PDS Life Winter 2025

Connected Journeys: One team. Many paths. All connected.

Connected Journeys

We’re creating something unique in health care. “ ”

Message from the FOUNDER & CEO

Across PDS Health, we’ve always said our people are our greatest strength. That’s never been truer than it is today. This year, I’ve seen countless examples of how the work we’re doing — whether on the front lines of care or behind the scenes — is creating better outcomes and deeper connections.

That’s why I’m excited about the theme of this issue of PDS Life magazine, Connected Journeys: One Team. Many Paths. All Connected. Whether you’re a new hire, a tenured clinician, a regional leader, or a support center team member, we all play a part in something bigger than ourselves. We’re creating something unique in health care, and it depends on all of us pulling in the same direction.

This past year was filled with important milestones. We opened new supported dental and medical practices, laid the groundwork for our new business units and further expanded the ways we serve patients and communities. We continued building out the PDS Health technology stack, made major enhancements to our specialty support systems and put a sharper focus on clinical excellence. We set the stage for long-term growth by refining our operating model, reinvesting in education and strengthening our dental-medical integration strategy.

None of these achievements happened in a vacuum. They are the result of teams working together with shared purpose and clear priorities. As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, that kind of alignment is more important than ever.

We are in a season of tremendous opportunity. But opportunity alone isn’t enough. We must continue investing in our people, refining our strategies and executing with discipline. We must remain humble and hungry, open to change and focused on outcomes. We must never lose sight of why we’re here: To support healthier, happier patients.

Thank you for the role you play in that work. No matter what path brought you here, I’m grateful you’re part of the journey.

Here’s to your continued growth and success,

Stephen Thorne, Founder and CEO

Have a story to share? We’d love to hear it.

The award-winning PDS Life magazine is curated and produced by the PDS Health Communications and Marketing departments. We are always looking for unique, heartwarming stories that share the PDS Health culture inside and out of work, highlight clinical excellence, recognize our team members and clinicians, provide business or department updates, showcase our force-for-good initiatives and more. We would love to hear from you. Please send your ideas to PDSConnect@pdshealth.com.

CONNECTED THROUGH PPE, STRENGTHENED BY PPE 3.0

The Perfect Patient Experience (PPE) got an update to reflect PDS Health® ’s commitment to integrated, whole-body health.

Across more than 1,000 PDS Health offices, the PPE is our gold standard of care. This operational model provides the framework each office needs to deliver extraordinary results, and create healthier, happier patients.

The PPE includes several key handoffs in which team members set each other up for success with the patient. These handoffs are essential interactions to achieve the perfect experience for every patient and with PPE now include: the collection of medical insurance, a thorough health history review, incorporating MouthBody Connection ® (MBC) language into the initial patient conversation, offering saliva screening or testing (OralFitnessCheck ® and OralDNA Alert 2™), as well as clinicians expressing concern for a patient’s overall health when recommending treatment.

But we also know that when teams get complacent or when offices are at full operational capacity, PPE is the first standard to erode, breaking the connected journey between team members and patients. Maybe an office skips a step, a patient doesn’t get the meet and greet or the correct handoff. While the PPE might connect us, lack of implementation is directly connected to a decline in patient outcomes and office revenue.

The solution is simple: A return and recommitment to PPE. That’s why we’ve rolled out PPE 3.0 to offices across the country. It offers an opportunity to re-engage with the model while incorporating new additions that will drive us toward our bigger goal of preventive, integrated, whole-person health care.

Defining PPE 3.0

PPE 3.0 leads with the MBC. By integrating overall health into our initial touch point with a patient, we are paving the way for more streamlined and seamless coordination between clinicians that leads to better patient outcomes.

“PPE 3.0 is making it about more than just teeth, and when you do that, you create an urgency and clarity for the patient about why the care is important,” said Sowo Varney, Regional Manager for South Los Angeles Region.

The new model is an opportunity to start the conversation with health history and to educate patients about the connection between the health of the mouth and the health of the body. This connected approach means every team member is united in delivering whole-person care. Knowing that integrated care is the future, this positions clinicians to collaborate with medical providers and become part of patients’ primary care teams.

For Registered Dental Hygienist Sarah Boutros at the Dentists of San Dimas (Office 1110) in San Dimas, Calif., implementing PPE 3.0 has led to better operations and ultimately higher case acceptance in a shorter amount of time.

“Having a structure helps the team stay organized and helps things flow more efficiently from the front to the back office. Everyone is on the same page,” she said.

Putting PPE 3.0 Into Practice

Understanding PPE 3.0 is vital, but equally important is the implementation, and that starts with getting a snapshot into the health of the mouth.

“When you go to the doctor, before you even get in a room, the first thing they do is get your vitals, your height and weight,” Sowo said. “We have the same concept with PPE 3.0, you walk into an office, you can’t move forward without the office getting your baseline vitals.”

Capturing a patient’s blood pressure, encouraging them to get a saliva screening, or an HbA1c test, or simply educating them about the way that these screenings can identify more serious health problems makes all the difference.

“The clearest benefits of PPE 3.0 are that communication is improved, and we earn the patients’ trust early in the process. When patients trust us, they feel confident moving forward with treatment and more engaged in managing or preventing disease. They are more likely to keep their appointments and they prioritize their health more,” Sarah said.

Becoming a Patient Advocate

Prior PPE protocol had clinicians asking patients if they are concerned about periodontal disease. PPE 3.0 encourages clinicians to outline why a patient’s periodontal disease is concerning to them, reframing it as an indicator of a potentially more serious health threat.

“It’s more direct language rooted in preventive care, which allows clinicians to step into the role of patient advocate,” Director of PDS Health University - Dental, Lacey Schicker said.

A key tool to enhance this process is the patient dashboard. The interactive tool allows patients to track their progress, their health history, tests they’ve taken that provide indications of disease and action steps to take to address these potential risk factors.

“The dashboard encourages patients to go on the journey with the clinician. They can see their history of periodontal disease and therefore it’s important to get results from their saliva test to determine if they have higher levels of bacteria associated with several systemic health issues,” Sowo said. “It helps the patient take a more active role in improving their health.”

No Turning Back

While the model might be straightforward, when offices get overwhelmed or have more than a full schedule, PPE 3.0 can quickly become an afterthought. But Owner Dentist Deepika Dhama, DDS, emphasizes that once clinicians understand the level of success they can see through correct implementation, they start to prioritize it no matter the circumstances.

“Once teams get the hands-on experience of implementing PPE 3.0, they see that there is simply no other way to do it,” Dr. Dhama said. “Once you start to see and believe that it works, you find 100 reasons to do it, if you don’t believe in it, you’ll find 100 excuses not to do it.”

As PDS Health grows, PPE 3.0 reinforces our clinical excellence across offices, teams and roles. The combination of the platform and the process offer the clearest steps to provide exceptional care that’s rooted in prevention and whole-body health.

Dentis t Hygienist Specialist

Health Ca re Coord.

PPE 3.0 IN ACTION

At PDS Health, clinical teams across the country are discovering that when we connect patient health insights through OralFitnessCheck ® (OFC) screenings and other parts of PPE 3.0, we not only improve patient outcomes, but we also change patients’ lives. Here are stories from offices across the country that are putting PPE 3.0 into action.

OFC For Case Acceptance

A patient in Portland, Oregon had tooth pain so severe she struggled to chew. After an examination, it was determined all remaining teeth had to be extracted, but the patient was adamant she didn’t want dentures. Manerva Hart, DDS, Owner Dentist, Russell Modern Dentistry (Office 670) encouraged the patient to get an OFC screening to get a better understanding of her health and the patient ultimately agreed to the extractions. Shortly after the removal of her remaining teeth, the patient took another OFC test. Her aMMP-8 levels plummeted from 400 ng/mL to 16 ng/mL. She was shocked that her teeth had been making her sick and remarked that she should have removed them long ago.

