to studying both extensively. Amy is certified to teach Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and holds the Registered Yoga Teacher RYT 200 hour certification. Amy resides in Chicago with her husband Kevin, and her three children. Family life has given Amy a distinct perspective on practicing yoga leading her to study and practice pre/post natal yoga, Mommy & Baby yoga, and now Kids Yoga.
Dr. Carla Cohn graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba then went on to complete a post graduate internship in Children’s Dentistry at Health Science Centre Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cohn holds an appointments at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Dentistry and was recently inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dr. Cohn has lectured nationally and internationally on risk assessment, prevention, behavior management and restorative treatment options.
Katie Leiva, is a Chicagoland native practicing dental hygiene for 11 years. With nearly 15 years of clinical experience, she has taken on various roles working with the Chicago Public School Sealant program to brand ambassador for GSK Sensodyne. She has spent much of her career in general private practice and has worked in periodontics, and pediatrics, currently working in a corporate dental setting. Katie is passionate about oral systemic health but postnatal care and the prevention of oral diseases.
Crista Walker graduated from the University of Alberta’s Dentistry program in 1998 and practices in Tsawwassen, BC with focus on family dentistry and functional medicine. On New Year's Day this year, her office had a catastrophic fire and she suffered a total loss of everything. She has found a temporary home and is rebuilding from the ashes. Outside of work she can be found spending time with my spouse and kids, especially driving my twin 9 year old boys to their hockey games and competitive dance classes.
Dr. Nada Albatish owns and operates a multidisciplinary practice, All Smiles Dental Centre, just north of Toronto. Her niche is complex and rehabilitative dentistry and is honored to serve as Faculty for Clinical Mastery Series, curator for Restorative Nation, co-author a book, write articles, and speak at various dental events. As a mother to two beautiful girls, Nada is blessed every day to be able to see the world through the eyes of her little people.
Dr. Jeannie Moody was voted most likely to be convicted in her high school graduating class. Despite her rebellious youth, she went on to earn her undergraduate and dental degree from the University of Florida and her masters and orthodontic certificate from the University of Colorado. She is a thriving single mother to 4 year old twin girls and her 6 year old son and owns 2 practices. Dr. Moody has been speaking to women and other dental professionals about accountability, mindset work and vulnerability.
Dr. Trista Felty attended Villanova University, then Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry for her dental degree and her Orthodontic residency program. There she met her husband and moved to his hometown in British Columbia after finishing school. A part time faculty member in the orthodontic program at the University of BC and has a private practice in Abbotsford, BC, she dedicates her time serving on various dental and orthodontic committees and boards, on both the local and national levels.