When I graduated from dental school in 1999, I operated a practice as an affiliate of a large dental support organization (DSO)—a company that provides business management and support to a network of dental practices. At the time, it was a relatively small, private company, driven by the entrepreneurial founder. His ambition and passion, combined with my love for dentistry, fueled my professional drive, and I soon grew the most productive and profitable practice in the organization.

As I developed my practice, the founder became a mentor to me, and I ultimately took on operational responsibilities for the DSO, becoming more involved in the corporate side of the business. My experience growing my own practice allowed me to contribute in meaningful ways to the development of patient-focused systems, trainings, and processes to support doctors, and it was really fulfilling. I loved that work and the company.