Dr. 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 community matter just as much as clinical skill. 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
