The Special Lists

The Special Listshttps://www.speciallists.com/
Referral Lab is for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter. This spirit of connection drives The Special Lists podcast.

Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you hard-earned wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, each guest sharing their own "special list" from the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape their practices today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's!)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis
theaxis.io]]>enMedicine2025https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/030e9b5c5aa1e38fc9d720ec8e65e428.jpgThe Special Listshttps://www.speciallists.com/Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:25:40 +0000Referral LabReferral Labpodcasts@theaxis.ioThe Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your...
Referral Lab is for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter. This spirit of connection drives The Special Lists podcast.

Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you hard-earned wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, each guest sharing their own "special list" from the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape their practices today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's!)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis
theaxis.io]]>falseepisodicSpecial List #25: How We Talk Ourselves Out of Treatment with Dr. Josh Austinhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-25-how-we-talk-ourselves-out-of-treatment-with-dr-josh-austin
The scanner earns its keep by selling without feeling like selling. Josh explains why its value isn't the crown scan — it's getting the patient to say yes to the crown, and how showing people their own recession, cracks, and simulations gets them diagnosing their own mouths.

The last thread is the one most GPs skip: clear aligners as a restorative tool, making the case that a few months of alignment before veneers or a crown can save you from bigger, more invasive dentistry down the road.

From the mental health of dentists, to the intraoral scanner as a case-acceptance engine, to using clear aligners to make restorative dentistry easier, Josh lays out why our profession is 2.5x more likely to die by suicide, how dental school quietly trains bad habits, and why his answer, after years of giving the talk, comes down to one word.

Plus: 6 dentists travel to Paris together, 37 pounds of trafficked French butter, and crashing a 13-course Michelin dinner.

Guest

Dr. Joshua Austin runs a full-time restorative practice in San Antonio, Texas, and in early 2025 moved from a solo operatory into an eight-op, three-doctor office. He writes the "Pearls for Your Practice" column for Dental Economics, serves as global faculty for Align Technology and resident faculty at Spear Education, and in 2024 won the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Seattle Study Club "Case of the Year."

A graduate of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, he lectures across the country on dental technology, ortho-restorative treatment, and mental health, including his signature talk, "The Mental Dental Connection: The Secret to Being a Better Clinician and Better Leader."

Learn more or book Josh to speak: austindentalseminars.com

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

Questions answered by this episode:

Why are dentists more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and suicide?
How does dental school create bad habits around alcohol and perfectionism?
Can therapy actually help dentists manage the stress of practice ownership?
How do I use an intraoral scanner to improve case acceptance?
Why do patients say yes to treatment when they can see their own scan?
What is the best way to present a cracked tooth or failing filling to a patient?
How does SSRI (antidepressant) use affect dental implant success?
Should general dentists offer clear aligners in a restorative practice?
How can ortho with clear aligners make restorative dentistry easier?
Why don't dentists look at occlusion, and how do I start?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73500147Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:03 +0000Referral LabPut an image of your patient's cracked molar up on a 50-inch screen, stay quiet, and watch them diagnose it themselves. When Dr. Josh Austin started scanning every patient at every visit, it transformed how he presented restorative, ortho, and implant...
The scanner earns its keep by selling without feeling like selling. Josh explains why its value isn't the crown scan — it's getting the patient to say yes to the crown, and how showing people their own recession, cracks, and simulations gets them diagnosing their own mouths.

The last thread is the one most GPs skip: clear aligners as a restorative tool, making the case that a few months of alignment before veneers or a crown can save you from bigger, more invasive dentistry down the road.

From the mental health of dentists, to the intraoral scanner as a case-acceptance engine, to using clear aligners to make restorative dentistry easier, Josh lays out why our profession is 2.5x more likely to die by suicide, how dental school quietly trains bad habits, and why his answer, after years of giving the talk, comes down to one word.

Plus: 6 dentists travel to Paris together, 37 pounds of trafficked French butter, and crashing a 13-course Michelin dinner.

Guest

Dr. Joshua Austin runs a full-time restorative practice in San Antonio, Texas, and in early 2025 moved from a solo operatory into an eight-op, three-doctor office. He writes the "Pearls for Your Practice" column for Dental Economics, serves as global faculty for Align Technology and resident faculty at Spear Education, and in 2024 won the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Seattle Study Club "Case of the Year."

A graduate of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, he lectures across the country on dental technology, ortho-restorative treatment, and mental health, including his signature talk, "The Mental Dental Connection: The Secret to Being a Better Clinician and Better Leader."

Learn more or book Josh to speak: austindentalseminars.com

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

Questions answered by this episode:

Why are dentists more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and suicide?
How does dental school create bad habits around alcohol and perfectionism?
Can therapy actually help dentists manage the stress of practice ownership?
How do I use an intraoral scanner to improve case acceptance?
Why do patients say yes to treatment when they can see their own scan?
What is the best way to present a cracked tooth or failing filling to a patient?
How does SSRI (antidepressant) use affect dental implant success?
Should general dentists offer clear aligners in a restorative practice?
How can ortho with clear aligners make restorative dentistry easier?
Why don't dentists look at occlusion, and how do I start?

How do professional photos affect a dental practice's patient trust?
Is it worth hiring a professional photographer for a dental office?
What's the difference between a hobbyist and a professional dental photographer?
How do you make a dental office look inviting in photos?
How can a dental practice get comfortable, natural-looking team photos?
How do you photograph a camera-shy dentist?
Should dental practices invest in video for social media?
How much social media content does a dental practice actually need?
How often should a dental office update its website photos?
How do you create dental social media content that stops the scroll?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral.

Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72940883Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabPatients decide whether they trust your practice before they ever walk in the door — and they do it from the images on your website and your social feed. Andrew Jowett owns MedCreative and has spent more than a decade shooting photo and video for...
Andrew Jowett owns MedCreative and has spent more than a decade shooting photo and video for brands, moving into the dental world in 2019. He joins Cameron, Dr. Souyias, and Dr. Seda to talk about what separates a practice that looks inviting from one that looks dated, and why that gap matters more than most dentists think.

He breaks down the difference between a hobbyist with a good camera and someone with a real eye, why “good enough” visuals are a liability in a market built on differentiation, and how he fills a frame so a still photo feels like a living, working office instead of two people holding charts.The conversation gets into the craft — reading and shaping natural light, winning over the camera-shy doctor, and learning enough clinical language to direct a shoot — plus the one line Andrew won't cross: no faking a result in Photoshop, because patients sniff it out instantly.

Guest

Andrew Jowett is the owner of MedCreative, a photography and video studio that tells brand stories for dental practices across the country, based in the Port Huron, Michigan area. He started in newspaper journalism — where he learned to put camera-shy subjects at ease — before moving into commercial and freelance work around 2016 and into the dental space in 2019. Today he shoots practice branding and, increasingly, ongoing social-media content built to perform on video-first platforms.
He grew up around two family trades that shaped his eye and his standards: dental hygiene (his mom) and funeral service (his dad).

Learn more about Andrew's work at medcreative.com

Follow Andrew on Instagram @nivenlife

Questions answered by this episode:

How do professional photos affect a dental practice's patient trust?
Is it worth hiring a professional photographer for a dental office?
What's the difference between a hobbyist and a professional dental photographer?
How do you make a dental office look inviting in photos?
How can a dental practice get comfortable, natural-looking team photos?
How do you photograph a camera-shy dentist?
Should dental practices invest in video for social media?
How much social media content does a dental practice actually need?
How often should a dental office update its website photos?
How do you create dental social media content that stops the scroll?

How do I grow a dental practice through acquisitions and mergers?
What should I look for before acquiring another dental practice?
How do I add a partner or associate without losing my referrals?
How do I manage multiple doctors across several office locations?
How often should dental partners meet to stay aligned?
What should happen at a dental partnership retreat?
Can AI replace dental front desk and assistant roles?
How do I scale a specialty practice without burning out?
Why do referred patients wait years before booking with a specialist?
Should I delegate operations to a director of operations?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Chris Mann
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72792172Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabBring a second periodontist into one of your offices and the dentists who send you cases will still ask for you by name. Adam McClellan's fix is counterintuitive — he stops taking new patients at that location entirely, so there's no option to request...
Adam is the CEO of Periodontal Care, a five-location periodontal group he built across the Kansas City metro over a decade through seven acquisitions and mergers — while vetting and passing on seven more. He talks with Cameron, Jason, and Michael about what it actually takes to grow from one practice to five without the whole thing depending on you.

He gets specific about how he sizes up a practice before he buys it: staff dynamics and ages, where the cases are coming from, location overlap with offices he already owns, and why a practice built on direct-to-consumer marketing was a hard no for a referral-based group like his.

Adam breaks down the meeting cadence that keeps his partners aligned — weekly one-on-ones, a monthly all-partner meeting, and a quarterly retreat where he hands everyone a mandate to tell him exactly what's broken. He's candid about the misses too, like the masterful three-office rollout he and his director of operations crumpled up on day two, and how learning to pivot fast became the skill that scaled the business.

Plus the inside-baseball stuff: the clinical “safe word” he shares with his assistants to reset when a surgery gets tense, the “exit code” that rescues him from a room running long, the ruptured Achilles that gave him the downtime to plan his next expansion, and why he tells every dentist he meets to invest in ergonomic loupes.

Guest

Dr. Adam McClellan is a board-certified periodontist and CEO of Periodontal Care, a specialty group with five locations across the Kansas City metro that he built over roughly a decade through seven acquisitions and mergers. Licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, he graduated with top honors from the University of Missouri–Kansas City's dental and periodontal programs, where he earned the American Academy of Periodontology's student achievement award and the Pierre Fauchard Academy's merit award.

His clinical focus is hard and soft tissue reconstruction, periodontal microplastic surgery, and the surgical placement of dental implants, and he is certified in LANAP laser therapy through the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry. He founded the Northland Dental Study Club and holds memberships in the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Academy of Osseointegration, and the Midwest Society of Periodontology. He is currently expanding the group's in-house IV sedation services.

Learn more about Periodontal Care: periodontalcarepa.com

Questions answered by this episode:

How do I grow a dental practice through acquisitions and mergers?
What should I look for before acquiring another dental practice?
How do I add a partner or associate without losing my referrals?
How do I manage multiple doctors across several office locations?
How often should dental partners meet to stay aligned?
What should happen at a dental partnership retreat?
Can AI replace dental front desk and assistant roles?
How do I scale a specialty practice without burning out?
Why do referred patients wait years before booking with a specialist?
Should I delegate operations to a director of operations?