OFC For A Vulnerable Patient

A patient with Alzheimer’s disease was accompanied by her daughter for a cleaning and evaluation with

Minh Tran, DDS, Owner Dentist, Clinton Keith Dental Group (Office 69). The patient’s cognitive condition makes it difficult for her to maintain her oral hygiene. Dr. Tran recommended an OFC test that showed an extremely high aMMP-8 score. Dr. Tran pulled up the patient dashboard and emphasized the severity of her periodontal disease and its connection to her overall health. The illustration of the long-term impact led the patient to approve treatment for scaling and rootplaning, laser therapy and irrigation, and a commitment to a two-month perio maintenance schedule to ensure she stayed on track.

OFC to Understand a Patient's Health History

Kee-Ju Hong-Elder, DDS, Owner Dentist, NE Heights Modern Dentistry (Office 562) in Albuquerque, New Mexico was concerned after a patient’s OFC test showed an aMMP-8 reading above 400. As Dr. Hong was emphasizing why this concerned him, the patient revealed that he had a heart attack one week prior. This information was an opportunity for Dr. Hong to emphasize the connection between oral health and heart health, and the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. Dr. Hong then created a long-term plan given the patient’s full health history.

OFC May Indicate More Serious Health Concerns

During a team meeting at Strawberry Creek Dental Group (Office 104) in Sacramento, Calif., clinicians were completing their OFC training, which included administering an OFC screening. Operations Manager Brittany Fleming asked if there is a correlation between her score and her type 1 diabetes. Her hygienist remarked that she would likely have an elevated score, which she did: It was 100. At the time, Brittany was not feeling well and felt like she might be fighting something off. Her owner dentist recommended she contact her primary care physician, but Brittany delayed, hoping she could wait until the end of the week. By the end of the week, she felt miserable and went to urgent care where she learned that she was going into diabetic ketoacidosis and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. The experience reinforced the value of an OFC screening and its ability to diagnose an underlying health condition.

By encouraging patients to get an OFC screening, and by using the patient dashboard to track and monitor their results, clinicians not only see higher case acceptance, but improved patient outcomes and better overall health. We’re proving that one team, working with one vision, can change lives in countless ways.

Investing in Future Owner Dentists

New OD Development Centers in San Dimas, California and Miami, Florida are creating an accelerated pathway to ownership through immersive, PPE-focused training.

Karim Zaklama, DDS, (far right) with recent graduate George Ibrahim, DMD, (center) at San Dimas’ OD Development Center.

As PDS Health pursues our goal to become the greatest integrated healthcare company in the world, one of the next phases will require deeper investment in training and mentorship so that we can take our successful model and push it outward.

The model connects us, but that connection needs reinforcement. Owner Dentist (OD) Development Centers are our tools to do that, offering hands-on mentorship from the best dentists in the industry and daily immersion in proven processes to create a clear pathway to expedited ownership.

The San Dimas Model

The OD Development Center in San Dimas, Calif. was the first to open and five dentists have participated in the clinical and leadership programs and have gone on to have phenomenal results. Their success in the program reinforces what we know to be true: The PDS Health model works. Regional Clinical Partner Karim Zaklama, DDS, leads the program and emphasizes why the four-month immersion is so effective for participants.

“They are consumed by the platform, it’s the only way to practice in this office and they are held to that standard,” he said. “They practice long enough to see the results and they don’t want to practice any other way.”

He notes that three weeks into the program, many dentists experience a breakthrough. “They start seeing more patients saying yes to dentistry they need, they have more engagement with patients, more dentistry gets done and the energy starts to shift,” Dr. Zaklama said.

This transformation represents the moment when individual practice paths align with our collective journey toward clinical excellence. Territory Partner Maha SaidShariff provides guidance for the leadership curriculum.

Minh Pham, DDS, and regional clinical leaders and team members, train clinicians at Miami's OD Development Center.

Maria Cisneros, DMD, MS, and her team at the grand opening of Dentists on Sand Canyon (Office 1175).

“This is for the best of the best, so if you are excited about dentistry and want an accelerated pathway towards mentorship, development and ownership, seek the nearest OD Development Center to you,” Maha said. “The curriculum is focused on everything from diagnosis, treatment planning, CEREC CAD/CAM, implants, specialty integration and more. But participants also get a oneon-one introduction to developing business acumen and to the key drivers of running a profitable PDS Health practice.”

The immersion is especially valuable, but Maha emphasizes execution makes the real difference.

“There is no magic potion; It’s dedication to a culture of excellence, deep commitment to the model and platform, leveraging all the operational standards we know and amplifying them. The true distinction lies in the execution of the PPE: how is that being delivered by the team, felt by the patients and delivered to one and other,” she said.

Immediate Impact

Maria Cristina Cisneros, DMD, MS, opened her Santa Clarita, Calif. office after completing the program and was fully booked for her first two weeks. In her first month, the office hit $100,000 in revenue with 140 new patients.

“It was a crash course, but it was so beautifully done, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from the best in the industry,” she said. “I was very much a sponge. I was constantly asking for feedback, and I learned to take the feedback and critique because while I’ve been doing this for four years, there is always something else I can learn.”

The program’s first participant, George Ibrahim, DMD, is now practicing at Culver Smiles Dentistry (Office 1124) while awaiting his ownership opportunity to be finalized. His time at the development center strengthened his leadership and clinical skills, resulting in improved patient care and remarkable financial success for the office.

“My experience at the development center helped me grow as a clinician and as a future business owner. The mentorship was individually tailored along with practice management and associate development,” Dr. Ibrahim said. “It was clear and structured, but there is room to double down where you need help to ensure you have all the tools to succeed.”

“There is no magic potion; it’s dedication to a culture of excellence, deep commitment to the model and platform, leveraging all the operational standards we know and amplifying them.”

– Maha Said-Shariff, Territory Partner - South West

Non-Negotiable PPE

The curriculum and mentorship provide a coordinated and complementary level of training, but Dr. Cisneros and Dr. Ibrahim emphasize that it’s the consistent implementation of PPE that drives their results.

“The PPE is nonnegotiable. The patients get a text the night before from me so that by the time they get to the office they are more at ease,” Dr. Cisneros said. “I’ll walk them back to get X-rays and an exam, then we do a handoff. It’s all nonnegotiable. I don’t care if I’m in the middle of treatment, you come grab me. No matter what, everyone has the same experience.”

Erin Ortega, Regional Partner, North Inland Empire Region, similarly reiterates the OD Development Center in San Dimas adherence to PPE is vital to success.

“In other practices, you see a little bit of variance and in this practice, there is no variability, it is the standards executed to a T,” Erin said. “We help course-correct doctors really quickly so that they see the why behind every single step and, as a result, their case acceptance goes through the roof.”

In following the precise processes, Dr. Cisneros also finds that they create a level of support and sense of care that patients have never experienced before.

“Even though there are so many patients on the floor, no one feels how busy it is because we’ve built the schedule so that every patient feels personally cared for. I texted them the night before, I walked them back to an exam room when they arrived, we talked through their treatment plan and they received treatment the same day. All of those things, I refined from the development center,” she said.

Expanding Nationwide

A second OD Development Center opened in Miami, Florida, led by Minh Pham, DDS. More centers are scheduled to open across the country, creating multiple paths for future leaders while maintaining our connection through the winning principles of the PDS Health platform.

“Today the program is focused on an owner dentist but perhaps in the future we’ll expand to operations managers or dental hygienists,” Maha said. “I see this growing for future roles, serving as a learning and development hub for future generations so that we can push all of this out to more offices and people.”

As a national program, the development centers can serve different regions and perhaps eventually different roles. They all lead to the same destination: Extraordinary care delivered by extraordinary teams; all connected in purpose and practice.

Clinicians provide care to patients at Miami’s OD Development Center.

Dr. Zaklama working with a patient and clinician at the San Dimas OD Development Center.

Clinicians receive training from regional clinical leaders at Miami's OD Development Center.

From Associate to Owner in Eight Months

Dr. Kovinsky’s rapid rise shows what’s possible when drive and passion meet the power and support of the PDS Health platform.

Brooke Kovinsky, DDS, expected to be on the call with a PDS Health recruiter for 15 minutes. Two hours later, she’d accepted a role as an associate dentist at Port Orange Modern Dentistry (Office 961) and she started the following week. Eight months later, she became an owner dentist, finalizing the purchase of Clermont Modern Dentistry (Office 894) in Clermont, Florida.

