HR for Health’s Dental Leadership Summit Brings the Industry Together for Peer-to-Peer Learning and Real-World Strategy

The three-day Summit moves beyond the podium with candid leadership conversations, interactive workshops, and practical strategies for growth

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — HR for Health will host the 2026 Dental Leadership Summit, September 16–18 in Austin, Texas, bringing together dental practice owners, executives, operators, and industry innovators for three days of candid conversations, practical education, and hands-on strategies for building and growing stronger dental organizations.

Unlike a traditional dental conference built around sitting in a room and listening to speakers from a podium, the Dental Leadership Summit is designed around participation and implementation. Attendees will hear candid stories from leaders who have built, scaled, merged, and transitioned dental organizations, then put those lessons into practice through interactive workshops, peer discussions, and real-world exercises.

With attendance intentionally capped, the Summit creates an intimate environment where dental leaders can learn directly from others who have faced many of the same challenges — from building teams and adopting technology to scaling operations, navigating acquisitions, and preparing for a transition.

A LINEUP OF SPEAKERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF DENTISTRY

The Summit brings together an accomplished group of dental and business leaders, including:

– Pat Bauer, CEO of Heartland Dental
– Dr. Tim Quirt, SVP of Clinical Operations at Heartland Dental
– Blair Primis, Chief Growth Officer at OrthoCarolina
– Jill Nesbitt, CEO of OptimizeDent
– Stephenie Goddard, CEO of Glidewell Dental
– Brandi Marzolino, Fractional COO at Courage & Joy at Work
– Diwakar Sinha, Founder & CEO of Polaris Healthcare Partners
– Perrin DesPortes, Founder of The Next Level Executive
– Kristi Casey, CEO of Rock Dental Brands
– Ashley Bond, Chief Dental Billing Officer at Wisdom
– Chavelle Galton-Rice, Director of Membership & Education at AADOM
– Ali Oromchian, JD, LL.M, Co-Founder & CEO of HR for Health
– And more!

The diverse lineup spans dental operations, clinical care, leadership, technology, marketing, HR, revenue cycle, and growth, giving attendees the opportunity to learn from perspectives that extend well beyond any single area of practice management.

CONVERSATIONS THAT GO BEYOND THE STAGE

The Summit’s sessions are designed to tackle the questions dental leaders are actually facing — often from angles that challenge conventional thinking.

Sessions include “The ROI Nobody’s Billing For Yet,” featuring Dr. Tim Quirt of Heartland Dental alongside Videa Health and vVARDIS, which will examine Heartland’s rollout of AI-powered cavity detection and the adoption of preventive revenue models.

Staffing and retention take a different approach in sessions such as “You Don’t Have a Hiring Problem. You Have a Math Problem,” led by Devin Amberg of Kwikly Dental Staffing, which reframes staffing as a revenue lever, and “Middle Management: The Layer Most Practices Forecast and Build Too Late,” featuring Chavelle Galton-Rice, the Director of Membership & Education at AADOM and Eric Pastan, Director at Elliot Davis.

Other sessions take on the operational challenges that emerge as practices grow, including “How Messy Is Your A/R? Know Your Revenue. Find the Leaks. Build an Action Plan,” and “From Founder-Led to System-Led Growth,” which explores the structures, pipelines, and workforce systems needed to move beyond founder-dependent operations.

BUILT FOR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE EVENT

The Summit’s hands-on format is designed around a simple question: What will you actually do differently when you get home?

Attendees can choose from interactive workshops focused on hiring and retention, team development, technology adoption, marketing, revenue cycle management, middle management, staffing strategy, acquisitions, and exit planning. Rather than simply taking notes, participants will work through practical challenges, engage directly with experts and peers, and develop frameworks they can bring back to their organizations.

The Summit is designed for leaders at every stage of growth: whether they’re building their first location, scaling a group, or thinking about what comes next. The experience also extends beyond the conference room, with curated networking and outdoor activities designed to encourage the kinds of conversations and connections that don’t always happen during a traditional industry event.

INVESTING IN THE DENTAL COMMUNITY

The Summit will also recognize Saving Face as its 2026 Humanitarian Award recipient. HR for Health will donate $10 for every Summit registration to support the organization’s mission around oral cancer awareness and prevention.

The Dental Leadership Summit 2026 will take place September 16–18 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa near Austin, Texas. Readers can receive 30% off registration with code HRFHPR30.

Learn more and register at DentalLeadershipSummit.com.

Taylor Brewster
HR for Health
+1 925-365-6026
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