Is buying an intraoral scanner enough to make my practice digital?
What does it actually mean to run a digital dental practice?
Is digital dentistry making clinicians less skilled?
How do I choose continuing education that teaches me to think, not just copy techniques?
Why is so much dental CE on YouTube and Instagram unreliable?
How do I learn to read dental literature instead of just the conclusions?
Can AI help with dental treatment planning, and what are the risks?
Why shouldn't I use a brand-new dental material right when it launches?
Why do dentists blame themselves when a restoration or crown fails?
How do I talk to patients about the risk of treatment failure before it happens?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Victoria Cheng
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs
The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72602909Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabOwning the hardware is not the same as knowing what to do with it. Gregg Kinzer has spent 30 years teaching dentists to think their way through complex cases, and he argues the profession is drifting toward letting the computer do the thinking...
Gregg is a Seattle prosthodontist, Faculty Chairman at Spear Education, and one of dentistry's most respected educators. He joins Cameron Full and Dr. Michael Seda for a wide conversation about where dental education is headed, what it actually means to practice digitally, and why failure is the part of the job nobody prepares you for.

On education, Gregg draws a hard line between teaching and entertaining. A lot of what passes for CE now is show-and-tell, impressive cases a dentist will never replicate in their own operatory. Real learning, he says, happens in small rooms where people get pushed, and in actually reading the literature instead of skimming the conclusions.

On technology, he makes the case that a scanner alone doesn't make a practice digital. The real work starts with how you use the data after the scan. He's optimistic about where AI could take treatment planning and clear-eyed about how a bad prompt, or a brand-new material with no long-term studies behind it, can cost you years and real money.

On failure, Gregg gets honest about perfectionism. He thinks a profession full of high achievers talked itself into believing every restoration should last forever, and that the harshest environment in the human body guarantees otherwise. The real fix is telling patients the risks before treatment, not explaining them after something breaks.

And on the cost of ambition, he doesn't pretend he has it solved. Everything costs something, and every yes is a no somewhere else. The line that stays with you is the question his nine-year-old asked him years ago, the one he still hasn't shaken.

Guest

Dr. Gregg Kinzer is a prosthodontist in Seattle, where he runs a private practice limited to comprehensive restorative and esthetic dentistry alongside his wife, Dr. Jill Kinzer. He serves as Faculty Chairman and Director of Curriculum and Campus Education at Spear Education in Scottsdale, Arizona, and as an Affiliate Assistant Professor in Graduate Prosthodontics at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, where he earned his DDS in 1995 and his prosthodontics certificate and MSD in 1998.

He is the sitting President of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and a recipient of the Seattle Study Club's Saul Schluger Memorial Award for clinical excellence in diagnosis and treatment planning. With Dr. Jeff Rouse, he co-developed the Seattle Protocol for diagnosing and treating airway issues, and he is co-authoring the forthcoming Global Diagnosis II with Dr. Bill Robbins and Dr. Jeff Rouse. He also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health.

Learn more about Dr. Kinzer at Spear Education: speareducation.com/faculty/bio/greggory-kinzer

Questions answered by this episode:

Is buying an intraoral scanner enough to make my practice digital?
What does it actually mean to run a digital dental practice?
Is digital dentistry making clinicians less skilled?
How do I choose continuing education that teaches me to think, not just copy techniques?
Why is so much dental CE on YouTube and Instagram unreliable?
How do I learn to read dental literature instead of just the conclusions?
Can AI help with dental treatment planning, and what are the risks?
Why shouldn't I use a brand-new dental material right when it launches?
Why do dentists blame themselves when a restoration or crown fails?
How do I talk to patients...]]>3198ai+in+dentistry,dental+education,dental+podcast,dental+practice,dental+specialist,dentist+podcast,digital+dentistry,intraoral+scanner,prosthodontics,spear+education,treatment+planningfalse22fullSpecial List #21: What I'd Tell My Younger Self After 31 Years in Solo Practice with Dr. Eman Traynorhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-21-what-id-tell-my-younger-self-after-31-years-in-solo-practice-with-dr-eman-trayno/
What follows is her special list: five hard-won lessons from a 31-year periodontics career, the ones she wishes someone had handed her at the start.

Leading with embracing risk and failure, she admits anxiety is part of the path, but the path leads somewhere good, and you arrive whether you enjoy the trip or not. Eman didn’t, and that’s the regret she opens with.

Walking through operations, she advises systemizing everything because discipline sets you free. Hire one more person than you think you need, because running lean costs more than the salary you saved.

Master your data, because you can’t run a business on feel. She names her consultant (Mary Ann Spears), her platform (Referral Lab), and the moment she stopped reacting emotionally to bad days because she finally had the numbers to tell a different story.

On technology, her rule is simple: never buy version one. She likes Freed.ai for chairside notes (it learns her words and emails the patient a summary after the consult), but she’s not an early adopter, and that’s by design.

She closes with her case for solo practitioners not staying solo in spirit. The five people you spend the most time with shape you. For Eman, those five came from the Seattle Study Club, including her hosts Cameron Full and Dr. Michael Seda.

Guest

Dr. Eman Traynor is the founder and solo periodontist at Traynor Periodontics & Implants in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she has been in private practice for over 27 years. She earned her DMD at Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis in 1991, completed a general practice residency at Barnes/Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center, and earned her Master of Science in periodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995, where her research focused on the link between insulin-dependent diabetes and periodontal disease. Her practice is an affiliate of the Seattle Study Club, and she directs both Traynor Periodontics & Implants Study Club and an affiliated hygiene study club. Born in Egypt and raised between the UK and the US, she built her Greenwich practice from scratch in 1998 and has stayed solo ever since.

Learn more about Traynor Periodontics & Implants: tpigreenwich.com.

Follow Eman's practice on Instagram @traynorperiodontics

Questions answered by this episode:
1. How do solo dental practitioners deal with anxiety long-term?
2. Why do most dentists hold onto employees too long?
3. Is it better to over-hire or run lean in a dental practice?
4. How do you build standard operating procedures in a dental office?
5. What KPIs should periodontists track to grow their practice?
6. Should I be the first to adopt new dental technology?
7. Does Freed.ai work for chairside dental notes?
8. Is the Seattle Study Club worth joining as a solo dental specialist?
9. How do you start a solo periodontal practice from scratch?
10. What advice would a 30-year periodontist give her younger self?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72420724Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabThe thing nobody tells you about running your own dental practice is that the anxiety doesn't quiet down — it just gets louder for the first 20 years, and then you look back and realize none of the things you were afraid of actually happened. Eman...
What follows is her special list: five hard-won lessons from a 31-year periodontics career, the ones she wishes someone had handed her at the start.

Leading with embracing risk and failure, she admits anxiety is part of the path, but the path leads somewhere good, and you arrive whether you enjoy the trip or not. Eman didn’t, and that’s the regret she opens with.

Walking through operations, she advises systemizing everything because discipline sets you free. Hire one more person than you think you need, because running lean costs more than the salary you saved.

Master your data, because you can’t run a business on feel. She names her consultant (Mary Ann Spears), her platform (Referral Lab), and the moment she stopped reacting emotionally to bad days because she finally had the numbers to tell a different story.

On technology, her rule is simple: never buy version one. She likes Freed.ai for chairside notes (it learns her words and emails the patient a summary after the consult), but she’s not an early adopter, and that’s by design.

She closes with her case for solo practitioners not staying solo in spirit. The five people you spend the most time with shape you. For Eman, those five came from the Seattle Study Club, including her hosts Cameron Full and Dr. Michael Seda.

Guest

Dr. Eman Traynor is the founder and solo periodontist at Traynor Periodontics & Implants in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she has been in private practice for over 27 years. She earned her DMD at Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis in 1991, completed a general practice residency at Barnes/Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center, and earned her Master of Science in periodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995, where her research focused on the link between insulin-dependent diabetes and periodontal disease. Her practice is an affiliate of the Seattle Study Club, and she directs both Traynor Periodontics & Implants Study Club and an affiliated hygiene study club. Born in Egypt and raised between the UK and the US, she built her Greenwich practice from scratch in 1998 and has stayed solo ever since.

Learn more about Traynor Periodontics & Implants: tpigreenwich.com.

Follow Eman's practice on Instagram @traynorperiodontics

Questions answered by this episode:
1. How do solo dental practitioners deal with anxiety long-term?
2. Why do most dentists hold onto employees too long?
3. Is it better to over-hire or run lean in a dental practice?
4. How do you build standard operating procedures in a dental office?
5. What KPIs should periodontists track to grow their practice?
6. Should I be the first to adopt new dental technology?
7. Does Freed.ai work for chairside dental notes?
8. Is the Seattle Study Club worth joining as a solo dental specialist?
9. How do you start a solo periodontal practice from scratch?
10. What advice would a 30-year periodontist give her younger self?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private...]]>3277dental+ai+notes,dental+hiring,dental+kpis,dental+podcast,dental+practice,dental+practice+management,dental+sops,dental+specialist,dentist+podcast,periodontics,seattle+study+club,solo+practicefalse21fullSpecial List #20: How Saying No to Endo, Ortho, and Implants Builds a Better Practice with Dr. Andrew Skaskohttps://www.speciallists.com/how-saying-no-to-endo-ortho-and-implants-builds-a-better-practice-with-dr-andrew-skasko/
Skasko is a restorative dentist in New Albany, Ohio, a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State, and a two-decade Seattle Study Club member who's competed on the mainstage at the annual symposium. He joins Cameron, Souyias, and Seda to lay out how he built a restorative-only practice in a profession that pushes every clinician to do everything.

The throughline is what Skasko calls the "super dentist trap": clinicians who haven't mastered the basics taking on endo, ortho, and implants because the procedures are sexy and the margins are good. He explains how he built his brand on the opposite premise — stay out of network with insurance, refuse procedures he can't master, and earn the referral network's trust by handing teed-up cases back to the specialists instead of trying to keep them in-house.

Mentorship runs through every part of the story. Skasko names the dentists who shaped him (Michael Cohen, Tal Moore, Greg Kinzer, Pat Allen, Ward Smalley) and explains how Seattle Study Club, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and Pat Allen's IIDC each pushed him to a different level. He's also direct about what he thinks is broken: academies and corporate models that mentor for bonuses and daily numbers instead of for the patient and the profession.