The less than two-year-long trajectory is impressive, but not unexpected given her background and passion paired with what she describes as a ‘barrage of mentorship’ from PDS Health leaders who connected her to the resources, guidance and platform she needed to succeed.

Brooke Kovinsky, DDS (far left) and her team at Clermont Modern Dentistry on Smile Generation Serve Day.

Finding the Right Fit

Dr. Kovinsky began her career in private practice but quickly learned it was not the right fit. When she interviewed with owner dentists Minh Pham, DDS, and Benjamin Song, DMD, as well as Central Florida Regional Partner Ryan Stowasser, it was clear that she’d found the right place.

“During the interview, they reinforced that the overarching goal is always to make people healthier and happier in the most honest and predictable way. For me that was all that I needed to hear,” she said. “Then you get into the Mouth-Body Connection and all the other aspects that make PDS Health so innovative, and it was an easy decision.”

Dr. Kovinsky started a business while she was in dental school to help pay tuition, and for Ryan, it was this business acumen that stood out.

“Her attitude and high emotional intelligence were immediately clear. She can navigate situations without any training,” he said. “We created a relationship where we can give direct feedback and that has excelled her development so that she’s going into an existing practice and changing the culture and winning the hearts and minds of people.”

Dr. Pham similarly recognized that Dr. Kovinsky was a good and fast fit.

“She always came prepared. Even during her interview, the questions she asked showed a sharp business mindset,” he said. “Over time, I’ve seen just how tough she is, whether she’s dealing with executives or fellow clinicians, she never flinches.”

Rapid Results

As an associate dentist at Port Orange Modern Dentistry, Dr. Kovinsky hit the ground running. While she emphasizes that she received phenomenal support, it was also the attitude she adopted that contributed to her success.

“I believe in treating people how you want to be treated, and thanks to my amazing team, we cultivated that kind of environment while pushing toward new goals together,” she said.

Her success was reinforced when Port Orange won Most Improved Office of the Year award at the XP Gala in 2025, going from $1 million to $4.5 million in annual revenue. Less than a year later, Dr. Kovinsky is now leading the team at Clermont Modern Dentistry using that same attitude to help turn around an office in cash burn.

“I prioritize building my team up so that they feel bought in and respected,” she said.

While there’s a lot more to manage as an owner, Dr. Kovinsky emphasizes that her team is aligned in the goal and mission, creating a connected environment where everyone – regardless of their role – shares in the office’s success and works together to overcome challenges. One team, with many responsibilities, all moving forward together.

The Long View

The next challenge on the horizon is patience. Within her first few months of ownership, Dr. Kovinsky and her team exceeded the office’s best month by over $100,000, breaking the $300,000 milestone. The team’s efforts have created a sustainable and profitable office. But there is still more work to do which is why Dr. Kovinsky is focused on her long-term vision.

While attending the new owner doctor meeting earlier this year, Dr. Kovinsky was amazed by the magnitude of opportunities available through PDS Health’s large and growing network.

“It was so inspiring to see these leaders in dentistry who have been doing this work for decades still have so much passion and dedication,” she said. “It was an incredibly diverse group of people, and it illustrated to me that PDS Health has created an environment, culture and platform that if you follow it, you can do phenomenal things.”

Dr. Kovinsky leads a morning huddle with her team at Clermont Modern Dentistry.

Dr. Kovinsky with Central Florida Regional Partner Ryan Stowasser (fourth from left) and owner dentist Dr. Minh Pham (second from right) receiving the Most Improved Office of the Year at XP last year for leading the turnaround of Port Orange Modern Dentistry.

PDS Health: Igniting the Journey for New Owner Dentists

CAROLYN GHAZAL, DDS Owner Dentist, Executive Vice President, Office of the CEO

PDS Health Founder and CEO Stephen Thorne and Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, welcomed 43 new owner dentists to the Irvine Support Center for the annual New Owner Dentist Orientation.

The Irvine Support

Center welcomed new owner dentists Oct. 10-11 for two days of clinical and business acumen development and collaboration.

PDS Health welcomed 43 new owner dentists (ODs) including pediatric and orthodontic ODs, two regional managers and three regional partners for the 2025 New Owner Orientation held at the Irvine Support Center. Led by Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, Owner Dentist, Executive Vice President, Office of the CEO, the PDS Health UniversityDental team and key subject matter experts, this pivotal learning event provided attendees with critical platform standards and best practices to confidently lead their teams toward clinical excellence.

PDS Health’s newest business owners kicked off their journey by receiving crucial insights from Chief Financial

Officer Taylor Hawes and Drew McCaffrey, DMD. Dr. McCaffrey, a multi-practice owner dentist and Regional Clinical Partner in South Dallas Fort Worth Region, joined Taylor to not only extend congratulations but also to equip the group with the financial fundamentals vital for their success.

PDS Health Founder and CEO Stephen Thorne spoke to the new ODs about what it means to be extraordinary, emphasizing the importance of the Mouth-Body Connection, clinical leadership and its aspects in OD development.

Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, addresses new owner dentists.

Stephen Thorne addresses new owner dentists at the Irvine Support Center.

PDS Health CFO Taylor Hawes outlines financial fundamentals to new owner dentists.

Youstina Mekhael, DDS, Owner Dentist of Azusa Modern Dentistry (Office 1236) and recent participant in the OD Development Center program in San Dimas, Calif., shared the value she got from meeting fellow ODs.

“I learned a lot from each lecture. Every session was an opportunity to add to my knowledge,” said Dr. Mekhael. “I was especially excited to meet our Founder and CEO Stephen Thorne and gain deeper insight into his vision for the future of PDS Health as we continue leading and refining the culture of health care.”

The journey from associate to owner dentist demands a significant mindset shift, especially when it comes to mastering the financial pulse of a dental practice. To navigate this transition, attendees delved into the specifics of profit and loss statements and their direct impact on business health. Guiding them through this were Dave Bryant, Vice President of Operations Support, and Dr. Karim Zaklama, a multi-practice owner dentist and member of the National Clinical Council and Regional Clinical Partner for South Inland Empire Region. Together, they reinforced the importance of financial acumen for sustainable practice growth.

As the co-owner of Woodbury Smiles Dentistry (Office 873), Amanda Kapetanakis, DDS, appreciated how the PDS Health platform made the path towards ownership feel achievable, and how the training provided a better understanding of the business side of ownership.

“In dental school, we get very little exposure on how a business is run or how to read spreadsheets,” she explained. “I was excited to learn how to interpret the numbers and reports and make decisions about how to improve those numbers.”

Dr. Mekhael reiterated that she received especially helpful feedback that helped her think like a business owner.

“The most impactful piece of advice I received was ‘start with the mindset and everything else will follow.’ Since then, I have embraced a growth mindset and learned to think like an owner by analyzing key performance indicators, managing team dynamics and aligning daily operations with long-term business goals.”

Owner Dentist of Richfield Dentistry (Office 871) Mustapha Mansuri, DDS, applauded PDS Health for investing in ODs. He recounted a recent visit from his regional clinical

Youstina Mekael, DDS

VP of Operations Support, Dave Bryant, and Karim Zaklama, DDS, spoke to new owner dentists about financial management of a dental practice.

Amanda Kapetanakis, DDS

Mustapha Mansuri, DDS

partner, a session explicitly designed as part of the “OD Fundamentals: A Roadmap for Success” pre-work. This engagement provided him with a detailed review of his office’s clinical culture and metrics, emphasizing key areas such as CBCT, CCX, the Mouth-Body Connection, and best practices for hiring, coaching and developing associates.

Regional Partner for the Georgia Region Olufemi Majekobaje and Multi-Practice Owner Dentist Janki Patel, DMD (who is also a Regional Clinical Partner in Georgia), educated the ODs on how to leverage metrics to help better coach their associates. Attendees analyzed various metrics, experiencing firsthand how “data turns feelings into facts.” This objective became their foundation, helping them identify and coach behaviors for optimal performance.

As leaders, ODs are responsible for coaching and influencing team members, specifically associate dentists. At the heart of all impactful coaching activities lies a foundation of trust which begins with authentic connection, a prerequisite for promoting open dialogue and genuine growth. This skill set can be delivered

and refined through the methodical framework of XP Coaching. Jeani Spencer, Director, Learning and Development, led a session about this structured framework and included role-playing to allow the ODs to get comfortable with sometimes difficult conversations.

