The Prosperident Exchange

David Harris
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A podcast designed for owners of dental practices, dental support organizations (DSOs) and others that is chock-full of tools, strategies, and tips to help run practices better. Sponsored by Prosperident, Dentistry's Embezzlement Experts. Our website is www.prosperident.com, and our phone number is 888-398-2327

  1. 09/22/2023

    Five Killer Questions to Get Your Patients to "Yes"

    What separates thriving dental practices from struggling ones often comes down to one thing: how effectively the team communicates with patients. In this episode, David Harris sits down with Debra Engelhardt Nash — one of dentistry's most accomplished practice management consultants and co-founder of The Nash Institute — to explore the verbal skills that consistently move patients from hesitation to "yes." Debra introduces her "Five Killer Questions" framework: a proven set of patient-centered conversations designed to uncover what patients truly value, address unstated concerns, and build the kind of trust that leads to long-term loyalty and higher case acceptance. Topics covered include: Why most dental communication inadvertently creates patient resistanceThe psychology behind why patients say no to recommended treatmentHow to discover what each patient actually cares about before presenting treatmentThe five questions that consistently convert hesitation into acceptanceTeam training strategies to embed stronger communication practice-wideThe direct link between patient communication skills and practice profitabilityAbout Debra Engelhardt Nash: Debra is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and dental practice management consultant with over 40 years of experience transforming practices across North America. As co-founder of The Nash Institute, she brings unparalleled expertise in the human side of dentistry. To learn more about protecting your dental practice from embezzlement and financial threats, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 4:34 - Why most dental communication inadvertently creates patient resistance 16:00 - The psychology behind why patients say no to recommended treatment 32:00 - How to discover what each patient actually cares about before presenting tr 48:00 - The five questions that consistently convert hesitation into acceptance 59:50 - Team training strategies to embed stronger communication practice-wide 1:12:00 - The direct link between patient communication skills and practice profitabi 1:27:28 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  2. 05/19/2023

    What Happens in Vegas...Ends in Prison

    What happens when a trusted dental team member turns criminal? In this gripping episode, Dr. Deborah Staten of Las Vegas joins Prosperident senior investigator Scott Clifford to recount one of the most striking embezzlement cases in recent dental history. Danielle Powers, a dental office employee trusted with financial responsibilities, systematically stole over $250,000 from Dr. Staten's practice. But the story doesn't end there — after leaving Dr. Staten's practice, Powers went on to victimize another dentist. She is currently serving an 8-year prison sentence for her crimes. Beyond the facts of the case, this episode delivers something invaluable: Dr. Staten's hard-won wisdom for other dentists. Having lived through the shock, betrayal, and financial devastation of embezzlement, she speaks candidly about the warning signs she missed, the decisions she wishes she had made differently, and the message she wants every dental practice owner to hear. Topics covered include: How Danielle Powers gained access and trust within the practiceThe specific methods used to steal and conceal the theftWhy embezzlers often move from one victim to the nextThe investigation process and how the theft was ultimately discoveredThe criminal justice outcome and what it means for victims seeking accountabilityDr. Staten's direct advice to dentists on preventing what happened to herAbout Scott Clifford: Scott is a senior forensic investigator at Prosperident, North America's leading firm specializing in dental embezzlement investigation. With years of experience examining financial crimes in dental practices, Scott brings both technical expertise and deep empathy to every case he handles. If you suspect embezzlement in your dental practice, do not confront the suspect or alter your office procedures before speaking with a professional. Contact Prosperident at www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:52 - How Danielle Powers gained access and trust within the practice 16:00 - The specific methods used to steal and conceal the theft 27:02 - Why embezzlers often move from one victim to the next 40:00 - The investigation process and how the theft was ultimately discovered 48:00 - The criminal justice outcome and what it means for victims seeking accounta 1:04:00 - Dr. Staten's direct advice to dentists on preventing what happened to her 1:13:22 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  3. 04/27/2023