The practice-development thread is where the model gets concrete. Skasko walks through how he turned Dr. Nick Molnar (left-handed, like him) into a clinical partner over a year of supervised reps, then bought into Molnar's father's oral surgery practice and partnered with Dr. Lee, his former assistant turned oral surgeon. The group is now eyeing three to four more sites built on the same template.

Plus the closing story about a high-school classmate who thought he was a jerk in math class, then 30 years later came in to have him restore her smile.

Guest

Dr. Andrew Skasko is the founder of Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio in New Albany, Ohio. He earned his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2004, opened his comprehensive interdisciplinary practice the following year, and currently serves as a clinical assistant professor in the restorative and prosthodontics division at Ohio State. He is a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has been a member of Seattle Study Club for over 20 years. In January 2023, he was named team lead for Team North America in a treatment planning square-off against Spain at the Seattle Study Club Symposium. Through his mentorship work, he co-founded Molnar and Skasko Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to bring advanced interdisciplinary care to underserved communities.

Learn more about Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio: newalbanyelitedental.com.

Follow Andrew on Instagram @drandrewskasko

Questions answered by this episode:
1. How do I build a restorative-only dental practice without taking on endo, ortho, and implants?
2. Why should a dental practice stay out of network with insurance?
3. How do I turn an associate dentist into a partner?
4. What is the role of the restorative dentist in interdisciplinary treatment planning?
5. How do I find the right mentors as a dentist?
6. What is Seattle Study Club and is it worth joining?
7. How do I get into the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry?
8. Should a general dentist place implants or refer them out?
9. How do I quarterback a complex restorative case across multiple specialists?
10. How do I build a multi-practice dental group through mentorship?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72159363Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabAndrew Skasko spent a full year working shoulder-to-shoulder with his associate on every procedure, paying him the whole time, before they opened a second location together. That associate is now his partner across multiple practices, with three to...
Skasko is a restorative dentist in New Albany, Ohio, a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State, and a two-decade Seattle Study Club member who's competed on the mainstage at the annual symposium. He joins Cameron, Souyias, and Seda to lay out how he built a restorative-only practice in a profession that pushes every clinician to do everything.

The throughline is what Skasko calls the "super dentist trap": clinicians who haven't mastered the basics taking on endo, ortho, and implants because the procedures are sexy and the margins are good. He explains how he built his brand on the opposite premise — stay out of network with insurance, refuse procedures he can't master, and earn the referral network's trust by handing teed-up cases back to the specialists instead of trying to keep them in-house.

Mentorship runs through every part of the story. Skasko names the dentists who shaped him (Michael Cohen, Tal Moore, Greg Kinzer, Pat Allen, Ward Smalley) and explains how Seattle Study Club, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and Pat Allen's IIDC each pushed him to a different level. He's also direct about what he thinks is broken: academies and corporate models that mentor for bonuses and daily numbers instead of for the patient and the profession.

The practice-development thread is where the model gets concrete. Skasko walks through how he turned Dr. Nick Molnar (left-handed, like him) into a clinical partner over a year of supervised reps, then bought into Molnar's father's oral surgery practice and partnered with Dr. Lee, his former assistant turned oral surgeon. The group is now eyeing three to four more sites built on the same template.

Plus the closing story about a high-school classmate who thought he was a jerk in math class, then 30 years later came in to have him restore her smile.

Guest

Dr. Andrew Skasko is the founder of Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio in New Albany, Ohio. He earned his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2004, opened his comprehensive interdisciplinary practice the following year, and currently serves as a clinical assistant professor in the restorative and prosthodontics division at Ohio State. He is a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has been a member of Seattle Study Club for over 20 years. In January 2023, he was named team lead for Team North America in a treatment planning square-off against Spain at the Seattle Study Club Symposium. Through his mentorship work, he co-founded Molnar and Skasko Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to bring advanced interdisciplinary care to underserved communities.

Learn more about Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio: newalbanyelitedental.com.

Follow Andrew on Instagram @drandrewskasko

Questions answered by this episode:
1. How do I build a restorative-only dental practice without taking on endo, ortho, and implants?
2. Why should a dental practice stay out of network with insurance?
3. How do I turn an associate dentist into a partner?
4. What is the role of the restorative dentist in interdisciplinary treatment planning?
5. How do I find the right mentors as a dentist?
6. What is Seattle Study Club and is it worth joining?
7. How...]]>2614american+academy+esthetic+dent,comprehensive+treatment+planni,dental+associate+partner,dental+mentorship,dental+podcast,dental+practice,dental+practice+ownership,dental+specialist,dentist+podcast,interdisciplinary+dentistry,restorative+dentistry,seattle+study+clubfalse20fullSpecial List #19: The Airway Step Most Cosmetic Cases Are Missing with Dr. Tracey Nguyenhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-19/
Tracey is a restorative dentist, scientific advisor at the Kois Center, AACD Accredited Member, and co-founder of ASAP Pathway — the first comprehensive online education platform for pediatric airway and sleep dentistry. She joins Cameron, Dr. Seda, and Dr. Souyias to talk about why a beautiful smile won't hold up if you aren't also looking at how the person breathes — and what it takes to shift a profession that's been told for decades that "if you want to be a doctor, go to med school."

Tracey shares how she reads ENT and pulmonology journals to inform her restorative work, why she calls the airway conversation "a movement" even though her sleep-physician colleagues think it should be obvious, and what the cosmetic-to-airway pipeline looks like in real practice — from skeletal expansion in adults to airway-driven smile design.

AI as a clinical tool gets its own thread: Cameron's Google Scholar Alerts trick for tracking new published research, Dr. Seda using ChatGPT to prep for an orthopedic surgery consult, the patient who used ChatGPT to take a dentist to the board over a denied scaling and root planing claim, and the parent who showed up with an AI-drafted medical-necessity letter Tracey said was so good she'd be using it as a template.

Plus the ASAP Pathway origin story: launching in January 2020 with no product, selling 70 seats at $8,000 each, and scrambling to record forty hours of curriculum during lockdown. And LEAD — a women's mastermind in dentistry — and why "men battle to bond, women bond before they battle."

Guest

Dr. Tracey Nguyen runs a private restorative practice in Lansdowne, Virginia, 30 minutes outside Washington, DC. She is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry — one of only five accredited dentists in the state — a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. In 2016, Dental Products Magazine named her one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry, the same year she completed her training at the Kois Center, where she now serves as Scientific Advisor. She co-founded ASAP Pathway in 2020 — the first comprehensive online education platform for pediatric airway and sleep dentistry — and serves as visiting faculty at Spear Education, mentoring the Airway Workshop alongside Dr. Jeff Rouse.

Learn more about ASAP Pathway: asappathway.com.

Follow Tracey on Instagram @drtraceynguyen

Set up Google Scholar Alerts at scholar.google.com

Questions answered by this episode:
1. Why doesn't cosmetic dentistry last as long as it should?
2. What is airway dentistry and why does it matter for restorative cases?
3. How is sleep apnea connected to dental wear and bruxism?
4. How can a dentist start reading medical literature outside of dentistry?
5. What is ASAP Pathway and who is it for?
6. Can AI help me with patient education and case research?
7. Should I be using ChatGPT or Open Evidence for clinical literature review?
8. What is skeletal expansion in adults and when is it indicated?
9. How do I collaborate with sleep physicians and ENTs as a dentist?
10. How do dentists start a continuing education company?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)
Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Hosts

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71977877Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabAACD taught Dr. Tracey Nguyen to be good with her hands. The mouth–body connection taught her how to keep that work intact for years. Tracey is a restorative dentist, scientific advisor at the Kois Center, AACD Accredited Member, and co-founder of...
Tracey is a restorative dentist, scientific advisor at the Kois Center, AACD Accredited Member, and co-founder of ASAP Pathway — the first comprehensive online education platform for pediatric airway and sleep dentistry. She joins Cameron, Dr. Seda, and Dr. Souyias to talk about why a beautiful smile won't hold up if you aren't also looking at how the person breathes — and what it takes to shift a profession that's been told for decades that "if you want to be a doctor, go to med school."

Tracey shares how she reads ENT and pulmonology journals to inform her restorative work, why she calls the airway conversation "a movement" even though her sleep-physician colleagues think it should be obvious, and what the cosmetic-to-airway pipeline looks like in real practice — from skeletal expansion in adults to airway-driven smile design.

AI as a clinical tool gets its own thread: Cameron's Google Scholar Alerts trick for tracking new published research, Dr. Seda using ChatGPT to prep for an orthopedic surgery consult, the patient who used ChatGPT to take a dentist to the board over a denied scaling and root planing claim, and the parent who showed up with an AI-drafted medical-necessity letter Tracey said was so good she'd be using it as a template.

Plus the ASAP Pathway origin story: launching in January 2020 with no product, selling 70 seats at $8,000 each, and scrambling to record forty hours of curriculum during lockdown. And LEAD — a women's mastermind in dentistry — and why "men battle to bond, women bond before they battle."

Guest

Dr. Tracey Nguyen runs a private restorative practice in Lansdowne, Virginia, 30 minutes outside Washington, DC. She is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry — one of only five accredited dentists in the state — a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. In 2016, Dental Products Magazine named her one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry, the same year she completed her training at the Kois Center, where she now serves as Scientific Advisor. She co-founded ASAP Pathway in 2020 — the first comprehensive online education platform for pediatric airway and sleep dentistry — and serves as visiting faculty at Spear Education, mentoring the Airway Workshop alongside Dr. Jeff Rouse.

Learn more about ASAP Pathway: asappathway.com.

Follow Tracey on Instagram @drtraceynguyen

Set up Google Scholar Alerts at scholar.google.com

Questions answered by this episode:
1. Why doesn't cosmetic dentistry last as long as it should?
2. What is airway dentistry and why does it matter for restorative cases?
3. How is sleep apnea connected to dental wear and bruxism?
4. How can a dentist start reading medical literature outside of dentistry?
5. What is ASAP Pathway and who is it for?
6. Can AI help me with patient education and case research?
7. Should I be using ChatGPT or Open Evidence for clinical literature review?
8. What is skeletal expansion in adults and when is it indicated?
9. How do I collaborate with sleep physicians and ENTs as a dentist?
10. How do dentists start a continuing education company?

