PepperPointe Partnerships' new COO, Christy Englehart, uses her experience working in various dental office roles to help inform her leadership.
Ms. Englehart recently joined the DSO with more than 30 years of experience in the dental industry.
She recently spoke with Becker's about how her past experience in the dental industry has helped her move up in her career.
Editor's note: This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned in the dental industry over the course of your career?
Christy Englehart: Providers are not employees. Their doctors, they're partners, and they should be treated as such. Sometimes I think in some of our larger DSOs, they're hired as employees [and] treated as employees. They're professionals and they need to be empowered and we need to treat them as such. So that's been a big lesson I have learned. The other thing I would say is that you don't need a college degree to be successful in the DSO sector. I have found many times those who've grown up in the dental space have the experience to grow and climb the ladder. It takes hard work, inspiration and the willingness to go above and beyond. I use myself as that example. I started as a dental assistant when I was 17 years old. My parents couldn't afford to send me to college, and I knew that if I was ever going to make anything of myself, I was going to have to work really hard. And I did that. I was fortunate to have mentors along the way through my career. I've held three COO positions in my career, and I've utilized that experience to inspire others. I have met some incredible leaders who have grown up in this industry and they have really made an impact in the sector.
I was a dental assistant for 10 years before I moved into other different roles. So there's nothing that I haven't done in a dental practice except pick up a scaler as a hygienist or pick up a handpiece as a doctor, but everything else I have done, and I'm super thankful for that opportunity. One thing I've always tried to remember is to never forget where you came from. So when I walk into a practice and maybe the other assistant had a child sick or something that day and you're the only assistant and it's a crazy day, I can empathize with that and always thank them and remember what that was like. So I think always remembering where you came from is really important when you are supporting and connecting with the doctors and the dental teams. I don't think I could have gotten to the level that I am without that experience. It was a humbling experience for me and I'm super grateful for everyone who works in a dental practice. That is truly the heartbeat of the business.