Merritt Dake, CEO of Little Rock, Ark.-based Rock Dental Brands, joined "Becker's Dental + DSO Podcast" for a conversation about the DSO's specific brand, growth strategy and some advice for emerging leaders.
Below are four key takeaways from the discussion:
1. In 2015, 27 clinics came together to form Rock Dental Brands. Something that sets the DSO apart from others is that the entire model is based on being a geographically dense, multispecialty organization that is trying to develop methods that create more efficiencies within the systems, Mr. Dake said.
2. A key tenet of both the DSO's culture and growth strategy is making sure it sticks to the core values the original providers began with. Mr. Dake said the DSO is mindful to only partner with providers that share those same goals and visions.
3. "My biggest piece of advice for emerging dental leaders would be take a step back and look at how to build a long-term sustainable business," Mr. Dake said. "It's very easy to get caught up in the numbers game."
4. Mr. Dake recommended leaders be more thoughtful about how they're building a long-term business. Organizations can't just be financially driven, he said. "Don't treat deals as a widget — you're not selling or buying a building. It's still a partnership. I think it's really easy for people to get kind of lost in the model of how many practices we can buy, but know that every person matters."
Click here to listen to the full podcast.