About The Special Lists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's...]]>2638ai+in+dentistry,airway+dentistry,asap+pathway,cosmetic+dentistry,dental+ce,dental+podcast,dental+practice,dental+sleep+medicine,dental+specialist,dentist+podcast,women+in+dentistryfalse19fullSpecial List #18: Why the Biggest Stress in Dentistry Isn’t the Dentistry with Geri Gottliebhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-18-why-the-biggest-stress-in-dentistry-isnt-the-dentistry-with-geri-gottlieb/
Geri unpacks why dentistry is a team sport, why culture is anything but soft, and why a culture is whatever you tolerate, not what you write on the wall. She breaks down the character traits of an ideal team player (humble, hungry, emotionally intelligent), why 85% of poor performance is the system and not the human, and why systems aren't restriction — they're the bumpers that free your team to be present with patients.

Geri also shares the moment her own team told her she was holding them down, and what it took to finally build the team she'd been preaching about all along.

GUEST

Geri Gottlieb

Founder & Lead Coach, GG Practice Coaching & Development

Geri Gottlieb has spent more than three decades in the dental industry as a practice manager, co-owner of two large periodontal practices alongside her husband, and now founder and lead coach of GG Practice Coaching & Development.

She helps dentists and specialists across the country build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more sustainable businesses. Geri is certified in the Five Behaviors of a Team and DiSC Behavioral Assessments, and previously spent four years as a lead coach with ACT Dental Practice Management. Her philosophy: build a team so strong you don't know who the boss is.

Learn more about GG Practice Coaching & Development

Connect with Geri on LinkedIn

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full

Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS

Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS

Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience. He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producer: Mary Ellen Clarkson
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71714700Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:03 +0000Referral LabRunning a dental practice isn't taught in dental school, and most owners learn it the hard way. Practice coach and former periodontal practice co-owner Geri Gottlieb joins the show to share what 30+ years in dentistry — and a humbling jump into...
Geri unpacks why dentistry is a team sport, why culture is anything but soft, and why a culture is whatever you tolerate, not what you write on the wall. She breaks down the character traits of an ideal team player (humble, hungry, emotionally intelligent), why 85% of poor performance is the system and not the human, and why systems aren't restriction — they're the bumpers that free your team to be present with patients.

Geri also shares the moment her own team told her she was holding them down, and what it took to finally build the team she'd been preaching about all along.

GUEST

Geri Gottlieb

Founder & Lead Coach, GG Practice Coaching & Development

Geri Gottlieb has spent more than three decades in the dental industry as a practice manager, co-owner of two large periodontal practices alongside her husband, and now founder and lead coach of GG Practice Coaching & Development.

She helps dentists and specialists across the country build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more sustainable businesses. Geri is certified in the Five Behaviors of a Team and DiSC Behavioral Assessments, and previously spent four years as a lead coach with ACT Dental Practice Management. Her philosophy: build a team so strong you don't know who the boss is.

Learn more about GG Practice Coaching & Development

Connect with Geri on LinkedIn

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full

Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS

Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known...]]>3627accountability,delegation,dental+culture,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,disc+assessment,hiring,ideal+team+player,leadership,periodontist,practice+coaching,practice+ownership,systems,team+developmentfalse18fullSpecial List #17: How Structure and Core Values Drive Better Hiring with Dr. Justin Zalewskyhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-17-how-structure-and-core-values-drive-better-hiring-with-dr-justin-zalewsky/
Periodontist and MAZ Management co-founder Dr. Justin Zalewsky shares the leadership principles that guide his approach, including organizing life into three buckets — work, thinking, and personal time — and using tools like impact filters to keep projects and teams aligned.

He explains how core values and structure shape hiring, promotions, and day-to-day decision-making.

Justin also addresses the challenges of hiring associates, emphasizing mentorship, clear expectations, and structured onboarding.

GUEST

Justin Zalewsky, DMD
President & Co-founder, MAZ Management

Justin is a board-certified periodontist who has practiced in the Washington, D.C. metro area for more than 15 years. Seven years ago, he co-founded MAZ and began expanding through strategic acquisitions, building a network that now includes three periodontal practices and four general dental offices. Today he leads an organization of more than 80 team members and 15 doctors, supported by a centralized management team that allows him to remain an active clinician while guiding the company’s growth. His leadership focuses on developing strong teams, placing people in roles where they can thrive, and building practices that deliver exceptional patient care.

Learn more about MAZ Management

Learn more about Alexandria periodontist Dr. Justin Zalewsky

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70875034Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:02 +0000Referral LabBeyond clinical skill, running a successful dental practice requires clear vision, strong systems, and the right people. Periodontist and MAZ Management co-founder Dr. Justin Zalewsky shares the leadership principles that guide his approach,...
Periodontist and MAZ Management co-founder Dr. Justin Zalewsky shares the leadership principles that guide his approach, including organizing life into three buckets — work, thinking, and personal time — and using tools like impact filters to keep projects and teams aligned.

He explains how core values and structure shape hiring, promotions, and day-to-day decision-making.

Justin also addresses the challenges of hiring associates, emphasizing mentorship, clear expectations, and structured onboarding.

GUEST

Justin Zalewsky, DMD
President & Co-founder, MAZ Management

Justin is a board-certified periodontist who has practiced in the Washington, D.C. metro area for more than 15 years. Seven years ago, he co-founded MAZ and began expanding through strategic acquisitions, building a network that now includes three periodontal practices and four general dental offices. Today he leads an organization of more than 80 team members and 15 doctors, supported by a centralized management team that allows him to remain an active clinician while guiding the company’s growth. His leadership focuses on developing strong teams, placing people in roles where they can thrive, and building practices that deliver exceptional patient care.

Learn more about MAZ Management

Learn more about Alexandria periodontist Dr. Justin Zalewsky

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated...]]>2970associates,core+values,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,leadership,mentorship,performance+management,periodontist,strategic+vision,team+development,teamworkfalse17fullSpecial List #16: Long-Game Strategies For Thriving Practices with Dr. David Lee Hillhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-16-long-game-strategies-for-thriving-practices-with-dr-david-lee-hill/
Through relentless investment in safety, leadership, and education, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. David Lee Hill shaped Chapel Hill Oral Surgery into what it is today.

From rebuilding his entire facility to meet AAAHC standards, to adopting a dual-provider anesthesia model, to embracing dynamic navigation technology, doing things the hard way early paid off later.

Hear why delayed gratification beats shortcuts, how mentorship and continuing education shaped his career, and why having the right leadership team matters more than any single piece of technology.

Listen for his takes on anesthesia models, surgical planning, culture, and why perseverance—not perfection—is often the real differentiator between practices that stall and those that thrive.

GUEST

David Lee Hill, JR., DDS
CEO, OMS Chapel Hill Oral Surgery

Dr. Hill is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the Academy of Osseointegration, the International Team for Implantology, North Carolina State Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, North Carolina State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Dental Research.
Dr. Hill is an active sportsman, a deep sea fisherman, a cyclist, and an enthusiastic UNC Tar Heel fan. He enjoys spending time with his family, his wife, Olivia, and his son Rémy Oliver (5y/o) and daughter Violette (1.5y/o).

Learn more about Chapel Hill Oral Surgery

Follow Dr. Hill’s practice on Instagram @chapelhilloralsurgery

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70593356Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:04 +0000Referral LabWhat does it really take to build a dental practice that’s future-proof and not just profitable? Through relentless investment in safety, leadership, and education, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. David Lee Hill shaped Chapel Hill Oral Surgery...
Through relentless investment in safety, leadership, and education, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. David Lee Hill shaped Chapel Hill Oral Surgery into what it is today.

From rebuilding his entire facility to meet AAAHC standards, to adopting a dual-provider anesthesia model, to embracing dynamic navigation technology, doing things the hard way early paid off later.

Hear why delayed gratification beats shortcuts, how mentorship and continuing education shaped his career, and why having the right leadership team matters more than any single piece of technology.

Listen for his takes on anesthesia models, surgical planning, culture, and why perseverance—not perfection—is often the real differentiator between practices that stall and those that thrive.

GUEST

David Lee Hill, JR., DDS
CEO, OMS Chapel Hill Oral Surgery

Dr. Hill is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the Academy of Osseointegration, the International Team for Implantology, North Carolina State Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, North Carolina State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Dental Research.
Dr. Hill is an active sportsman, a deep sea fisherman, a cyclist, and an enthusiastic UNC Tar Heel fan. He enjoys spending time with his family, his wife, Olivia, and his son Rémy Oliver (5y/o) and daughter Violette (1.5y/o).

Learn more about Chapel Hill Oral Surgery

Follow Dr. Hill’s practice on Instagram @chapelhilloralsurgery

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute...]]>2936aaahc+accreditation,anesthesia,core+values,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,healthcare+innovation,maxillofacial+surgeon,mentorship,oral+surgeon,oral+surgery,patient+safety,surgical+excellencefalse16fullSpecial List #15: Business Blind Spots Dentists Don’t Learn in School with Mike Gergenhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-15-business-blind-spots-dentists-dont-learn-in-school-with-mike-gergen/
Dental industry veteran Mike Gergen believes the key to success is lifelong education, culture that holds up under pressure, and leaders willing to admit that dentistry is both a clinical craft and a business.

Hear why “just go to the course” might be the best advice dentists get, how friction in patient experience is costing practices more than they think, and why refusing to evolve risks turning dentistry into a commodity.

Get candid insights on DSOs, leadership fatigue, patient engagement, and what it really takes to build a practice people want to be part of on both sides of the chair.

GUEST

Mike Gergen
CEO of EviDent Alliance

Mike Gergen is a seasoned dental industry executive and growth strategist known for driving transformation, culture, profitability, and strategic exits. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to know and work with some of the best dentists in the country.

Connect with Mike Gergen on LinkedIn

Learn more about EviDent Alliance

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70270331Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:06 +0000Referral LabDentistry looks polished from the outside, but behind the scenes, it’s harder, messier, and more human than most people realize. Dental industry veteran Mike Gergen believes the key to success is lifelong education, culture that holds up under...
Dental industry veteran Mike Gergen believes the key to success is lifelong education, culture that holds up under pressure, and leaders willing to admit that dentistry is both a clinical craft and a business.

Hear why “just go to the course” might be the best advice dentists get, how friction in patient experience is costing practices more than they think, and why refusing to evolve risks turning dentistry into a commodity.