Recognizing that the right talent can shape a dental practice’s future, Diana Do-Yabut, DMD, Regional Clinical Partner of the Louisiana Region and Erica Stapleton, Director, Operations Support, led a session about how to successfully onboard an associate dentist.

The session demonstrated that ideal fit isn’t merely beneficial, but a key driver for sustained practice success. Dr. Do-Yabut and Erica closed the day with an interactive session of role-playing specific scenarios that ODs will encounter in their everyday practice. Attendees like Dr. Mekhael shared some of the highlights from the twoday session: “Connecting with fellow new ODs and sharing insights, learning from their experiences, and building meaningful, lasting friendships.”

The next new owner dentist orientation will take place on May 8 and 9, 2026.

Janki Patel, DMD, and Regional Partner Olu Majekobaje

Jeani Spencer, Director, Learning and Development

Diana Do-Yabut, DMD, and Drew McCaffrey, DMD

Connected Through Visionary Leadership

Inside the Thorne Center for Excellence™, which is investing in influential, passionate leaders to help build the next generation of PDS Health.

Leadership is one of the most important forces in any organization. At PDS Health, leadership is grounded in action, character and a commitment to serve. It shows up in how people support others, build trust, and work toward a shared vision.

As PDS Health Founder and CEO Stephen Thorne often shares, leadership is about bringing a future vision into reality through consistent, purposeful action. Without leadership, nothing lasting or meaningful can happen or be sustained. It is not defined by role or title, but by influence. People who elevate those around them through service, behavior and results help bring our collective vision to life.

That approach is what connects people across PDS Health, from the first patient interaction at the reception desk to the teams supporting care from behind the scenes. Leadership lives in every role. And now, with the creation of the Thorne Center for Excellence, based at the PDS Health Henderson Corporate Headquarters (HCHQ), that leadership journey has a home.

The Thorne Center for Excellence reflects our longterm investment in helping team members grow, lead with purpose and feel connected to their work and one another. Its flagship program, Leadership Edge, was created to elevate the next generation of leaders and align them around the same vision, beliefs and expectations.

“A leader brings vision into reality. It’s not enough to dream. Leaders identify what needs to happen, engage the right people and execute with integrity,” said Stephen.

“A leader brings vision into reality. It’s not enough to dream. Leaders identify what needs to happen, engage the right people and execute with integrity.”

– Stephen Thorne, Founder and CEO, PDS Health

Karim Zaklama, DDS, and Diana Do-Yabut, DMD during a session of “Leadership Edge.”

Members of the second cohort of the Thorne Center for Excellence's "Leadership Edge" program.

A Leadership Model Rooted in Our Culture

Launched in 2024, Leadership Edge is a seven-month experience offered twice a year for senior leaders across PDS Health. Participants are identified through the annual talent review process, with final selection personally reviewed and approved by Stephen Thorne. The experience is built to reflect the real challenges of leading in a fast-growing, integrated healthcare organization.

Unlike many leadership programs that are brief or overly general, Leadership Edge offers extended engagement, peer learning and long-term development. The curriculum is centered around the PDS Health Leadership Model and includes insights from external thought leaders.

The experience is organized around four core themes:

• Leadership Brand – Participants review known leadership styles, how to articulate personal values and stories to become a leader that others choose to follow.

• Leadership Influence – Identify opportunity and build skill in each of PDS Health’s 5 Elements of Trust to motivate and inspire action in others and create highly engaged and productive teams.

• Leadership Impact – Focus on driving results personally and through others and learn how to use accountability to improve relationships and results.

• Leadership Vision – Identify talent in others to grow and develop current and future PDS Health leaders.

Participants leave with new tools, stronger relationships and a clearer sense of their purpose as leaders. Recent graduates across the first few cohorts shared how deeply the program resonated with them:

“The Leadership Edge program is a powerful experience that pushes you emotionally and mentally in all the right ways. Each session leaves you feeling recharged and better equipped to lead your team with clarity and confidence.”

“This program has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. It pushed me to look inward, to understand the kind of leader I want to be and how to show up more intentionally for my team and for myself.”

The Center is intentionally designed for both clinical and non-clinical leaders. Clinicians bring deep scientific knowledge and first-hand care experience, while operations and support leaders contribute leadership and business expertise. By learning alongside one another, both groups gain a more comprehensive understanding of the organization and strengthen their ability to lead across teams.

An Investment in the Future

As PDS Health focuses on dental-medical integration and laying the foundation to become the greatest integrated healthcare company in the world, we will rely heavily on leaders who can translate this vision into meaningful action, uniting teams around a shared purpose and driving sustained progress.

The Thorne Center for Excellence debuted at a pivotal moment as it works to prepare current and emerging leaders to guide others through change, scale what works and lead with clarity. Just as importantly, it makes leadership development feel relevant and connected to everyday work.

“We believe leadership is essential to achieving our vision of creating the greatest integrated health care company in the world,” said Joanna Rodgers, Executive Vice President, Office of the CEO. “The Thorne Center for Excellence is where we invest in that leadership, not just for today, but for what lies ahead.”

While Leadership Edge is the Center’s first offering, additional development tracks are in progress. These may be tailored by role, specialty or career stage. There is also growing interest in expanding opportunities for clinicians to grow as both care providers and leaders, reinforcing our commitment to transformational leadership at every level.

A Shared Commitment

The Thorne Center for Excellence represents PDS Health’s commitment to our next phase. As we step forward to lead the industry in dental-medical integration, we will need to push the boundaries further than we have before. While we’ve always been on the leading edge of technology and business, it will require more of us to break the siloed nature of our healthcare system.

A key tool to help us accomplish this will be the thoughtful, driven and passionate leadership of our team members, who will create a culture of excellence and innovation across departments, offices and regions.

We’re investing in leaders who can elevate others. That includes clinical leaders who guide their peers toward excellence and operational leaders who better understand the clinical side of care. This kind of mutual growth strengthens alignment across teams and enhances the experience for every patient and every team member.

The first and second cohort of senior leaders who participated in Leadership Edge.

One Platform. Many Roles. All Connected.

PDSConnect 3.0 sets the foundation for a more unified team member experience.

Even before a new team member starts their first day, their journey with PDS Health is already in motion. From onboarding to training to benefits, their earliest interactions shape how supported they feel.

In the past, those first steps were often disjointed. Team members had to navigate multiple systems, juggle passwords and rely on trial and error to find what they needed. The process didn’t reflect the size or ambition of an organization built to lead.

The launch of PDSConnect 3.0 in August 2025 was the first step toward changing that. The platform brings essential tools and resources together in one place. It offers a streamlined experience and a more intuitive starting point for completing tasks, submitting requests and accessing support.

But, as with any meaningful enterprise change, lessons have been learned and adjustments made to a new way of doing things. The shift from a traditional menu-based system to a modern, search-based model has required adjustments.

DAVID BAKER Chief Information and Digital Officer

“The platform represents a starting point, not the finish line,” said David Baker, Chief Information and Digital Officer. “We launched with the most critical features first and are building and iterating every single week to improve and mature the platform that will see us through the next five years plus of scale."

Built with Intention

This was one of the most complex digital efforts ever undertaken at PDS Health. Teams across IT, People Services, Recruiting, Learning and Field Operations worked side by side to ensure the platform would serve the real needs of our teams — not just at launch, but long term.

Behind the scenes, IT connected dozens of systems, including Workday, Okta, iCIMS, Salesforce, ServiceNow and Cornerstone. The architecture allows for real-time data flow as team members move through different phases of their journey.

Security, scalability and user experience were at the center of every decision. From clinicians and operations managers to national support staff and new hires, the goal was to create one consistent experience tailored to the role of each person using it.

“We approached this as a foundational investment in how we support our people,” said Baker. “There’s more work ahead, but this gives us the infrastructure to keep improving.”

Focused on the Beginning

Improving the onboarding experience was a key driver for the project. New hires now move through a more cohesive, guided process — from forms and training to benefits and IT access. The steps are clearer. The flow is smoother. The experience feels more intentional.

