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Welcome to our newest feature – DSO People! DSO People will share updates on DSO and dental group new hires, promotions and awards. If your DSO or dental group has new hires, promotions and/or awards you would like us to include in this monthly column, please see notes at the end of this article for submission details.
Dental Care Alliance Names Former Walgreens Executive as Its New President
Jeffrey Koziel has joined Dental Care Alliance following an impressive tenure with Walgreens, the nation’s leading pharmacy retailer. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Pharmacy and Retail Operations, with responsibility for day-to-day operations supporting Walgreens’s more than 9,300 locations.
“As DCA looks ahead to our fourth decade of creating healthy smiles, I am confident that Jeff has the experience and vision to lead Dental Care Alliance into the next stage of growth,” stated Jerry Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer for DCA. “The demonstrated way in which he cares for the business and its people are distinctively aligned with our mission and values. He has an unbridled passion for healthcare and innovation, and is committed to driving results for the future at DCA.”
Jeff’s remarkable career spans more than 25 years. His journey with the retail pharmacy giant began when he was an intern at his neighborhood Walgreens store, after completing his studies at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy.
After graduating, he enthusiastically took on new responsibilities, moving from intern to staff pharmacist, and then to pharmacy manager. Jeff excelled, and his leaders took notice. They challenged him to leverage his pharmacy management competencies to become the store’s general manager. Not long after, he was promoted from a store to a district manager role, where he effectively grew the footprint and market share throughout the Northeast. He developed and transformed the New York market under the Duane Reade and Walgreens banners, as Vice President.
Over the next several years, he was promoted and asked to return to his hometown of Chicago to assume leadership of the nation’s portfolio of pharmacy and retail operations, with a focus on bringing healthcare to the forefront of retail.
Source: PRWeb
Webster Dental Care Announces New Chief Operating Officer & Human Resources Office
Webster Dental Care (WDC), a DSO with 12 locations, has just announced the appointment of Michelle Chua to Chief Operating Officer.
“Michelle has always done outstanding work serving as Director of Operations and I know she will continue to deliver standards of excellence in her increasing role,” said Michael Errin Rios, CEO of Webster Dental Care. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Michelle as we continue the future growth and strategic response to the ever-increasing demand for our organization’s services.”
Prior to her new position, Michelle oversaw day-to-day operations at WDC’s 80-employee, 39 operatory multi-specialty dental center, Webster Dental Care North Suburban, located in Skokie, Illinois.
In addition, WDC welcomes Rachel Spears to the executive team as its first Human Resources Officer. Prior to joining, Rachel served as a recruiter for Careers in Nonprofits. Today, she is tasked with elevating WDC as the leading dental service organization in the Chicagoland.
Source: PRNewswire
Former SVP of Revenue Cycle Management will Oversee Revenue Operations at Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners
Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners has announced the promotion of Pamela Holder to Chief Revenue Officer. In her new role, Holder will oversee revenue operations companywide and the growth and expansion of Mid-Atlantic Dental.
Holder brings more than 12 years of dental and healthcare revenue experience to her role at Mid-Atlantic Dental. She joined the company in January 2019 as Vice President of Revenue Cycle and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management the following year. Prior to joining Mid-Atlantic Dental, she headed her own consulting firm where she worked with DSOs and solo practices to analyze all aspects of the revenue cycle.
“Pam is one of the best examples of how you can accomplish anything you desire if you are dedicated, humble and willing to work hard” said Leigh Feenburg, Chief Operating Officer of Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners. “Pam has touched the lives of literally thousands in her career, leaving the most positive impressions on those she supports and advancing so many careers of those she has led.”
Holder holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, with a concentration in Foreign Policy of the Middle East, from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. As a former executive of one of the country’s largest DSOs, Holder has been a member of ADSO, NDEDIC, AADGP, NADP and sat on the DSO Advisory board for NADP. In 2015, Holder was a Stevie Bronze Medal winner for National Businesswoman of the Year and a Rising Star Award nominee for the National Dental EDI Council in 2016.
Source: Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners
Western Dental Promotes Preet M. Takkar to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Western Dental has announced the appointment of Preet M. Takkar as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Takkar joined Western Dental in 2015 and has been leading the company’s Information Technology Department as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer. Over several years, his role expanded to include leadership of the revenue cycle, call center, business intelligence and patient financing functions. In his new role, he will also assume responsibility for operations in the organization’s 325 dental practices in California, Texas, Arizona, Alabama and Nevada.
