HR for Health to host Dental Leadership Summit in Austin

HR for Health will bring dental practice leaders, operators and innovators to Austin Sept. 16-18 for a capped, hands-on summit focused on peer learning, practical strategy and growth. The event will feature leaders from Heartland Dental, OrthoCarolina, Glidewell Dental and other firms, plus a donation tied to registrations for Saving Face.

Why it matters: - The Dental Leadership Summit is built for dental leaders who want practical takeaways they can use after the event, not just conference notes. - The format targets the day-to-day problems shaping growth, including staffing, technology adoption, revenue cycle management, acquisitions and exit planning. - HR for Health is tying the event to a community cause by supporting Saving Face, which focuses on oral cancer awareness and prevention.

What happened: - HR for Health will host the 2026 Dental Leadership Summit on Sept. 16-18 in Austin, Texas. - The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa near Austin. - Attendance is intentionally capped to keep the gathering small and interactive. - Readers can receive 30% off registration with code HRFHPR30. - More information and registration are available at DentalLeadershipSummit.com.

The details: - The summit is designed around participation and implementation rather than podium-style presentations. - Attendees will hear from leaders who have built, scaled, merged and transitioned dental organizations. - Sessions will pair candid conversations with interactive workshops, peer discussions and real-world exercises. - The speaker lineup includes Pat Bauer of Heartland Dental, Dr. Tim Quirt of Heartland Dental, Blair Primis of OrthoCarolina, Jill Nesbitt of OptimizeDent, Stephenie Goddard of Glidewell Dental, Brandi Marzolino of Courage & Joy at Work, Diwakar Sinha of Polaris Healthcare Partners, Perrin DesPortes of The Next Level Executive, Kristi Casey of Rock Dental Brands, Ashley Bond of Wisdom, Chavelle Galton-Rice of AADOM and Ali Oromchian of HR for Health. - The lineup also includes additional speakers beyond the named list. - Summit topics span dental operations, clinical care, leadership, technology, marketing, HR, revenue cycle and growth. - Sessions include “The ROI Nobody’s Billing For Yet,” with Dr. Tim Quirt, Videa Health and vVARDIS, focused on Heartland Dental’s rollout of AI-powered cavity detection and preventive revenue models. - “You Don’t Have a Hiring Problem. You Have a Math Problem,” led by Devin Amberg of Kwikly Dental Staffing, reframes staffing as a revenue lever. - “Middle Management: The Layer Most Practices Forecast and Build Too Late” features Chavelle Galton-Rice of AADOM and Eric Pastan of Elliot Davis. - Other sessions will address messy accounts receivable and the shift from founder-led to system-led growth. - Workshops will focus on hiring and retention, team development, technology adoption, marketing, revenue cycle management, middle management, staffing strategy, acquisitions and exit planning. - The event also includes curated networking and outdoor activities designed to spark stronger connections.

Between the lines: - The summit is taking a direct swipe at the traditional conference model by making peer exchange and implementation the center of the experience. - The subject mix suggests dental organizations are under pressure to professionalize operations as they grow, especially around staffing, systems and leadership depth. - The emphasis on AI, preventive revenue and system-led growth points to an industry in transition, where data and operations are becoming as important as chairside care.

What's next: - Dental leaders who attend will leave with frameworks, workshop output and peer contacts they can apply inside their own organizations. - HR for Health will recognize Saving Face as the 2026 Humanitarian Award recipient. - HR for Health will donate $10 for every Summit registration to support Saving Face's mission. - The summit is expected to serve leaders at every stage of growth, from first-location owners to operators preparing for expansion or transition.

The bottom line: - HR for Health is pitching the Dental Leadership Summit as a working session for real-world practice growth, not a passive industry conference.