“We’re already seeing smoother onboarding and fewer bottlenecks,” said Trish Elliott, Vice President, People Services. “It makes a big difference for new team members and helps them feel supported right away.”

Mobile access has also helped extend the platform’s reach. For team members working across practices or in the field, having tools that can be used on the go is essential.

Learning and Listening

PDSConnect 3.0 is the start of a larger shift. It was launched as a minimum viable product (MVP), with a clear understanding that the experience would improve over time. That work is already underway, guided by team member feedback and supported by cross-functional teams across the organization.

As with any MVP, feedback has been critical. Team members have highlighted clear wins: A cleaner layout, faster onboarding and better search performance. Others have pointed out areas that still need refinement, especially support requests and visibility of key tools.

That feedback is actively shaping the next round of updates, which includes:

• Smarter search and better recommendations

• A centralized Resource Hub for frequently used forms and knowledge articles

• Expanded self-service workflows

• More personalized content based on role and location

• Mobile enhancements

• Dashboards that help leaders better understand what team members need at large

“We approached this as a foundational investment in how we support our people.”

– David Baker, Chief Information and Digital Officer

A Platform That Will Grow

This effort goes beyond building a new platform and focuses on building trust. It’s about making sure every team member, in every role, has easier access to the tools and support they need to succeed. It reflects a shared commitment to designing systems that match the strength, scale and purpose of PDS Health.

“Whether you’re a hygienist, operations manager, recruiter, or technician, our goal is for PDSConnect to be the hub that supports your work and connects you to the resources you need,” said Baker.

The team behind this launch remains focused on what comes next. Every update, every improvement and every decision moving forward will keep one priority at the center: Improving the team member experience, one step at a time.

Evolutionary Journey of Specialty Connect

Specialty Connect helps traveling dental assistants and specialists stay organized.

This year, it received upgrades to enhance user experience and efficiency.

JOSH ALBRIGHT

Sr.

Director,

Specialty Operations

MOSTAFA KHAIRZADA Vice President, Technology Innovations

As PDS Health continues to revolutionize the industry with trailblazing clinical technologies like the scaled integration and optimization of Epic and the launch of OralFitnessCheck (OFC) in every practice, we’re equally committed to ensuring this spirit of innovation energizes every team member at every level. One of our latest innovations is a reinvention of how we schedule our specialty dental assistants (SDAs), especially those who travel to a new office every day.

“With nearly 1,500 SDAs representing about 9% of our field team members, we saw a golden opportunity to dramatically improve their experience,” said Josh Albright, Sr. Director of Specialty Operations. “Our mission is simple: To make scheduling, and more importantly the user experience, effortless, intuitive and friction-free through a completely rebuilt system, a vibrant new user interface and powerfully expanded functionality.”

The original Specialty Connect launched in 2011 and helped PDS Health leap from clunky handwritten spreadsheets to a centralized, systemized scheduling solution. But after 15 years, it was time for another bold evolution.

This year, we partnered with PDS Health Innovations™ to identify ideal workflows, brainstorm design and engineer a new Specialty Connect from the ground up. Our guiding star: Deliver a platform with a fresh new interface, dragand-drop simplicity and seamless integration with the People Services Center, eliminating tedious manual profile management.

“At PDS Health Innovations, our dedication lies in advancing case acceptance in dental offices and streamlining their workflow,” said Mostafa Khairzada, Vice President of Technology Innovations. “We aim to provide a seamless experience and we believe the Specialty Connect product will significantly enhance office operations, benefiting both patients and the entire team.”

The new Specialty Connect was launched as a minimum viable product (MVP) to all schedulers in July and was adopted quickly. By the time we completed full rollout in August, more than 20,000 schedules had been created in

the new system, and by November that number jumped to 50,000. Thanks to cross-department collaboration and ongoing field feedback, we’ve rapidly identified and delivered multiple rounds of enhancements, and this is only the beginning.

“Our design philosophy centers around minimizing clicks and simplifying what is often an arduous, multiapplication process,” said Mostafa. “We strive to create technologies that are not only user-friendly but also intuitive, learning and adapting to each user’s unique style.”

Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to keep adding gamechanging features for our specialty field teams. Future upgrades will bring deeper Workday integration including approved time-off incorporation, real-time collaboration across multiple schedulers, personalized team member notifications and so much more.

Prioritizing What Matters to You. And to Us.

PDS Health is committed to creating healthier, happier patients, but we can’t fully live our mission and vision without first prioritizing our greatest resources: Team members like you. That’s why we recently conducted a survey to get a better understanding of your wants and needs, so that we can better tailor our team member benefits programs.

The survey provided valuable insight and reminded us that our experiences are more connected than we may realize. Overwhelmingly, team members requested more affordable health care options, noting high premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs as blocks to care. While key challenges varied, finances and work-life harmony were the top two challenging areas identified by team members.

We hear and acknowledge these priorities and in response, we've introduced several new programs you can take advantage of today, with more on the way.

Wellness Rebate

Our new wellness rebate puts money in your pocket immediately. Make sure you complete your annual physical or wellness exam before December 31, 2025, to get the $240 rebate in 2026. It may take up to 90 days between your doctor's visit and when the rebate is processed.

To complete the process, register for the PDS Health Wellness Platform (powered by Espresa) and join the “Earn Your 2026 Anthem Medical Premium Rebate” challenge. Once you’ve completed your visit, confirm it was recorded and that you earned a completion badge within the wellness platform.

Beginning in 2026, the wellness rebate will be reflected as a $10 rebate on your bi-weekly or semi-monthly paycheck to offset the medical premium. This is one immediate step we’re taking to improve affordability. We’ll have more affordable medical options for elective surgeries to announce in 2026 — stay tuned!

401(k) Enhancements

We have several 401(k) plan updates designed to make saving simpler and more accessible. Some of these enhancements rolled out earlier in 2025, and others will take effect in January 2026. The goal is to help you build your retirement savings more efficiently while giving you easier access to your funds when needed.

401(k) changes include:

• Reduced fees

• Emergency access to funds

• Expanded contribution limits

• Simplified rollover process

To ensure your account is secure and up to date, log in to NetBenefits® and confirm your personal information.

For assistance with your retirement benefits, contact the Fidelity Retirement Benefits Line at 800-835-5095 or visit NetBenefits.com. If you’d like guidance on your 401(k) plan or investment options, you can also reach SageView Advisory Group at 833-SAGE-411.

Digestive Support

Digestive health claims continue to be a frequent condition on our medical plan. After piloting a digital digestive health program with Ayble Health, we're excited to make it available to all Anthem-enrolled PDS Health team members.

You can now use Ayble to identify potential trigger foods and receive guidance from a nutrition expert to better manage diet and improve gut health. The program is built around the mind-gut connection and creates a tailored diet and program to improve your gut health.

“Ayble was easy to use and made it simple to track my progress and stay connected with my coach.”

– Julie Tennie, Manager, Brand Marketing

You can use Ayble through its mobile app to track food, connect with your coach and update your progress.

MARIE FERLAND Director, Benefits

Training the Next Generation of Dental Leaders to Serve All Patients

Dental hygiene students from Carrington College (top left and bottom right) provide treatment to a patient at the Dentists for Special Needs office.

Dental hygiene students from Northern Arizona University pose after completing a week-long rotation at the PDS Health Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office.

Midwestern University students completing a clinical rotation at the PDS Health Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office.

The PDS Health Foundation™ is leading partnerships to prepare future dental professionals to treat patients with intellectual and development disabilities.

PDS Health Foundation continues to expand its specialized care initiatives to reach patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the country.

Parents frequently share that one of the greatest barriers to care is clinician discomfort or limited exposure to treating patients with special needs. Clinicians at the PDS Health Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office in Phoenix, Ariz. have developed strong expertise in this area, and the Foundation is working to share that knowledge more broadly.

By connecting students, educators and experienced clinicians to the Dentists for Special Needs office, the team is building pathways that help dental professionals develop the skills and confidence needed to serve all patients. This year, several key programs launched to help ensure the next generation of providers graduates with comfort, competency and compassion.

Dental Rotation

Most dental students graduate without ever treating a patient with a disability. To address this gap, the Foundation launched a clinical rotation program with Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz.

