DSO People! New DSO and Dental Group Hires, Promotions & Awards April 2025

dso people

DSO People serves as your trusted source for staying current on key personnel movements. Whether you’re a vendor or part of a DSO team, staying informed about leadership changes within DSOs is essential for success. Keeping track of shifts at the executive and C-suite levels provides valuable insights needed to navigate the evolving landscape and improve performance.

Here is April’s DSO People list:

Image Specialty Partners (ISP) announced that Dr. Yan Kalika, founder and current Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Joel Idelson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. This strategic leadership transition is meant to support their next phase of growth.

Dr. Kalika founded Image Specialty Partners. Under his leadership, ISP now supports over 40 locations across California and Oregon. In his new role as Executive Chairman, Dr. Kalika will remain actively involved in ISP’s strategic direction and clinical philosophy while focusing on culture, innovation, provider engagement, and mergers and acquisitions. He will also continue to provide clinical care at Image Orthodontics’ Presidio Heights location in San Francisco.


Aspen Dental announced that Mithila Sharma, DDS, an Aspen Dental practice owner, has been appointed Director of Clinical and Prosthodontic Support. Dr. Sharma first joined Aspen Dental in 2013 as a lead dentist in Danville, Illinois, and quickly focused her career growth within Aspen Dental’s practice ownership program, eventually becoming a multi-practice owner. In her new role, Dr. Sharma will support the implant business segment within Aspen Dental, while also serving as Director, Clinical and Prosthodontic Support for Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Aspen Dental® was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana


Lone Peak Dental Group announced the appointment of Pat Bauer to its Board of Directors. Pat brings a wealth of experience to Lone Peak, having been an integral member of Heartland Dental since its early days. With more than 35 years of leadership in dental and healthcare operations management, Pat currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Heartland Dental, the largest dental support organization in the United States.


Jennifer Sholey joined Endodontic Practice Partners (EPP) as Vice President of Operations. Prior to this, she worked in operations and management positions at Sonrava Health, Brident Dental & Orthodontics, and Western Dental & Orthodontics.


Jae Brimhall, DMD is promoted to Chief Clinical Officer at Farnsworth Family Orthodontics. He had previously worked as a clinician for Farnsworth Family Orthodontics and Smile Doctors. Farnsworth has five locations – three in New Mexico and two in Texas.


Kathleen Lindsey was promoted to Senior Brand Manager, Business Development Marketing at Smile Doctors. She began there four years ago as Brand Manager. Smile Doctors is the largest orthodontic support organization (OSO) in the United States They recently announced the acquisition of myOrthos, a OSO with more than 70 affiliated locations across 13 states. Smile Doctors supports a network of over 550 affiliated locations in 36 states.


Farrah Zanganeh joined Tend as the Sr. Director of Talent Acquisition. Since launching in 2019, Tend has provided dental care to over 100,000 patients across five major cities: New York, Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta and Nashville.


Victoria Johnson joined Dental Care Alliance as their Vice President of Revenue Cycle. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Sarasota, FL, Dental Care Alliance supports more than 400 affiliated dental practices in 24 states, making it one of the largest multi-branded dental support organizations in the country.


Specialty Dental Brands promoted Martin Grude to Director of Operations. Martin has also worked for Heartland Dental, American Orthopedic Partners, and Smile Brands Inc.


Black Talon Security, a leader in cybersecurity solutions, announced the promotion of Paul Murphy to the position of Chief Growth Officer. In this role, Paul will spearhead growth strategies, strengthen client partnerships, and lead the sales team in driving measurable outcomes that benefit the dental and healthcare sectors. Since joining Black Talon in 2018, Paul has played a pivotal role in enhancing the company’s presence within these industries.


Kristin Scott, RDH has been promoted to Director of Dental Hygiene Operations at 42 North Dental. Prior to this posistion, Kristin was their Dental Hygiene Specialist. She has also worked for SDS Swiss Dental Solutions.


Scotte Hudsmith, CEO of Specialized Dental Partners, has been appointed President of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO). A seasoned leader in the dental support and broader healthcare industries, Scotte brings extensive executive experience from roles at Oral Surgery Partners, Smile Doctors, Total Primary Care, Parental Health, and Sheridan Capital Partners. He also serves as a Principal Investor in the Dental Innovation Alliance (DIA).


Melissa Faber was promoted to Director of Operations at InterDent Service Corporation. InterDent is a dental service organization with over 150 affiliated dental offices serving over one million patients each year. Headquartered in Inglewood California and Vancouver Washington, InterDent has practices in eight western States under the brands Gentle Dental, Smile Keepers Dental, and Dedicated Dental.


Dr. Junaid Afridi has been appointed as the new Clinical Director of Orthodontics at Community Dental Partners. With over a decade of experience at Community Dental Partners, Dr. Afridi is known for his compassionate care, collaborative leadership, and commitment to clinical excellence. CDP has 70+ locations nationwide.


On the heels of Mortenson Dental Partners’ affiliation agreement with West 10th Dental Group (WTDG), Brett Barta, DDS, has assumed the role of Chief Dental Officer at MDP. Dr. Barta founder WTDG 40 years ago. It is a multi-specialty group located in Indianapolis, Indiana and supports four locations.


Paul Kaiser became a Board Member at Kleer and Membersy. Paul is CEO at DentalXChange.


DSO People is sponsored by Fidler and Associates, the premier nationwide advisory and executive search firm specializing exclusively in the multi-site healthcare industry and a proud partner of Group Dentistry Now. From regional managers to C-suite executives, we provide tailored solutions to address our clients’ most critical challenges. With a strategic, client-centric approach, we customize our advisory and recruitment services to meet the unique needs of each organization, ensuring the placement of exceptional leadership resulting in success. Whether you are looking to hire an executive or looking for a new career, please contact Fidler and Associates to discuss your next steps at www.fidlerandassociates.com.

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to DSO People at info@groupdentistrynow.com

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