Mr. Takkar began his career as a software developer for one of the country’s leading dental practice management software companies. In the years before he joined Western Dental, he ran local dental offices, led regional and statewide operations, oversaw operational and financial reporting for a national orthodontic practice management firm, and headed IT for a multi-state group dental practice and dental HMO.
“Preet is a natural leader who has demonstrated his willingness and ability to take on greater responsibility,” said Daniel D. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. “He is dedicated to our mission of making high-quality oral health care accessible and affordable, has a thorough understanding of our business, and inspires confidence in those around him with his clear vision, effective communication and calm bearing.”
Source: BusinessWire
Western Dental Promotes Dr. Zhi Meng to Executive Vice President, Clinical Care
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Zhi Meng will now have overall responsibility for operational support in the field and corporate office for general dentistry, orthodontics and all dental specialties, including pediatric dentistry.
Dr. Meng joined Western Dental in 1994 as an Associate Dentist. She was a practicing dentist for 12 years before taking a leadership role in operations as a Clinical Director. She later led the development of the organization’s extensive orthodontic program – now the largest in the United States – and then, as Senior Vice President, Specialty Services, developed and operationally supported the extensive network that serves the specialty needs of patients in 325 Western Dental, Brident and Vital Smiles offices in California, Texas, Arizona, Alabama and Nevada.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Meng taught at the UCLA Dental School, where she also conducted oral cancer research, and at the UCLA Medical School as an Oral Pathology Specialist. Dr. Meng has been a licensed dentist in California since 1994.
“Dr. Meng is an exceptionally capable leader who always puts quality patient care as the highest priority,” said Daniel D. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. “Her clinical background, operational experience and commitment to excellence make her a great fit for this leadership role, and we are happy to celebrate another promotion in her distinguished career here.”
Source: BusinessWire
Western Dental Promotes Eric Pellkofer to Senior Vice President, Orthodontics
Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Clinical Care, Eric Pellkofer will continue to build and lead the nation’s largest orthodontics practice.
Mr. Pellkofer’s career in dentistry started at Western Dental nearly 30 years ago. He subsequently pursued his career in operational roles at dental service organizations that included Pacific Coast Dental, SmileCare Family Dentistry, West Coast Dental and OrthoSynetics. Since rejoining Western Dental in 2015 as Vice President, Orthodonics, he significantly expanded the organization’s orthodontics program, which made more confident smiles possible for more than 45,000 individuals last year with both traditional braces and the company’s ClearArc™ orthodontic aligners.
“Eric is an accomplished dental operations leader, and we are pleased to announce his promotion,” said Daniel D. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. “He has a wealth of experience and has the respect and appreciation of colleagues and stakeholders in the orthodontics experience. Our orthodontics program and our organization as a whole are better for his leadership.”
Source: BusinessWire
Benevis Dental Practice Management Services Announces the Appointment of Craig Albright as Chief Executive Officer
Craig Albright has more than 25 years of experience leading successful growth and transformation strategies at healthcare organizations. Most recently he was CEO of InHealth Medical Alliance, Inc., one of the largest globally capitated primary care physician groups in Florida. Prior to that he was CEO of JSA Healthcare Corporation, then a division of DaVita Medical Group. He was also a CEO and/or board member for several portfolio companies of Three Arch Partners, including Free and Clear, Inc., a smoking cessation program provider; Gentiae Clinical Research, Inc.; and U. S. HealthWorks, the nation’s second-largest practice management organization for occupational medicine and urgent care physicians.
“We are pleased to welcome Craig as our new CEO, he brings the right experience and skills to lead Benevis in the next stage of its growth,” said Daniel D. Crowley, Executive Chairman. “Our company has a great team supporting excellent dentists, and the organization is a robust platform on which to build; Craig is the right leader for Benevis as it continues to grow and serve the dental community.’’
Source: Benevis
GDN’s DSO People
– New Hires, Promotions and Awards – Monthly
Please provide any new DSO or dental group hire, recent promotions or employee awards to Group Dentistry Now for consideration. Include a succinct summary of the new hire, person promoted or employee who won the award with award details. Also, provide a headshot or other picture of the individual or group to GDN as well. Email to info@groupdentistrynow.com.
GDN may ask for more information, and from time-to-time, may feature a story which could include an interview, etc. GDN reserves the right to refuse publication of any new hire, promotion or award for any reason.
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