Each quarter, 20 dental students will receive hands-on experience treating patients.

“If we have 145 graduating students each year that are now comfortable because they’ve done this rotation, that’s 145 providers that we’ll be sending out to practice,” said Cara Copeland, DMD, MS, MEd, Associate Professor and Director of Community Service and Outreach at Midwestern University. “There’s no magic spell or secret, it’s compassion and empathy and showing our students, breaking down barriers, making it less intimidating for them.”

Expanded Education and Training

Earlier this year, the PDS Health Foundation received a $225,000 grant from the WITH Foundation to expand education and training for dental and dental hygiene students. The grant supports:

• Continuing Education (CE) courses, co-developed with the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and focused on the Mouth-Body Connection, aging, medical complexities, behavioral health and whole health care with a disability lens at the new PDS Health Care Collaborative in Sacramento, Calif.

• Dental hygiene student rotations in partnership with Northern Arizona University and Carrington College at the Dentists for Special Needs office to provide handson experience and build comfort and competency treating patients with disabilities.

• Disability learning series, which includes a training curriculum delivered across PDS Health and focused on educating clinicians about healthcare disparities, the Mouth-Body Connection’s relation to disability and building comfort and readiness to treat patients.

All of these programs serve as vital connection points between future dental leaders and patients. Education and training form a clear strategy to remove the barriers that prevent people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from receiving the dental care they deserve.

Together, as one team, across multiple institutions and practices, the PDS Health Foundation is ensuring that new graduates are prepared to serve all patients and that families are no longer turned away due to discomfort or lack of exposure.

MICHAEL

LE

Executive

Director, PDS Health Foundation

The Connection Running Through All That We Do: Service

Even though teams are spread across the country, the PDS Health platform keeps everyone connected. Another thread connects us as well: Service. It continues to shape how we work, lead and care for one another.

At PDS Health, service is not limited to a single event or season. It’s part of our identity. As the organization has grown, the commitment to serving others has drawn people who share the same values and purpose. This shared mindset is sparking more service activities nationwide as teams support their local communities.

We’re proud to highlight just a few examples here.

More than 75 PDS Health team members in Denver, Colo. participated in the Special Olympics Plane Pull, a competition to see which team can pull a jumbo jet across the tarmac the fastest. The annual event supports Special Olympics programs in Colorado, providing sport and fitness opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Innovations

The PDS Health Innovations team volunteered at Second Harvest’s Solutions Farm in Orange County, Calif. harvesting vegetables that were delivered to local families and businesses in need within 24 hours. The team enjoyed getting their hands dirty to support their community.

ISC Accounting

The accounting team has made quarterly service a tradition, strengthening their bond while giving back to the community. Their most memorable experience was participating in Share Ourselves’ Adopt-a-Family program, where they fulfilled a family’s holiday wish list and wrapped gifts for both children and parents.

Georgia

Team members in Georgia host a volunteer event every quarter at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, organizing teams to sort food donations and prepare meals. During a recent trip, team members helped prepare more than 8,000 meals for local families.

Massachusetts

In the Massachusetts region, team members launched several volunteer activities this year including: Lead the Way 5K which benefits The Learning Center for the Deaf, an Earth Day cleanup event, the Special Olympics Summer Games, and a volunteer event at the Greater Boston Food Bank where team members made more than 7,000 meals for local residents.

Midwest

More than 40 PDS Health team members in Kansas City volunteered at the TeamSmile event at Arrowhead Stadium with the Kansas City Chiefs, providing free dental care to children in need. This year also marked TeamSmile’s first sensory room for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, staffed by PDS Health team members and clinicians from the PDS Health Foundation Dentists for Special Needs office.

New Mexico

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, PDS Health team members completed the University of New Mexico (UNM) Lobo Cancer Challenge. More than 25 people ran a 5K, climbed the UNM football stadium stairs or helped raise awareness about oral health care at the Smile Generation booth. Money raised went toward the UNM Cancer Foundation.

Oregon

Team members in Portland, Ore. participated in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, braving the frigid temperatures of the Willamette River to raise awareness and funds for better access to oral health care for young people with intellectual disabilities.

San Diego

More than 25 Specialty Dental Assistants (SDAs) in San Diego participated in a beach cleanup at Fiesta Island. It was an opportunity to meet other SDAs and connect with different offices. SDAs and other PDS Health team members participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Liberty Station, using the event as an opportunity to educate people about oral health’s connection to Alzheimer’s disease.

Specialties

PDS Health Specialties completed its first international service trip to the PDS Health Foundation’s Clínica Dental in Guatemala. Periodontist Zulema Valdivia, DDS, Endodontist Fredericka Salbo, DMD, and their clinical teams provided root canals, extractions and other care to more than 100 patients. The team also built bunk beds and offered fluoride treatments to a nearby community.

CARLI CASEY Director, We Serve

Change (in Dentistry) is a Good Thing

People aren't afraid of change, they're afraid of uncertainty. At PDS Health, we believe that most, if not all, change is good. Think about some of the best moments in your life — starting school, changing jobs, meeting someone special, moving to a new town, the birth of a child. All of these are reminders that change breeds adaptation and growth.

Dentistry right now is experiencing a lot of good change that might be scary for some in the industry who don’t see what we see — excitement and endless opportunity. From robotics and AI to dental-medical integration and increased scope of practice, we’re seeing amazing advancement and improvement happening very quickly. But for those unwilling to adapt, these shifts might feel more like a struggle.

Industry Shifts

Organized dentistry, specifically the American Dental Association (ADA) and state dental components, may not be enjoying this evolution as much as we are. Early this year, the ADA’s executive director resigned, then in July, the ADA announced major budget cuts, resulting in layoffs of long-tenured team members and the elimination of programs. During this time, the ADA has been surprisingly transparent about its decreasing revenue and 17 years of declining membership.

But from such changes, come massive opportunities. There is a need for leadership and new ideas, and we’re thrilled to have several PDS Health clinicians working to deepen our influence within the ADA including: Lynda Watanabe, DDS, immediate past president of Tri-County Dental Society, Miran Ho, MS, DDS, Kelley HollingsworthRyals, DDS, Bianca Velayo, DMD, Dylan Weber, DDS and Alia Osseiran, MPH, MS, DMD.

These six PDS Health owner dentists have all taken on internal or external leadership roles within the ADA at the local or national level. They are working together to expand our influence, but we’re always looking for

GARY J. PACKARD Senior Director, Government & Industry Affairs

more people. If you are interested, please reach out to pickardg@pdshealth.com. PDS Health will continue to partner with the ADA where it makes sense. ADA Forsyth for example is very interested in our support and working together to elevate the industry, advance medical dental integration and continue with ground breaking research.

While industry stalwarts might be seeing declining revenue or membership, organizations like the National Dental Association (NDA), Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and most specialty dental trades have seen growth. PDS Health partners with all of these organizations to help bridge the gap that exists between supported and non-supported clinicians, and we’re proud to report that we’re the first and only DSO to be invited to join the NDA’s Corporate Council.

Legislative Threats

Unfortunately, when institutions see their way of life being threatened, they can become territorial. Over the last two legislative cycles, the California Dental Association (CDA) spent considerable political capital to add unnecessary dental language to bills that would have directly impacted PDS Health if we weren’t able to secure better language. Kansas still has a law on the state’s books limiting the number of offices a dentist can own. Texas requires dentists who choose to affiliate with a DSO to register with the state. DSOs in North Carolina must submit contracts with the state dental board. And we see dental associations fight vigorously to maintain these restrictive laws.

It wasn’t until recently that the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) discovered that though dentists may be delaying ownership – up to seven years now – DSOs like PDS Health offer opportunities for more supported ownership. This idea goes against the long-held industry narrative about DSOs.

Evolving Roles

While there have been some legislative challenges, there have also been positive changes secured over the last few years, including scope of practice changes, license portability, and new standards across the profession. This reflects an evolution taking place across the country, as professionals across the industry advocate to work at the top of their license.

There are competing dentist and dental hygiene license compact bills being introduced in multiple states. The Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) is attempting to standardize DA licensure and scope. Hygienists have been fighting to administer local anesthesia and lasers, and because of workforce challenges, we’re seeing proposals to increase scope of practice for DAs to include local anesthesia and scaling.

