The only way to learn is to do. And, Scotte Hudsmith’s journey of rapid and successful scaling personifies that. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes the Chairman and CEO of Specialized Dental Partners to explore the art of building successful dental platforms.
What You’ll Learn: 

• The key strategies for successful and rapid growth of your dental practice/ platform
• How to implement the "80-15-5 rule" - the magic ratio for protecting organizational culture in the growth phase 
• Unique approaches to navigate the workforce shortages in dental specialities and better practice management systems 
• How to make the most of private equity in dentistry, emphasizing how proper financial partnerships enable better training, infrastructure, and patient care
• Ways to balance clinical expertise with business acumen when scaling dental organizations 

Listen in for fresh perspectives on the opportunities, challenges and way forward for dentistry today. 
Episode Highlights:
[02:05-09:29] Becoming a Dental Leader & The Culture Question  Scotte shares his journey into the dental industry and how an accidental encounter put him on the path to dental leadership. Taking from his rich experiences of scaling organizations, he highlights the critical role of culture in successful growth and why it should be preserved at all costs. 
[09:30-21:04] The Magic Ratio & Business Models That Work 
Reflecting on the approaches that help protect culture in a practice’s growth phase, Scotte reveals the magic ratio of 80-15-5 - a thumb rule that has always worked for him and his team. He also traces his journey from Smile Doctors to Specialized Dental Care and how COVID brought him out of retirement, back in the game. 
[21:05-32:29] Potential & Opportunity: Integrated Health Care & Technology 
Reflecting on the potential of integrated healthcare, value of private equity investment in dentistry and the transformational role of technology, Scotte highlights some of the major shifts taking place in the industry today. 
[32:30-39:16] The Right Kind of Business Infrastructure 
From team building to business models that work, Scotte emphasizes the ways in which one can foster a growth culture and the importance of striking a balance between business specialists and dental professionals. 
[39:17-48:26] The Future of Dentistry & A CEO’s Role 
A CEO should know what they’re doing - not just from a business point of view, but from an operational standpoint as well. Scotte emphasizes the importance of the right hire for the CEO position. He also makes predictions on AI and technological developments in dentistry - saliva testing, process management, and more. 
Want to scale smarter in dentistry? Learn from industry leader Scotte Hudsmith—listen now and subscribe! 

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