    Prosperident, Bent Ericksen and Cirrus Group discuss current issues

    Three of dentistry's leading specialists in practice protection come together for a candid roundtable on the challenges confronting dental practice owners today. David Harris of Prosperident, Adrienne Twigg of Bent Ericksen & Associates, and Erik Pook of Cirrus Group each bring a distinct and vital perspective — financial forensics, human resources and employment law, and commercial real estate — to a wide-ranging discussion that every practice owner needs to hear. Whether you are an established practice owner or newly starting out, the threats explored in this conversation can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars or even your practice itself. The good news: with the right knowledge, most of these risks are entirely preventable. Topics covered include: Embezzlement: how it starts, why it often goes undetected for years, and what to do about itHiring mistakes that introduce financial and legal risk into your practiceThe most common employment law pitfalls dental practices walk intoCommercial lease terms that quietly devastate practice value and profitabilityHow to evaluate your current lease and what leverage you actually havePractical steps to reduce vulnerability across all three risk categoriesAbout the guests: David Harris, CEO of Prosperident, is North America's leading dental embezzlement investigator with over three decades of experience protecting dental practices.Adrienne Twigg is a senior consultant with Bent Ericksen & Associates, a firm specializing in human resources and employment compliance for dental practices across the United States.Erik Pook is a principal at Cirrus Group, experts in dental and medical commercial real estate, lease negotiation, and practice transitions.To learn more about protecting your practice from embezzlement, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:36 - Embezzlement 8:00 - Hiring mistakes that introduce financial and legal risk into your practice 16:00 - The most common employment law pitfalls dental practices walk into 24:00 - Commercial lease terms that quietly devastate practice value and profitabil 32:00 - How to evaluate your current lease and what leverage you actually have 40:00 - Practical steps to reduce vulnerability across all three risk categories 48:00 - David Harris, CEO of Prosperident, is North America's leading dental embezz 56:00 - Adrienne Twigg is a senior consultant with Bent Ericksen & Associates, 1:00:55 - Erik Pook is a principal at Cirrus Group, experts in dental and medical com 1:08:05 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  4. 01/27/2023

    Hidden in Plain Sight - How a Dental Office Manager Embezzled $370K

    She was trusted completely. She was there every day. And she was stealing — for years. In this deeply personal episode, Virginia orthodontist Dr. David Hughes describes in his own words how his office manager embezzled over $370,000 from his practice, right under his nose. Dr. Hughes is joined by Prosperident CEO David Harris, senior investigator Wendy Askins, and forensic accountant Amber Weber-Gonzales for a frank and illuminating conversation about how the theft unfolded, how it was discovered, and what the investigation revealed. This is not a hypothetical — it is the real story of a trusted employee who exploited her access and her dentist's trust over an extended period. Topics covered include: How the office manager gained and maintained the trust that made the theft possibleThe specific methods used to steal and hide $370,000 over timeWarning signs that were present but not recognizedHow the embezzlement was ultimately discoveredThe forensic investigation process and what it uncoveredThe legal outcome and Dr. Hughes's path to recoveryWhat Dr. Hughes would do differently — and what he wants other dentists to knowAbout the Prosperident team: David Harris is CEO and founder of Prosperident; Wendy Askins and Amber Weber-Gonzales are senior members of Prosperident's investigative team, bringing decades of combined experience in dental embezzlement forensics. If you suspect embezzlement in your dental practice, call Prosperident before taking any action. Visit www.prosperident.com or schedule directly at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:24 - How the office manager gained and maintained the trust that made the theft 12:04 - The specific methods used to steal and hide $370,000 over time 20:44 - Warning signs that were present but not recognized 32:00 - How the embezzlement was ultimately discovered 40:00 - The forensic investigation process and what it uncovered 48:00 - The legal outcome and Dr. Hughes's path to recovery 56:00 - What Dr. Hughes would do differently 1:04:04 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  5. 11/16/2022