Get candid insights on DSOs, leadership fatigue, patient engagement, and what it really takes to build a practice people want to be part of on both sides of the chair.

GUEST

Mike Gergen
CEO of EviDent Alliance

Mike Gergen is a seasoned dental industry executive and growth strategist known for driving transformation, culture, profitability, and strategic exits. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to know and work with some of the best dentists in the country.

Connect with Mike Gergen on LinkedIn

Learn more about EviDent Alliance

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted...]]>3169collaboration,culture,dental+education,dental+industry,dental+practice,dental+professionals,dentist,dentistry,education,growth+strategies,leadership,patient+experience,professional+developmentfalse15fullSpecial List #14: Strategies That Turn Referrals Into Revenue with Dr. Amit Patelhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-14-strategies-that-turn-referrals-into-revenue-with-dr-amit-patel/
Dr. Amit Patel is the founder of ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers and co-founder of the Center for Oral Pathology, one of the country’s busiest oral medicine practices. Frustrated by slow biopsy results and limited patient access, he and his partner now see 150 new patients a month for oral pathology, TMD, and facial pain.

At ROOT, Dr. Patel flipped Dallas’ implant-heavy market with his “We Save Teeth” campaign, promoting LANAP laser surgery as a more affordable alternative. He ditched expensive ads and boosted results through hundreds of referral lunch-and-learns each year.

He also shares how AI, Perioscope tech, and smart KPIs streamline care, improve patient intake, and catch hidden revenue leaks that cost practices big. He explains how to leverage customized questionnaires to reveal what patients really want.

Hear how Dr. Patel maximizes efficiency, grows revenue, and keeps both patients and doctors happy. Learn how to spot hidden opportunities, improve care, and build a practice that thrives.

GUEST

Amit Patel, DDS
Owner of ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers, Owner of ROOT Med Spa, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Center for Oral Pathology

Dr. Amit Patel was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Dallas in 2010. He went to undergrad and dental school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and did his perio residency at Indiana University in Indianapolis. He is the director of the Seattle Study Club of Dallas and a Coach for the DEO (Dentist Entrepreneur Organization).

Learn more about ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers

Learn more about ROOT Med Spa

Connect with Amit Patel on LinkedIn

Follow ROOT Perio on Instagram @rootperio

Follow ROOT Med Spa on Instagram @rootmedspa

Learn more about Center for Oral Pathology

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69960947Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:03 +0000Referral LabWant to know how one periodontist turned patient-centered care into a thriving, multi-practice powerhouse? Dr. Amit Patel is the founder of ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers and co-founder of the Center for Oral Pathology, one of the country’s...
Dr. Amit Patel is the founder of ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers and co-founder of the Center for Oral Pathology, one of the country’s busiest oral medicine practices. Frustrated by slow biopsy results and limited patient access, he and his partner now see 150 new patients a month for oral pathology, TMD, and facial pain.

At ROOT, Dr. Patel flipped Dallas’ implant-heavy market with his “We Save Teeth” campaign, promoting LANAP laser surgery as a more affordable alternative. He ditched expensive ads and boosted results through hundreds of referral lunch-and-learns each year.

He also shares how AI, Perioscope tech, and smart KPIs streamline care, improve patient intake, and catch hidden revenue leaks that cost practices big. He explains how to leverage customized questionnaires to reveal what patients really want.

Hear how Dr. Patel maximizes efficiency, grows revenue, and keeps both patients and doctors happy. Learn how to spot hidden opportunities, improve care, and build a practice that thrives.

GUEST

Amit Patel, DDS
Owner of ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers, Owner of ROOT Med Spa, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Center for Oral Pathology

Dr. Amit Patel was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Dallas in 2010. He went to undergrad and dental school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and did his perio residency at Indiana University in Indianapolis. He is the director of the Seattle Study Club of Dallas and a Coach for the DEO (Dentist Entrepreneur Organization).

Learn more about ROOT Periodontal and Implant Centers

Learn more about ROOT Med Spa

Connect with Amit Patel on LinkedIn

Follow ROOT Perio on Instagram @rootperio

Follow ROOT Med Spa on Instagram @rootmedspa

Learn more about Center for Oral Pathology

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a...]]>3049ai,dental+marketing,dental+practice+management,dental+technology,dentist,dentistry,kpis,leaks,medical+spa,med+spa,oral+pathology,patient+care,patient+experience,periodontal+care,periodontal+health,revenuefalse14fullSpecial List #13: A CEO’s Proven Blueprint for Dental Partnerships That Last with Dr. Jeffrey Burchhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-13-a-ceos-proven-blueprint-for-dental-partnerships-that-last-with-dr-jeffrey-burch/
He’s a periodontist, former Army infantry soldier, and the CEO of Burch Dental Partners, overseeing 15 practices and 23 dentists. His “Team Never Sell” model focuses on long-term partnerships instead of flipping practices, with retention rates far above industry averages.

Culture is the engine behind it all. Dr. Burch built his group on four core values—commitment to excellence, humble and hungry to grow, effective communication, and winning attitude—which guide every decision from hiring to leadership development to knowing when to part ways.

He lays out a clear path to partnership, built on careful recruiting, hands-on onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing business and clinical training. Hear how investing early helps associates grow into confident, aligned owners.

Find out how to spot the right partners, create offers doctors actually want, and build a team that’s in it for the long haul.

GUEST

Jeffrey Burch, DMD
CEO, CFO, and CIO of Burch Dental Partners and Managing Partner of Featherstone Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Jeff is a board certified periodontist with over 20 years of experience in innovative modern dental surgery such as LANAP, Pinhole therapy, advanced bone grafting, and dental implant therapy to replace one or all teeth.

Dr. Burch is a happily married man. His wife is a GP Dentist and they have 2 boys together ages 9 and 16. He is a former infantry soldier in the US Army with service in combat zones overseas. He is an entrepreneur at his core with a special focus on businesses that serve people. His business has a buy and hold strategy and is on “Team Never Sell.”

Learn more about Burch Dental Partners

Connect with Dr. Burch on LinkedIn

Got a question for Dr. Burch? Email him at jeffreyburchdental@gmail.com

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69650115Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:13 +0000Referral LabFrom Army infantry to dental empire, Dr. Jeffrey Burch explains his formula for building a team that actually sticks. He’s a periodontist, former Army infantry soldier, and the CEO of Burch Dental Partners, overseeing 15 practices and 23 dentists....
He’s a periodontist, former Army infantry soldier, and the CEO of Burch Dental Partners, overseeing 15 practices and 23 dentists. His “Team Never Sell” model focuses on long-term partnerships instead of flipping practices, with retention rates far above industry averages.

Culture is the engine behind it all. Dr. Burch built his group on four core values—commitment to excellence, humble and hungry to grow, effective communication, and winning attitude—which guide every decision from hiring to leadership development to knowing when to part ways.

He lays out a clear path to partnership, built on careful recruiting, hands-on onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing business and clinical training. Hear how investing early helps associates grow into confident, aligned owners.

Find out how to spot the right partners, create offers doctors actually want, and build a team that’s in it for the long haul.

GUEST

Jeffrey Burch, DMD
CEO, CFO, and CIO of Burch Dental Partners and Managing Partner of Featherstone Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Jeff is a board certified periodontist with over 20 years of experience in innovative modern dental surgery such as LANAP, Pinhole therapy, advanced bone grafting, and dental implant therapy to replace one or all teeth.

Dr. Burch is a happily married man. His wife is a GP Dentist and they have 2 boys together ages 9 and 16. He is a former infantry soldier in the US Army with service in combat zones overseas. He is an entrepreneur at his core with a special focus on businesses that serve people. His business has a buy and hold strategy and is on “Team Never Sell.”

Learn more about Burch Dental Partners

Connect with Dr. Burch on LinkedIn

Got a question for Dr. Burch? Email him at jeffreyburchdental@gmail.com

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of...]]>2974business+strategy,core+values,dental+culture,dental+practice+management,dental+practices,dentist,dentistry,entrepreneurship,exit+strategies,leadership,mentorship,partnerships,team+retentionfalse13fullSpecial List #12: Why the Doctor Isn’t the Most Important Person in the Practice with Dr. Deana Cookhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-12-why-the-doctor-isnt-the-most-important-person-in-the-practice-with-dr-deana-cook/
Dr. Cook has two thriving practices and an executive MBA from UNC. With a background in art history, she blends creativity with science and a people-first approach to running her team.

In her practices, Dr. Cook leans into transparency, daily KPIs, and fun incentives like team lunches and pooled bonuses to motivate staff. She shares clever systems to keep the office efficient while building ownership and accountability among her 12-person team.

She also challenges the myth of work-life balance, viewing it instead as a pendulum that swings with priorities. Hear how she gamifies goals, fosters leadership across roles, and takes incremental steps to improve systems without overwhelming the team.

Find out how Dr. Cook builds a culture where every team member feels responsible, patients are happier, and growth happens naturally.

GUEST

Deana Cook, DDS, MS, MBA
Owner & Periodontist at Cook Periodontics & Dental Implants

Dr. Cook attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate education in Art History. After studying abroad in Italy, she began to appreciate the wonderful mix of art and science dentistry provided and went on to graduate from UNC School of Dentistry with honors (2009). She graduated with her Master’s degree in Biomedical Science and a Certificate in Periodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (2012). Additionally, she graduated with honors from the Executive MBA Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (2023). Dr. Cook is the owner of two periodontal practices in Southeastern NC (Wilmington, Leland) and is the director of a Spear Study Club.
She’s a proud wife and mom to two girls (Emery & Sutton).

Learn more about Cook Periodontics & Dental Implants

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69446363Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:09 +0000Referral LabNorth Carolina periodontist Dr. Deana Cook believes the real engine of a dental practice isn't the dentist, but the team running it. Dr. Cook has two thriving practices and an executive MBA from UNC. With a background in art history, she blends...
Dr. Cook has two thriving practices and an executive MBA from UNC. With a background in art history, she blends creativity with science and a people-first approach to running her team.

In her practices, Dr. Cook leans into transparency, daily KPIs, and fun incentives like team lunches and pooled bonuses to motivate staff. She shares clever systems to keep the office efficient while building ownership and accountability among her 12-person team.

She also challenges the myth of work-life balance, viewing it instead as a pendulum that swings with priorities. Hear how she gamifies goals, fosters leadership across roles, and takes incremental steps to improve systems without overwhelming the team.

