Stop Treating Dentists Like Employees
Episode 47
Andy Steuerman, Vice Chairman at Golub Capital, and Dr. Victoria Yu, CEO & Chief Dental Officer of Elite Dental Partners, challenge one of dentistry's biggest assumptions: that dentists must choose between being lifelong employees or taking on crushing debt to become owners.
Key Revelations:
The employer-employee model is failing dentists—and partnership may be the future.
Ownership doesn't have to require massive debt or buying your own practice.
High-performing practices are built when clinicians think like entrepreneurs, not employees.
Leadership, financial literacy, and communication are the missing skills holding practices back.
The DSO Model Is Due for a Reset
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"Little things keep disrupting our monthly financials—doctor absences, equipment repairs, weather closures. Our partners get frustrated because it feels like there's always another excuse. How do we explain these one-time setbacks?"
They reveal why the traditional DSO model is broken, why new graduates are trapped by six-figure student loans, and how a disruptive equity model could redefine the future of dental practice ownership. Along the way, they unpack why the best-performing practices don't just focus on dentistry—they build leaders, entrepreneurs, and healthier communities.
The "Ask Dallin" Question:
Top 3 Episodes Of The Dental Truth Project. Listen Now!
(E.45) How to Profit Without Dropping Insurance - Angie Hopper, Premier Dental Center
(E.42) DSO: Economies of Scale Is a Myth - George Hariri, Shared Practices
(E.43) Why DSOs Keep Losing Their Best People - Frank Clayton, RedThread Solutions
Dallin's answer: Not every unexpected expense reflects poor performance. True one-time costs can often be documented as add-backs when presenting financials, helping investors understand the practice's real operating performance. And if these disruptions happen consistently, build them into your operating targets instead of pretending they'll never happen. Great financial management isn't about expecting perfection—it's about planning for reality.
Get early access to the 'Roll the Equity - How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSO'
Learn how sophisticated dental founders navigate a DSO sale
Selling your DSO is one of the most consequential decisions of your career. Roll the Equity: How Smart Dental Founders Sell Their DSOs is the playbook for founders who want to approach private equity transactions with clarity — not guesswork. Join the insider list to get first access when it drops.
NEW BOOK - COMING SOON
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