    The Good, the Bad, and the Evil - The Inside Story on DSOs

    Dental Support Organizations have reshaped the landscape of dentistry — but are they a lifeline, a trap, or something more complex? In this candid episode, Prosperident's David Harris, Wendy Askins, and Amber Weber sit down with Emmet Scott, CEO of a 70-practice DSO and one of the most influential voices in the DSO industry, for an unvarnished look at what DSOs really mean for dental practice owners. Emmet Scott brings rare insider perspective: as a DSO executive who has built and managed one of the larger group practices in the country, he understands both the extraordinary opportunities DSOs can offer and the very real risks they present to dentists who don't fully understand what they are signing up for. Topics covered include: What DSOs actually are and the wide spectrum of DSO structures that existThe genuine advantages DSOs can offer independent dentistsThe contractual and financial pitfalls that can trap dentists for yearsHow to evaluate a DSO affiliation offer before signing anythingWhat happens to your autonomy — clinical and financial — inside a DSOEmbezzlement and financial control in a DSO environmentHow to protect yourself whether you join a DSO or remain independentWhat the future of DSOs looks like and what it means for solo practiceAbout Emmet Scott: Emmet is the CEO of a 70-practice dental support organization and a recognized thought leader in the DSO space. He is known for his willingness to speak frankly about both the promise and the pitfalls of group dentistry. To learn more about financial protection for dental practices in DSO and independent settings, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:57 - What DSOs actually are and the wide spectrum of DSO structures that exist 12:52 - The genuine advantages DSOs can offer independent dentists 24:00 - The contractual and financial pitfalls that can trap dentists for years 32:00 - How to evaluate a DSO affiliation offer before signing anything 40:00 - What happens to your autonomy 48:00 - Embezzlement and financial control in a DSO environment 56:00 - How to protect yourself whether you join a DSO or remain independent 1:04:00 - What the future of DSOs looks like and what it means for solo practice 1:15:14 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  6. 10/24/2022

    Why Justice Matters, a Dentist’s Story of Loss, Resilience, and Recovery 

    Embezzlement is not just a financial crime — it is a profound personal betrayal. In this deeply moving episode, dentist Dr. Mark Saladin recounts how someone he trusted stole $150,000 from his practice, and what the pursuit of justice meant to him personally and professionally. What makes this episode extraordinary is its dual perspective. In addition to Dr. Saladin's account, this episode includes audio clips from his embezzler, Miranda Wolf, giving listeners a rare and unsettling glimpse into how an embezzler thinks, rationalizes, and ultimately responds when caught. Together, these two voices illuminate the full arc of a dental embezzlement case from both sides of the crime. Topics covered include: How the theft was carried out and how long it went undetectedThe emotional journey of discovering you have been betrayed by a trusted employeeWhy Dr. Saladin chose to pursue justice rather than settle quietlyAudio clips from embezzler Miranda Wolf — her mindset, rationalizations, and perspectiveWhat the investigation and legal process looked like from Dr. Saladin's viewpointThe psychological and financial recovery process after embezzlementWhat Dr. Saladin believes other dentists must know before it happens to themThis episode is essential listening for any dental practice owner who has wondered whether reporting embezzlement and pursuing legal consequences is worth the effort. Dr. Saladin's answer — and the contrast provided by his embezzler's own words — is both compelling and instructive. To learn more about dental embezzlement investigation and how Prosperident can help, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:54 - How the theft was carried out and how long it went undetected 16:00 - The emotional journey of discovering you have been betrayed by a trusted em 24:00 - Why Dr. Saladin chose to pursue justice rather than settle quietly 32:00 - Audio clips from embezzler Miranda Wolf 44:04 - What the investigation and legal process looked like from Dr. Saladin's vie 56:00 - The psychological and financial recovery process after embezzlement 1:04:00 - What Dr. Saladin believes other dentists must know before it happens to the 1:14:12 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  7. 06/21/2022