New dental schools have been opened or expanded but there is still increasing demand without enough supply. DSOs have helped support the expansion, to the ire of organized dentistry, yet the industry has failed to step up in equal measure.

At PDS Health, we believe that new schools mean new curriculum and an opportunity to help reinforce dentalmedical integration and the Mouth-Body Connection with the next generation of dental leaders. As a result, we’re seeing more medical training, technology and the acceptance of alternative practice models.

Leading Change

Over the last few years, larger dental groups, and especially leading DSOs like PDS Health, have grown in size and influence, while traditional private practices have struggled to maintain their long-held position of power and dominance, perhaps because they’ve clung to outdated methods and beliefs.

Change is inevitable and it's coming, from new entities entering the field, to the first IPO in decades, to leadership moves at industry stalwarts like Dentsply Sirona and private equity investments in companies like Henry Schein. This is the Golden Era of Dentistry and PDS Health believes that everyone can win if they're willing to embrace change, not fear it.

Celebrating eXtraordinary Performance

As We Believe #5 states, “Quality performance at every job, every day, every hour is required,” and PDS Health’s recognition programs are our way of thanking everyone for their incredible dedication to delivering eXtraordinary Performance.

Every year, top performers from across the organization are invited to attend the President’s Club, Pinnacle Club and OM Champion’s Club and are rewarded with a PDS Health-sponsored trip to a beautiful destination location. We strive to provide a five-star experience and allow time for pampering, relaxation and collaboration with each other. Each recipient may bring one guest to attend.

This year, more than 170 winners were celebrated at the President’s Club trip at Chileno Bay in Cabo San Lucas, the Pinnacle Club trip at Montage Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas and the OM Champion’s Club at the Paséa Hotel and Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif.

In between rest and relaxation, the topics of providing patient-centric care, mentorship and measuring success came up often between attendees. Many reflected over the true meanings of leadership and shared what they enjoyed most about their experiences.

“ Our practices thrive because we place exceptional care at the center of everything we do. We listen, communicate and tailor each treatment to ensure every patient feels respected, informed and comfortable. Our success is built on the strength of our teamwork. Together, we don’t just work. We grow, we lead and we transform lives one smile at a time. ”

Joseph Brown, DMD Owner Dentist, North Las Vegas Modern Dentistry (Office 1193) and Jennifer Brown, DMD, Owner Dentist, Spring Valley Modern Dentistry (Office 601) on how they measure success in their practices.

Pinnacle Club was a powerful reminder that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves. I’m bringing back a renewed focus on connection and gratitude to inspire my teams and remind them that their hard work is shaping something extraordinary.

“Pinnacle Club was a truly enriching experience. I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by such an exceptional group of leaders who not only excel professionally but also lead with heart and humility. Being among such an incredible group doesn't just inspire me; it profoundly recalibrates my definition of leadership, continually raising the standard of what I believe is possible and empowering me to be the best version of myself.

For more information about the Incentive Clubs, search for Rewards and Recognition on the PDSConnect intranet.

Linda Mata-Icart Regional Director, North Inland Empire Region on what she will be bringing back to her team from Pinnacle Club:

Gracjanna Burris Director, Field Development, on her experience at Pinnacle Club:

2026

Adversity is a natural part in management, but how you overcome it and accept those challenges is a true indicator of growth and success.

Incentive Club Trips

President’s Club

May 14-17, 2026

Chileno Bay, Cabo San Lucas

Pinnacle Club

June 25-28, 2026

Rosewood Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas

OM Champion’s Club

ept. 17-20, 2026

Four Seasons, Nashville, Tennessee

Steffen Miner Operations Manager, Goodyear Smiles Dentistry (Office 216) on the shared qualities that he and his fellow team members shared as indicators of success:

Meet the PDS Health

Family

The work we do both in and outside of our supported practices and support centers is what helps provide purpose, meaning and harmony in work and life. The common threads that connect us all are the human elements and stories shared that create our unique company culture.

Here are a few stories to help you get to know your fellow team members and clinicians on a personal level. Who we hire says a lot about who PDS Health is as an organization. And we are so happy you chose PDS Health — you make us smile.

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming issue of PDS Life, please submit your story idea to PDSConnect@pdshealth.com.

Sweet Harmony: The Three Caramels

Dominick Maldonado, DDS

Associate Dentist

North Los Angeles Region, Dentists of Montebello (Office 1053) and Dentists of Pico Rivera (Office 614)

From Opportunities Given to Opportunities Made

Yasmin Alfurati

Senior Specialist, We Serve Dallas Support Center

Dominick Maldonado, DDS, never imagined he’d open for Los Panchos, a legendary Mexican trio, at the Ford Theatre. He began playing guitar while studying dentistry at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, searching for balance outside the classroom.

It started with classic rock covers, but when postgraduate work took him to Eastern Europe, homesickness drew him back towards the sounds of home. That’s when he discovered música de trío – three guitars, three harmonies, romantic boleros from the 1940s and 1950s.

“When I heard it, I thought, if I ever play in a band, this is what I want to play,” he said.

When he returned to California, Dr. Maldonado and his bandmate Matthew began performing at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. Together, they formed the Trío Los Caramelos and dove into the tradition of música de trío romántico. The songs range from tender love ballads to songs of heartbreak.

“It’s always there in our culture... from romance to sadness, it’s life in music,” he said.

Now Dr. Maldonado and Matthew perform across Los Angeles, from intimate cafés to historic venues like the Paramount in Boyle Heights. The audiences span generations from young listeners to seniors who find great comfort in the music.

“It hits a certain part of the soul,” he said.

Yasmin Alfurati was one of 30 people to graduate from the Dana Juett Residency organized by Social Venture Partners Dallas this year. The nine-month venture philanthropy program helps service-oriented leaders strengthen their skills in social impact work. Her capstone project included helping a McKinney, Texas housing nonprofit develop a plan to acquire a local food bank.

“I wanted to push myself to grow alongside people who care deeply about making an impact,” Yasmin said. “The residency taught me how business and community can work together for lasting change.”

Her passion for service was cultivated at an early age. As the daughter of an immigrant mother from Mexico and refugee father from Iraq, she experienced healthcare inequities firsthand. When her father’s serious injury buried her family in medical bills, Yasmin – at just 15 years-old – became the one to navigate the system. That’s where she found her purpose.

She earned a full scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where she helped raise $50,000 with classmates to create For Texas You Will, a scholarship for low-income women. Today, she remains involved in choosing recipients.

The Dana Juett Residency deepened that work, and she’s bringing that framework to PDS Health. She recently helped expand the PDS Health Foundation’s international service trips program to Clínica Dental in Guatemala, where collaboration with leadership made it possible for two medical assistants to join for the first time.

“Seeing clinicians at PDS Health go above and beyond and doing pro bono dentistry even outside of Serve Day reaffirms why I do what I do,” she said.

Where the Laouto Leads

George Parisis, DDS

Associate Dentist

Minnesota Region, Richfield Dentistry (Office 871)

Dr. Parisis’ hands move with the same precision whether he’s restoring a smile or playing melodies on the laouto, a Greek folk instrument. Each is an act of creating harmony, one through sound and the other through a smile, but ask him about the difference, and he’ll tell you about freedom.

“When I play music, I feel like there are no limits,” Dr. Parisis says. It’s a feeling that began at age 15, when his father’s friend from church — a craftsman who made and played Greek instruments — taught basic melodies and chords to him on mandolin and his brother on lyra.

They dove into traditional Cretan folk music, though their parents are from Kefalonia, Greece, a different island with different sounds entirely. When their mentor passed a year later, the brothers became self-taught, absorbing everything they could from live performances and recordings.

For more than two decades, Dr. Parisis has been part of the Folk Dance Festival, a cornerstone of the Greek Orthodox community in the U.S. He began as a dancer in 2004 before shifting to live music in 2013.

To many, this fesitval is far more than a competition, it’s a vibrant celebration of heritage where thousands of people gather each year to honor tradition through dance, music and fellowship. Dr. Parisis has experienced both sides of the stage, winning awards as a dancer and later helping groups place in the top ranks as a musician, including a first-place finish four years ago.

