In this episode of Doc Secret, our guest is Perrin DesPortes, founder of The Next Level Executive. A fourth-generation dental industry professional, Perrin shares a compelling journey from his early days in the family dental supply business to becoming a respected leader in M&A advisory and strategic consulting for group dental practices. After a formative 15-year tenure at Patterson Dental and co-founding two successful startups—Tusk Partners and Polaris Healthcare Partners—Perrin now coaches healthcare entrepreneurs through his solo venture. He reflects on pivotal mentorship, the challenges of leaving corporate stability for entrepreneurship, and the personal risks that defined his leadership style. With decades of insight, Perrin offers a candid view of private equity’s impact, the evolving dental landscape, and how AI and automation are reshaping the patient experience. This episode explores themes of transformation, risk, leadership, consolidation, and long-term strategy in healthcare.

Doc Secret is sponsored by Quantics Marketing, LLC. https://www.quanticsmarketing.com/

00:00 – Meet Perrin DesPortes: From Family Business to Founder  

05:12 – Early Lessons from the Dental Supply World  

15:04 – The Patterson Years: Climbing the Corporate Ladder  

29:35 – Taking Big Risks: Rebuilding a Failing Branch  

42:10 – The Leap into Entrepreneurship with Tusk and Polaris

58:27 – Launching The Next Level Executive: Going Solo  

01:15:44 – Leadership, Burnout, and Knowing When to Walk Away

01:33:20 – Industry Trends and the Role of AI in Dentistry  01:47:03 – Private Equity, Recapitalizations, and Market Strategy  

02:04:50 – Lightning Round and Close  

Follow and listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.