    Dr. Richard Madow - Dumb Things Smart Dentists Do

    Smart people make dumb mistakes — especially when they're highly trained clinicians running a business they were never taught how to manage. In this entertaining and insight-packed episode, David Harris sits down with Dr. Rich Madow, former practicing dentist, speaker, and co-founder of The Madow Group, to talk candidly about the most common — and costly — mistakes dental practice owners make. Dr. Madow has spent decades studying what separates the most successful dental practices from the rest. His message is delivered with humor and honesty: even the smartest dentists regularly make preventable business mistakes that quietly erode their profitability, their team culture, and their personal satisfaction. Topics covered include: Why dental school training leaves practitioners unprepared for business ownershipThe most common management mistakes dentists make — and why they keep repeating themHow to stop being the bottleneck in your own practiceThe hidden costs of employee turnover and how to reduce itProduction and collection mistakes that drain revenue without most owners noticingWhy dentists avoid difficult conversations — and how to stop avoiding themHow to get more enjoyment from your practice while working less hardAbout Dr. Rich Madow: Dr. Madow is a former practicing dentist, nationally recognized speaker, and co-founder of The Madow Group — one of dentistry's most respected practice-building resources. He and his brother Dr. David Madow have helped thousands of dentists build more profitable and fulfilling practices. Visit www.madow.com to learn more. To learn more about protecting your practice from embezzlement and financial risk, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 4:12 - Why dental school training leaves practitioners unprepared for business own 16:00 - The most common management mistakes dentists make 24:00 - How to stop being the bottleneck in your own practice 36:44 - The hidden costs of employee turnover and how to reduce it 48:00 - Production and collection mistakes that drain revenue without most owners n 56:00 - Why dentists avoid difficult conversations 1:12:00 - How to get more enjoyment from your practice while working less hard 1:20:08 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

  8. 05/06/2022

    4 Leaky Holes in Your Practice Revenue Bucket with Linda Miles

    Revenue doesn't just disappear in a single dramatic event — most of the time, it leaks out quietly through gaps in systems, habits, and oversight that busy practice owners never have time to examine. In this episode, David Harris welcomes legendary dental practice management consultant Linda Miles to identify the four most common and costly ways dental practices lose money they never know they're losing. Linda Miles has spent over 50 years helping dental practices reach their potential. Her observation, honed across thousands of practices, is that the same four structural weaknesses appear again and again — and that fixing them can transform a practice's financial performance without adding a single new patient. Topics covered include: The four specific "leaky holes" draining revenue from most dental practicesHow poor scheduling habits cost practices tens of thousands of dollars per yearThe production and collection gaps that most dentists never measureWhy undiagnosed or unpresented treatment is one of the biggest hidden revenue lossesHow front desk systems and patient communication affect your bottom linePractical, immediate steps to plug each revenue leakHow embezzlement interacts with and hides behind these systemic weaknessesAbout Linda Miles: Linda Miles, CSP, CMC, is one of dentistry's most celebrated practice management consultants, speakers, and authors. With a career spanning more than five decades and thousands of dental teams trained, she is regarded as one of the founding voices of dental practice management as a discipline. Visit www.lindamiles.com for more information. To learn more about protecting your dental practice's revenue from theft and embezzlement, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction / Show open 3:25 - The four specific "leaky holes" draining revenue from most dental practices 12:08 - How poor scheduling habits cost practices tens of thousands of dollars per 20:51 - The production and collection gaps that most dentists never measure 32:00 - Why undiagnosed or unpresented treatment is one of the biggest hidden reven 40:00 - How front desk systems and patient communication affect your bottom line 48:00 - Practical, immediate steps to plug each revenue leak 56:00 - How embezzlement interacts with and hides behind these systemic weaknesses 1:04:28 - Closing / How to contact Prosperident

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About

A podcast designed for owners of dental practices, dental support organizations (DSOs) and others that is chock-full of tools, strategies, and tips to help run practices better. Sponsored by Prosperident, Dentistry's Embezzlement Experts. Our website is www.prosperident.com, and our phone number is 888-398-2327

Information

  • Creator
    David Harris
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2021 Prosperident's Dental Practice Owner's Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Prosperident Exchange