Find out how Dr. Cook builds a culture where every team member feels responsible, patients are happier, and growth happens naturally.

GUEST

Deana Cook, DDS, MS, MBA
Owner & Periodontist at Cook Periodontics & Dental Implants

Dr. Cook attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate education in Art History. After studying abroad in Italy, she began to appreciate the wonderful mix of art and science dentistry provided and went on to graduate from UNC School of Dentistry with honors (2009). She graduated with her Master’s degree in Biomedical Science and a Certificate in Periodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (2012). Additionally, she graduated with honors from the Executive MBA Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (2023). Dr. Cook is the owner of two periodontal practices in Southeastern NC (Wilmington, Leland) and is the director of a Spear Study Club.
She’s a proud wife and mom to two girls (Emery & Sutton).

Learn more about Cook Periodontics & Dental Implants

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches...]]>3035dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,executive+mba,leadership,patient+care,practice+growth,practice+management,professional+development,team+dynamics,work+life+balancefalse12fullSpecial List #11: How I Built a Thriving Perio Practice From Nothing with Dr. Lee Cochranehttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-11-how-i-built-a-thriving-perio-practice-from-nothing-with-dr-lee-cochrane/
A big part of his story is culture. Lee is honest about how much a practice depends on the people inside it. He describes the power of a team that feels safe, supported, and respected—both in their internal interactions and in how they show up for patients.

Standard operating procedures, consistent communication, and clear roles create room for better patient care. When excellence is repeatable, Lee says the entire practice feels lighter and more focused.

Mentorship shaped his career, and now leadership shapes his daily life. At the end of the day, Lee sees the team as the most valuable asset he has, and building an environment where they can thrive is the real marker of a successful practice. He explains how team empowerment, positivity, and trust ripple outward into every patient experience.

GUEST

Leonard Cochrane, DMD
Periodontist + Owner of Coastal Periodontics

Lee Cochrane is a periodontist and the founder of Coastal Periodontics in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A native of Greenville, Lee graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Bioengineering before completing both dental school and a periodontics residency at The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. After launching his practice from scratch in 2022, Lee has grown it into one of the area’s most trusted specialty practices through a relentless focus on team culture, operational excellence, and patient experience.

Learn more about Myrtle Beach periodontist Dr. Leonard Cochrane

Follow Coastal Periodontics on Instagram @coastal.periodontics

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69252313Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:02:43 +0000Referral LabFor Dr. Lee Cochrane, clarity came through doing: learning on the fly, adjusting quickly, and letting the early chaos shape better systems. He talks about what it really takes to build a periodontal practice from the ground up, and why you often have...
A big part of his story is culture. Lee is honest about how much a practice depends on the people inside it. He describes the power of a team that feels safe, supported, and respected—both in their internal interactions and in how they show up for patients.

Standard operating procedures, consistent communication, and clear roles create room for better patient care. When excellence is repeatable, Lee says the entire practice feels lighter and more focused.

Mentorship shaped his career, and now leadership shapes his daily life. At the end of the day, Lee sees the team as the most valuable asset he has, and building an environment where they can thrive is the real marker of a successful practice. He explains how team empowerment, positivity, and trust ripple outward into every patient experience.

GUEST

Leonard Cochrane, DMD
Periodontist + Owner of Coastal Periodontics

Lee Cochrane is a periodontist and the founder of Coastal Periodontics in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A native of Greenville, Lee graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Bioengineering before completing both dental school and a periodontics residency at The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. After launching his practice from scratch in 2022, Lee has grown it into one of the area’s most trusted specialty practices through a relentless focus on team culture, operational excellence, and patient experience.

Learn more about Myrtle Beach periodontist Dr. Leonard Cochrane

Follow Coastal Periodontics on Instagram @coastal.periodontics

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder...]]>3338dental+industry,dentist,dentistry,leadership,mentorship,operational+excellence,patient+care,patient+experience,periodontal+practice,periodontist,team+culture,team+dynamics,work+environmentfalse11fullSpecial List #10: The Side of Dentistry No One Teaches You with Dr. Nicole Salduahttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-10-the-side-of-dentistry-no-one-teaches-you-with-dr-nicole-saldua/
For her, clarity comes from simple language, strong analogies, and frameworks that make consent feel collaborative, not scary.

She also explains the emotional rhythm of the day: the “room whiplash” of going from heavy conversations to joyful ones in minutes. Dr. Saldua, Dr. Seda, and Dr. Souyias share their practical reset strategies, from a brief pause between rooms to follow-up touchpoints that remind patients they’re seen beyond the chair.

Listen for real-world tools you can use tomorrow: how to set expectations, when to refer, what patient red flags to watch for, and how to build connection in a profession that’s about people first, teeth second.

GUEST

Nicole Saldua, DDS
General Dentist

Dr. Nicole Saldua is a general dentist who graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 2018 and started her career serving in community health before working in a mix of private practices. She recently relocated to sunny Arizona so her kids can live outside year-round and so she’s not freezing her butt off at every future soccer or T-ball game. Nicole launched her Instagram to make dentistry feel less intimidating for both dentists and patients, using real talk, practical tips, and absolutely zero fluff.

Follow Dr. Saldua on Instagram @dr.saldua and TikTok @dr.saldua

Learn more about S&C Dental

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68945032Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. Nicole Saldua is a general dentist known for her shockingly candid Instagram takes on the human side of dentistry—the loneliness that can creep in, the challenge of calming anxious patients, and dentistry’s failures to explain care in a way real...
For her, clarity comes from simple language, strong analogies, and frameworks that make consent feel collaborative, not scary.

She also explains the emotional rhythm of the day: the “room whiplash” of going from heavy conversations to joyful ones in minutes. Dr. Saldua, Dr. Seda, and Dr. Souyias share their practical reset strategies, from a brief pause between rooms to follow-up touchpoints that remind patients they’re seen beyond the chair.

Listen for real-world tools you can use tomorrow: how to set expectations, when to refer, what patient red flags to watch for, and how to build connection in a profession that’s about people first, teeth second.

GUEST

Nicole Saldua, DDS
General Dentist

Dr. Nicole Saldua is a general dentist who graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 2018 and started her career serving in community health before working in a mix of private practices. She recently relocated to sunny Arizona so her kids can live outside year-round and so she’s not freezing her butt off at every future soccer or T-ball game. Nicole launched her Instagram to make dentistry feel less intimidating for both dentists and patients, using real talk, practical tips, and absolutely zero fluff.

Follow Dr. Saldua on Instagram @dr.saldua and TikTok @dr.saldua

Learn more about S&C Dental

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent...]]>3703dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,emotional+intelligence,instagram,mental+health,patient+care,patient+communication,support+networkfalse10fullSpecial List #9: Through the Eyes of Private Equity: The Power of Culture, Practice Autonomy, and Financial Literacy with Rashed Dinhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-9-through-the-eyes-of-private-equity-the-power-of-culture-practice-autonomy-and-financial-literacy/
He keeps finance and operations just as grounded. Deals should be easy to understand, cash-on-cash reality matters more than hypothetical equity, and clinical autonomy works best when paired with a few shared expectations around diagnosis, access, and treatment planning. And in today’s market, profitability depends on transparency and giving teams targets they can genuinely influence.

Listen for a clearer sense of how to build groups that actually work—how to protect culture, simplify money conversations, lead clinicians well, and grow without losing your footing. This is your roadmap built from real wins, real mistakes, and a decade of lessons you can put to work immediately.

GUEST

Rashed Din
Co-Founder of Maya Dental

Rashed Din is a strategy consultant–turned investor with roots in investment banking and private equity, who always approached deals like an entrepreneur at heart. Over the last 12 years, he entered dentistry as a private equity investor and ultimately fell in love with the space, dedicating the past 8+ years primarily to building in dental. In the last five years, he’s been deeply embedded in the specialist market—particularly Perio and Oral Surgery—where he partners closely with clinicians and teams. That exposure shaped his strong appreciation for the culture of “authentic specialists,” prioritizing clinical quality, integrity, and collaborative growth.

Connect with Rashed on LinkedIn

Learn more about Maya Dental

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68835724Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:00:09 +0000Referral LabWith a decade of experience in dental private equity and specialty group leadership, Chicago entrepreneur Rashed Din’s biggest lesson is simple: culture is the real engine. It's daily behaviors anchored in clinical quality, clear values, and leaders...
He keeps finance and operations just as grounded. Deals should be easy to understand, cash-on-cash reality matters more than hypothetical equity, and clinical autonomy works best when paired with a few shared expectations around diagnosis, access, and treatment planning. And in today’s market, profitability depends on transparency and giving teams targets they can genuinely influence.

Listen for a clearer sense of how to build groups that actually work—how to protect culture, simplify money conversations, lead clinicians well, and grow without losing your footing. This is your roadmap built from real wins, real mistakes, and a decade of lessons you can put to work immediately.

GUEST

Rashed Din
Co-Founder of Maya Dental

Rashed Din is a strategy consultant–turned investor with roots in investment banking and private equity, who always approached deals like an entrepreneur at heart. Over the last 12 years, he entered dentistry as a private equity investor and ultimately fell in love with the space, dedicating the past 8+ years primarily to building in dental. In the last five years, he’s been deeply embedded in the specialist market—particularly Perio and Oral Surgery—where he partners closely with clinicians and teams. That exposure shaped his strong appreciation for the culture of “authentic specialists,” prioritizing clinical quality, integrity, and collaborative growth.

Connect with Rashed on LinkedIn

Learn more about Maya Dental

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos...]]>1973business+growth,collaboration,core+values,culture,dental+industry,dental+practices,dentist,dentistry,finance,leadership,networking,practice+management,private+equityfalse9fullSpecial List #8: How I Turned Mentorship Into Partnership with Dr. Krupa Patelhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-8-how-i-turned-mentorship-into-partnership-with-dr-krupa-patel/
Her path was built on mentorship, mutual respect, and clear expectations, turning a professional opportunity into a true partnership. Dr. Krupa shares how aligning on values, recognizing real practice demand, and keeping communication open are the foundations of long-term success.

GUEST

Krupa Patel, DMD, MS
Associate Periodontist at Periodontic Associates of Port Huron

Dr. Krupa A. Patel-Sharma, DMD, MS is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. A University of Pennsylvania graduate with advanced IV-sedation and periodontal surgical training, she blends precision surgery with a passion for lifelong learning. Born in India and raised in Michigan, she brings both cultures—and plenty of creative energy—to Dr. Jason Souyias’ Port Huron practice.

