The Special Lists

The Axis
The Axis
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

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 experiences—changes the game. 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

  1. 16h ago

    Special List #24: Why “Good Enough” Practice Photos Are Costing You Patients with Andrew Jowett

    Patients 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 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.Then the business shift: why one-and-done brand shoots leave value on the table, and how MedCreative's twice-a-year model produces six months of social-ready content so the front-desk team isn't stuck being the practice's part-time videographer. 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: https://www.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?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.

    Special List #24: Why “Good Enough” Practice Photos Are Costing You Patients with Andrew Jowett

  2. Jul 9

    Special List #23: Partners vs. Associates - What Most Owners Get Wrong with Dr. Adam McClellan

    Bring 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 him, and the incoming doctor inherits those relationships outright. 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?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.

    Special List #23: Partners vs. Associates - What Most Owners Get Wrong with Dr. Adam McClellan

  3. Jun 25

    Special List #22: Failing is Growing with Dr. Gregg Kinzer

    Owning 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 instead. 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 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.

    Special List #22: Failing is Growing with Dr. Gregg Kinzer

  4. Jun 11

    Special List #21: What I'd Tell My Younger Self After 31 Years in Solo Practice with Dr. Eman Traynor

    The 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 Traynor knows. She built Traynor Periodontics & Implants from scratch in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1998 and ran it solo for 27 years on a steady drip of stress she now wishes she'd ignored. 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.

    Special List #21: What I'd Tell My Younger Self After 31 Years in Solo Practice with Dr. Eman Traynor

  5. May 28

    Special List #20: How Saying No to Endo, Ortho, and Implants Builds a Better Practice with Dr. Andrew Skasko

    Andrew 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 four more sites in the pipeline. 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.

    Special List #20: How Saying No to Endo, Ortho, and Implants Builds a Better Practice with Dr. Andrew Skasko

  6. May 14

    Special List #19: The Airway Step Most Cosmetic Cases Are Missing with Dr. Tracey Nguyen

    AACD 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 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.

    Special List #19: The Airway Step Most Cosmetic Cases Are Missing with Dr. Tracey Nguyen

  7. Apr 30

    Special List #18: Why the Biggest Stress in Dentistry Isn’t the Dentistry with Geri Gottlieb

    Running 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 ownership herself — taught her about what actually makes a practice work. 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

    Special List #18: Why the Biggest Stress in Dentistry Isn’t the Dentistry with Geri Gottlieb

  8. Mar 26

    Special List #17: How Structure and Core Values Drive Better Hiring with Dr. Justin Zalewsky

    Beyond 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, 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

    Special List #17: How Structure and Core Values Drive Better Hiring with Dr. Justin Zalewsky
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About

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 experiences—changes the game. 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

Information

  • Channel
    The Axis
  • Creator
    Referral Lab
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Special Lists

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