Learn more about Port Huron periodontist Dr. Krupa Patel

Follow Dr. Patel on Instagram @dr.perio.pearl

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68543545Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:00:09 +0000Referral LabDr. Krupa Patel knows that success in dentistry isn’t just about clinical skill—it’s about connection, communication, and shared vision. Reflecting on her journey from associate to soon-to-be partner with Dr. Jason Souyias, she offers an honest look...
Her path was built on mentorship, mutual respect, and clear expectations, turning a professional opportunity into a true partnership. Dr. Krupa shares how aligning on values, recognizing real practice demand, and keeping communication open are the foundations of long-term success.

GUEST

Krupa Patel, DMD, MS
Associate Periodontist at Periodontic Associates of Port Huron

Dr. Krupa A. Patel-Sharma, DMD, MS is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. A University of Pennsylvania graduate with advanced IV-sedation and periodontal surgical training, she blends precision surgery with a passion for lifelong learning. Born in India and raised in Michigan, she brings both cultures—and plenty of creative energy—to Dr. Jason Souyias’ Port Huron practice.

Learn more about Port Huron periodontist Dr. Krupa Patel

Follow Dr. Patel on Instagram @dr.perio.pearl

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice...]]>2873associateship,career+development,communication,dental+partners,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,mentorship,partnership,patient+care,practice+management,professional+growthfalse8fullSpecial List #7: Start With the End in Mind—Blueprinting Success with Dr. Jason Stonerhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-7-start-with-the-end-in-mind-blueprinting-success-with-dr-jason-stoner/
Dr. Stoner shares how reverse engineering guides both his business and his life, why teamwork is the ultimate growth strategy, and how true success comes from prioritizing patient care over production.

He breaks down how he empowers his team, builds trust through referrals, and integrates specialists and hygienists to deliver seamless, high-quality care.

With humor, humility, and practical wisdom, Dr. Stoner reflects on the mentors, friends, and mindset shifts that shaped his path, and why doing things differently (and doing them well) is still the best formula for lasting success.

GUEST

Jason Stoner, DDS
Periodontist at Stoner Periodontic and Implant Specialists & Clinical President, Periodontology and Dental Implantology at Gen4 Dental Partners

With over 22 years in private practice, Dr. Jason Stoner is passionate about dentistry’s blend of business, leadership, and patient care. He values strong core values, academic excellence, and a thriving team culture.

Learn more about Columbus periodontist Dr. Jason Stoner

Follow Stoner Periodontic Specialists on Instagram @stonerperiodonticspecialists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68339331Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. Jason Stoner built his career with equal parts vision, grit, and style—often quite literally. From a single practice in Columbus, Ohio, he’s grown to eight locations, achieved financial independence by 48, and earned a reputation as one of...
Dr. Stoner shares how reverse engineering guides both his business and his life, why teamwork is the ultimate growth strategy, and how true success comes from prioritizing patient care over production.

He breaks down how he empowers his team, builds trust through referrals, and integrates specialists and hygienists to deliver seamless, high-quality care.

With humor, humility, and practical wisdom, Dr. Stoner reflects on the mentors, friends, and mindset shifts that shaped his path, and why doing things differently (and doing them well) is still the best formula for lasting success.

GUEST

Jason Stoner, DDS
Periodontist at Stoner Periodontic and Implant Specialists & Clinical President, Periodontology and Dental Implantology at Gen4 Dental Partners

With over 22 years in private practice, Dr. Jason Stoner is passionate about dentistry’s blend of business, leadership, and patient care. He values strong core values, academic excellence, and a thriving team culture.

Learn more about Columbus periodontist Dr. Jason Stoner

Follow Stoner Periodontic Specialists on Instagram @stonerperiodonticspecialists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist...]]>2879case+acceptance,collaboration,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,financial+independence,innovation,interdisciplinary,patient+care,referrals,reverse+engineeringfalse7fullSpecial List #6: Cosmetic Dentistry Is More Than Just Veneers with Dr. Chris Catalanohttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-6-cosmetic-dentistry-is-more-than-just-veneers-with-dr-chris-catalano/
Reflecting on what it means to be a “safe beginner,” Dr. Catalano’s special list includes lessons from a practice collapse that reshaped his vision, and why vision boards, mentorship, and resilience matter as much as technical skill.

For Dr. Catalano, dentistry is about more than veneers and esthetics—it’s about building raving fans like you would in any great business, leaning on your community, and remembering human connection will take you farther than textbooks ever will.

GUEST

Chris Catalano, DDS
Cosmetic Dentist, Owner of Chris Catalano Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Chris Catalano was born and raised in Marin County, where he now practices cosmetic dentistry. He graduated from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 1991 and immediately dove into continuing education in cosmetic dentistry, learning from some of the field’s top leaders. Over time, he began giving back by teaching in hands-on veneer programs. He also held a unique associate position with Dr. David Hornbrook, a pioneer in cosmetic dental education, which allowed him to travel and learn extensively under his mentorship.

Learn more about Kentfield cosmetic dentist Dr. Chris Catalano

Follow Dr. Catalano on Instagram @drchriscatalano

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68156534Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. Chris Catalano started early, mopping floors at veneer courses and absorbing everything. Working alongside some of cosmetic dentistry’s biggest names, he learned through failure and built a practice patients rave about today. Reflecting on what...
Reflecting on what it means to be a “safe beginner,” Dr. Catalano’s special list includes lessons from a practice collapse that reshaped his vision, and why vision boards, mentorship, and resilience matter as much as technical skill.

For Dr. Catalano, dentistry is about more than veneers and esthetics—it’s about building raving fans like you would in any great business, leaning on your community, and remembering human connection will take you farther than textbooks ever will.

GUEST

Chris Catalano, DDS
Cosmetic Dentist, Owner of Chris Catalano Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Chris Catalano was born and raised in Marin County, where he now practices cosmetic dentistry. He graduated from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 1991 and immediately dove into continuing education in cosmetic dentistry, learning from some of the field’s top leaders. Over time, he began giving back by teaching in hands-on veneer programs. He also held a unique associate position with Dr. David Hornbrook, a pioneer in cosmetic dental education, which allowed him to travel and learn extensively under his mentorship.

Learn more about Kentfield cosmetic dentist Dr. Chris Catalano

Follow Dr. Catalano on Instagram @drchriscatalano

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.

Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port...]]>2743brand+building,cosmetic+dentist,cosmetic+dentistry,dental+education,dentist,dentistry,restorative+dentistryfalse6fullSpecial List #5: What Mastermind Groups Teach That Dental School Can’t with Dr. Mitch Godathttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-5-what-mastermind-groups-teach-that-dental-school-cant-with-dr-mitch-godat/
Learn about the value of mastermind groups where peers share challenges, swap strategies, and lean on one another when practice ownership feels heavy. Hear how post-COVID dynamics have shifted the way teams connect, why structured meetings and core values keep a practice grounded, and how celebrating patient milestones can boost both morale and referrals.

For Dr. Godat, success in dentistry comes down to people. Mentorship is a responsibility to pass on, mastermind groups keep professionals inspired, and genuine care keeps patients coming back. In a world where AI is on the rise, he argues that human connection will always be the competitive edge.

GUEST

Mitchel Godat, DDS
Partner, SGA Dental Partners and President, Periodontal Associates of Memphis

After a traumatic accident at 14 left him with multiple injuries, including extensive broken bones and dental trauma, Dr. Godat knew he wanted to help heal people. With this in mind, he dedicated himself to the study and practice of periodontics and dental implants to help restore healthy smiles to patients. In 2000, he joined Periodontal Associates of Memphis, the office of The Father of Periodontal Plastic Surgery Dr. P.D. Miller.

Learn more about Memphis periodontist Dr. Mitch Godat

Follow Dr. Godat on Instagram @mitch_godat_dds_ms

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67970730Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:07 +0000Referral LabDr. Mitch Godat never planned on becoming a dentist, but a life-changing accident at 14 set him on a path to periodontics and dental implants. He looks back on his career, from joining Dr. P.D. Miller’s practice to learning why mentorship and...
Learn about the value of mastermind groups where peers share challenges, swap strategies, and lean on one another when practice ownership feels heavy. Hear how post-COVID dynamics have shifted the way teams connect, why structured meetings and core values keep a practice grounded, and how celebrating patient milestones can boost both morale and referrals.

For Dr. Godat, success in dentistry comes down to people. Mentorship is a responsibility to pass on, mastermind groups keep professionals inspired, and genuine care keeps patients coming back. In a world where AI is on the rise, he argues that human connection will always be the competitive edge.

GUEST

Mitchel Godat, DDS
Partner, SGA Dental Partners and President, Periodontal Associates of Memphis

After a traumatic accident at 14 left him with multiple injuries, including extensive broken bones and dental trauma, Dr. Godat knew he wanted to help heal people. With this in mind, he dedicated himself to the study and practice of periodontics and dental implants to help restore healthy smiles to patients. In 2000, he joined Periodontal Associates of Memphis, the office of The Father of Periodontal Plastic Surgery Dr. P.D. Miller.

Learn more about Memphis periodontist Dr. Mitch Godat

Follow Dr. Godat on Instagram @mitch_godat_dds_ms

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated...]]>3104ai,dental+trauma,dentist,dentistry,leadership,mastermind+groups,networking,patient+care,periodontics,periodontist,practice+management,professional+developmentfalse5fullSpecial List #4: Your Dental Brand Is Not a Logo with Dr. Rob Ritterhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-4-your-dental-brand-is-not-a-logo-with-dr-rob-ritter/
Since the early ’90s, he’s watched the profession change and has built a career on mastering his craft, protecting his brand, and never lowering his standards. His course, The Protocol, bridges the gap between what dental school teaches and what the real world demands.

He’s blunt about the challenges facing today’s dentists—student debt, insurance headaches, and the steep learning curve of business ownership—and why mentorship is the key to growth.
Dr. Ritter breaks down why strong GP-specialist communication drives better patient outcomes, why branding is about every touchpoint (not just your logo), and why a cohesive, empowered team is your best business asset.

For him, excellence means blending clinical skill with business savvy and protecting your reputation at all costs, because your name is your brand, and that’s the one thing you can’t get back.

GUEST

Rob Ritter, DMD
Dentist & Co-Owner of The Protocol

For over 27 years, Dr. Rob Ritter has been a restorative dentist in Jupiter, Florida. He’s spent thousands of hours on continuing education, which has helped his practice flourish. For more than two decades, Dr. Ritter has also lectured nationally and internationally, sharing his expertise with other dentists. He's a graduate of both the Kois Center and Spear Education and holds fellowships and memberships in numerous prestigious dental organizations.

Learn more about The Protocol

Learn more about Ritter & Ramsey

Follow Dr. Rob Ritter on Instagram @drrobritter

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67706661Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. Rob Ritter has spent decades proving that dentistry is so much more than drilling and filling. It’s leadership, branding, and running a small business that actually thrives. Since the early ’90s, he’s watched the profession change and has built a...
Since the early ’90s, he’s watched the profession change and has built a career on mastering his craft, protecting his brand, and never lowering his standards. His course, The Protocol, bridges the gap between what dental school teaches and what the real world demands.

He’s blunt about the challenges facing today’s dentists—student debt, insurance headaches, and the steep learning curve of business ownership—and why mentorship is the key to growth.
Dr. Ritter breaks down why strong GP-specialist communication drives better patient outcomes, why branding is about every touchpoint (not just your logo), and why a cohesive, empowered team is your best business asset.

For him, excellence means blending clinical skill with business savvy and protecting your reputation at all costs, because your name is your brand, and that’s the one thing you can’t get back.

GUEST

Rob Ritter, DMD
Dentist & Co-Owner of The Protocol

For over 27 years, Dr. Rob Ritter has been a restorative dentist in Jupiter, Florida. He’s spent thousands of hours on continuing education, which has helped his practice flourish. For more than two decades, Dr. Ritter has also lectured nationally and internationally, sharing his expertise with other dentists. He's a graduate of both the Kois Center and Spear Education and holds fellowships and memberships in numerous prestigious dental organizations.

Learn more about The Protocol

Learn more about Ritter & Ramsey

Follow Dr. Rob Ritter on Instagram @drrobritter

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including...]]>3307branding,dental+education,dental+practice,dental+protocols,dental+specialists,dentist,dentistry,insurance,mentorship,patient+care,restorative+dentistryfalse4fullSpecial List #3 - Beyond the Operatory: Leadership Lessons and Life Balance with Dr. Jennifer Doobrowhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-3-the-uncomfortable-truth-about-leadership-in-organized-dentistry-with-dr-jennifer-doobrow/
From running the playground in elementary school to shaping the future of dentistry in Alabama as president of the Alabama Dental Association, she’s dedicated herself to mentoring, facing challenges head-on, and keeping her ego in check.

She breaks down why transparency is the ultimate trust-builder in organized dentistry and why analytics, referrals, and ongoing education are the real game-changers for a practice.

For Dr. Doobrow, great leaders show up for their community, stay just uncomfortable enough to keep leveling up, and lead by example, because if you want your team to change, it starts with you.

GUEST

Jennifer Hirsch Doobrow, DMD
Owner and CEO of Periodontal and Implant Associates and President of Alabama Dental Association

Dr. Jennifer Hirsch Doobrow, a Board-Certified Periodontist, is the Owner and CEO of Periodontal and Implant Associates, Inc. located in Cullman, AL. She earned her DMD at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2007 and received her certification in Periodontics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2010. She serves as the President for the Alabama Dental Association (ALDA), Immediate Past-President for the Southern Academy of Periodontology (SAP) , Board of Trustee, American Academy of Periodontology, faculty member for the Pikos Institute.

Learn more about Alabama periodontist Dr. Jennifer Doobrow

Follow Dr. Doobrow’s practice on Instagram @cullmanperio

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67533775Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. Jennifer Doobrow knows leadership isn’t just a fancy title—it’s a lifelong grind of learning, serving, and owning your actions. From running the playground in elementary school to shaping the future of dentistry in Alabama as president of the...
From running the playground in elementary school to shaping the future of dentistry in Alabama as president of the Alabama Dental Association, she’s dedicated herself to mentoring, facing challenges head-on, and keeping her ego in check.

She breaks down why transparency is the ultimate trust-builder in organized dentistry and why analytics, referrals, and ongoing education are the real game-changers for a practice.

For Dr. Doobrow, great leaders show up for their community, stay just uncomfortable enough to keep leveling up, and lead by example, because if you want your team to change, it starts with you.

GUEST

Jennifer Hirsch Doobrow, DMD
Owner and CEO of Periodontal and Implant Associates and President of Alabama Dental Association

Dr. Jennifer Hirsch Doobrow, a Board-Certified Periodontist, is the Owner and CEO of Periodontal and Implant Associates, Inc. located in Cullman, AL. She earned her DMD at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2007 and received her certification in Periodontics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2010. She serves as the President for the Alabama Dental Association (ALDA), Immediate Past-President for the Southern Academy of Periodontology (SAP) , Board of Trustee, American Academy of Periodontology, faculty member for the Pikos Institute.

Learn more about Alabama periodontist Dr. Jennifer Doobrow

Follow Dr. Doobrow’s practice on Instagram @cullmanperio

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More...]]>2665accountability,community+service,dental+education,dental+hygiene,dental+practice,dentist,dentistry,leadership,mental+health,mentorship,organized+dentistry,practice+management,referral+lab,team+dynamicsfalse3fullSpecial List #2: Just 5 Things I Know About Periodontal Practice Management with Dr. James Woodyardhttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-2-just-5-things-i-know-about-periodontal-practice-management-with-dr-james-woodyard/
From the team training method inspired by his Boy Scouts leadership to his zero tolerance for gossip, his special list will help you rethink leadership, reset expectations, and align your team around clear, strategic goals.

For Dr. Woodyard, transparency builds trust, and that trust leads to better outcomes.

GUEST

James Woodyard, DMD
President Woodyard Periodontics and One of the Leaders of the Perio Division of Gen4 Dental Partners

Dr. James Woodyard is a board-certified periodontist in Newburgh, Indiana, specializing in periodontics and dental implants. He earned his DMD from the University of Kentucky and completed a residency and master’s in oral biology at the University of Louisville.

A national lecturer and founder of the Select Study Club and Tumbleweed Mastermind Group, he’s active in multiple professional organizations and was honored with the 2023 Seattle Study Club Excellence in Leadership Award. Outside of dentistry, he’s a proud dad to two future Eagle Scouts, a Cubmaster, and a sporting clays champion.

Learn more about Newburgh periodontist Dr. James Woodyard

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67360774Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabDr. James Woodyard doesn’t believe in coasting. After over two decades in practice, he still looks at everything with a “fresh eyes” approach, from hygiene exams to communicating risks without sugarcoating to help patients confidently make difficult...
From the team training method inspired by his Boy Scouts leadership to his zero tolerance for gossip, his special list will help you rethink leadership, reset expectations, and align your team around clear, strategic goals.

For Dr. Woodyard, transparency builds trust, and that trust leads to better outcomes.

GUEST

James Woodyard, DMD
President Woodyard Periodontics and One of the Leaders of the Perio Division of Gen4 Dental Partners

Dr. James Woodyard is a board-certified periodontist in Newburgh, Indiana, specializing in periodontics and dental implants. He earned his DMD from the University of Kentucky and completed a residency and master’s in oral biology at the University of Louisville.

A national lecturer and founder of the Select Study Club and Tumbleweed Mastermind Group, he’s active in multiple professional organizations and was honored with the 2023 Seattle Study Club Excellence in Leadership Award. Outside of dentistry, he’s a proud dad to two future Eagle Scouts, a Cubmaster, and a sporting clays champion.

Learn more about Newburgh periodontist Dr. James Woodyard

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice...]]>3596company+culture,dental+practice,dental+specialist,dentist,dentistry,leadership,mentorship,periodontics,periodontist,team+culture,team+dynamicsfalse2fullSpecial List #1: What They Don’t Tell You About Running a Dental Practicehttps://www.speciallists.com/special-list-1-what-they-dont-tell-you-about-running-a-dental-practice/
Hosts Cameron Full, Dr. Michael Seda, and Dr. Jason Souyias bring their combined decades of failures and wins in the dental practice management world to help you problem solve and do what best fits your practice.

From hiring smarter to improving case acceptance, tracking the right data, and navigating the ups and downs of ownership, Cameron, Michael and Jason share their “special lists” of hard-earned lessons and honest advice to help you build a thriving practice.

Links

Learn more about Referral Lab, specialized practice referral software for dentists and dental specialists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.

He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.

His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.

More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael Seda

Follow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperio

Co-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDS
Producer: Eva Sheie @ The Axis
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Cameron Laird
Theme music: Papa Funk, spring gang
Cover Art: Dan Childs

The Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66889154Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:00:08 +0000Referral LabThere’s no such thing as autopilot when it comes to running a dental practice. Every day brings new challenges, and there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Hosts Cameron Full, Dr. Michael Seda, and Dr. Jason Souyias bring their...
Hosts Cameron Full, Dr. Michael Seda, and Dr. Jason Souyias bring their combined decades of failures and wins in the dental practice management world to help you problem solve and do what best fits your practice.

From hiring smarter to improving case acceptance, tracking the right data, and navigating the ups and downs of ownership, Cameron, Michael and Jason share their “special lists” of hard-earned lessons and honest advice to help you build a thriving practice.

Links

Learn more about Referral Lab, specialized practice referral software for dentists and dental specialists

The Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.
Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.

Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.

This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.

Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com

Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io

Cameron Full
Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Cameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn

Jason Souyias, DDS
Periodontist and Co-Founder of Referral Lab

Dr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.

More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason Souyias

Michael Seda, DMD, MS
Periodontist and Co-Developer of Referral Lab

A clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.

Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success...]]>2680case+acceptance,dental+practice,dental+specialists,entrepreneurship,hiring,mentorship,personal+growth,referral+lab,software+development,team+dynamicsfalse1fullThe Special Listshttps://www.speciallists.com/the-special-lists-trailer/
Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you hard-earned wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their practices today.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66728411Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:56:56 +0000Referral LabRunning a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experiences—changes the game. The Special...
Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you hard-earned wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their practices today.]]>71dental+software,dentist,dentist+software,oms+surgeons,oral+maxillofacial+surgeons,periodontal,periodontist,practice+management,referral+labfalsetrailer