This past summer in Crete, Greece, a chance encounter at a barbershop led him to a tiny “man-cave shed” where he played his laouto for the barber’s grandfather and his friends. The music they had inherited through generations flowed back to them from his hands. A timeless promise of connection.

“When I play music, I feel like there are no limits.”

— George Parisis, DDS

Building a Legacy of Giving, Gratitude and Grace

Autumn Tollison

Healthcare Coordinator

North West Arizona Region, Prescott Modern Dentistry (Office 213)

Autumn Tollison didn’t grow up riding motorcycles. She grew up with a dream: Honoring her country’s veterans and giving back wherever she could. When she met her husband Matthew in 2021, she found both love and purpose wrapped in chrome and leather.

For four years, Autumn has served as secretary and “righthand man” to her husband, commander of New Founders of Freedom Shop III, a fraternal order that organizes charity rides for veterans and cancer patients. They don’t call themselves a motorcycle club, but a community of likeminded individuals who turn their love of motorcycles into a mission to give back.

Their signature event, the Rocker Ride, supports members and friends facing cancer. The group’s largest fundraiser brought in $20,000 for a member’s son battling cancer. More recently, they raised $5,000 for a member’s mother with breast cancer and no insurance.

Autumn is at the heart of it all coordinating registration, gathering raffle prizes and cooking for crowds. On a ride day, she and her husband lead 40 bikes, two riders each, on routes that can stretch to five hours from one American Legion to another.

Then there’s Santa for Soldiers, a 13-year-tradition in which riders raise thousands of dollars to give military families a fully catered Christmas. Weeks before the holiday, Santa Claus arrives on a sleigh to deliver gifts and joy.

“I cry every time we go home,” Autumn said. “It’s emotional just knowing that we helped somebody who desperately needed it.”

Those tears affirm her outlook and heart for helping others: “Everyone is going through something in life. Give everyone grace, because you don’t know what the next person is going through.”

The Beauty of Believing in Yourself Guadalupe Blas

Healthcare Coordinator

Minnesota Region, Richfield Dentistry (Office #871)

Since she was young, Guadalupe Blas has been drawn to the art of transformation. She finds joy in showing people the beauty they already possess. That spark eventually led her to the world of cosmetics, where she built a career with Bobbi Brown and Estée Lauder.

After 15 years, she was promoted to cosmetics supervisor, managing the Bobbi Brown counter and earning certification. When she left retail for Richfield Dentistry four years ago, Estée Lauder’s regional manager didn’t want to lose her and offered Guadalupe the chance to freelance. So, she splits her time: Patients during the week, clients on weekends.

But she wanted more. This year, she invested 100 hours in professional makeup artistry training. Her freelance work now spans everything from brand shoots and special events to weddings and creative transformations.

“Now, when Estée Lauder invites me to events, they introduce me as a professional makeup artist,” she said.

It was proof to Guadalupe that her hard work paid off. Her proudest moment came in September when she did her daughter’s wedding makeup the dream that started it all.

“Don’t be scared,” she said. “If you have that passion hiding somewhere, go for it. Trust yourself. Do it for you.”

While Guadalupe is passionate about makeup, she finds similar interest in supporting her patients and connecting with them personally to improve their well-being and overall health.

She finds that this part-time passion feeds her creativity while her full-time work supporting the health of people in her community brings greater fulfillment.

“Trust yourself. Do it for you.” — Guadelupe Blas

Swords, Smiles and Balance: Joy in All Things

Heather Olson, DMD

Associate Dentist

Reno Region, Lemmon Valley Dental Group (Office 490)

Heather Olson, DMD has a trick to getting herself to exercise: Swords. But she emphasizes, it’s not modern swords, like fencing, but Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), a discipline rooted in 14th-century manuscripts and written by monks and mercenaries. Translated into English, the treatises teach fighters how to wield longswords, Scottish broadswords and sword-and-buckler combinations with historical precision. Modern safety gear replaces chainmail, but the moves remain the same.

An Air Force kid who moved often, Dr. Olson grew up learning how to adapt and make new friends wherever she landed. That curiosity, paired with her parents’ encouragement to learn something new everywhere she went, eventually led her to a local gym. While she didn’t know anyone, she embraced the discomfort.

“One of the trickiest things about learning a new skill as an adult is letting yourself be bad at first. The more you allow yourself to learn and grow, the better you get,” she reflects.

Two years later, she won bronze at Frauenfecht, a women’s and non-binary HEMA tournament in Carson, Nev. Her weapon of choice: the Scottish broadsword – a fast, all-target blade where every hit counts. “It’s more of a cat fight,” she said. “You hit anywhere and it’s all high priority. Very flashy.” Her signature moves are cuts three and four, coming up from underneath to hit the chin.

Competitions are grassroots affairs held in rented gymnasiums, with taped boundaries marking the ring and blunted steel blades weighing about two pounds. Fighters suit up in padded jackets, fencing masks and hard plastic guards that make even the air-conditioned rooms run hot.

For Dr. Olson, this is her community. “The easiest way to make friends as an adult is showing up somewhere regularly,” she says. It fits her philosophy of balance and joy in all things. Even if that balance sometimes means swinging medieval weapons.

National Dental Hygiene Month

October offered a moment to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month and recognize the important role dental hygienists play across PDS Health. Hygienists support early detection, prevention and education, and they help patients understand how oral health connects to overall health.

Their care extends beyond clinical responsibilities. Hygienists help patients feel at ease, build trust and create a positive experience during every visit.

Throughout the month, hygienists were recognized online and in offices across the country with appreciation activities and celebrations. While October shines a spotlight on the profession, the impact of their work continues every day as they help create Healthier, Happier Patients®.

To every dental hygienist across PDS Health: Thank you. You make us smile.

a. Fayettville Smiles Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 913)

b. La Canada Smiles Dentistry (Office 27)

c. Ponce Dental Group (Office 933)

d. Canton Smiles Dentistry (Office 901)

e. Dentists of Doral (Office 865)

f. Chaska Commons Dental Group (Office 872)

g. Pacific Dental Group (Office 76)

h. Huntington Beach Modern Dentistry (Office 283)

i. SoDo Smiles Dentistry (Office 962)

j. Horizon Ridge Modern Dentistry (Office 367)

k. Loganville Dentist Office (Office 918)

l. The Dental Office on Red Hill (Office 11)

m. Stone Oak Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 729)

n. Desert Sky Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 165)

In August, team members across the country joined forces to make a lasting impact in their communities for the 15th Annual Smile Generation Serve Day.

Together, we provided more than $20.7 million in donated healthcare services to over 5,000 patients. Team members volunteered more than 74,000 hours, partnering with organizations such as Hire Heroes USA, Dental Lifeline Network, The Boyce L. Ansley School, Gigi’s Playhouse, After Innocence, and many others to help connect patients with life-changing care.

Team members at support centers in Irvine, Henderson, and Dallas hosted blood drives, packaged food, cleaned up local beaches and parks, or worked with other local organizations to make a difference in their community. Thank you all for your time and effort serving others! Next year, we’ll celebrate the 16th annual Smile Generation Serve Day. Save the date for Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

a. Monument Dentists and Orthodontics (Office 554)

b. Cortaro Smiles Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 256)

c. Dentists of Mandeville (Office 688)

d. Shadow Mountain Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 169)

e. Stone Oak Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 729)

f. First Street Dental Group and Orthodontics, and Park Place Dental Group (Office 45 and 18)

g. Edgewood Smiles Dentistry (Office 889)

We believe eXtraordinary performance should be rewarded with an opportunity to serve. PDS Health honored the Orange County region as Region of the Year for 2024, and this recognition comes with a special opportunity to build a playground with KABOOM!, a national nonprofit that unites communities to build play spaces in underserved communities.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, PDS Health team members gathered at Union Pacific Park to build a playground in partnership with the City of Fullerton, Calif. Earlier in the summer, local children were invited to draw their dream play space, and their drawings were used to inspire the final design. Dozens of community members worked side-by-side to bring the drawings to life.

The park also includes an inclusive communication sign designed to help children who are nonverbal or speak another language express themselves.

This project was PDS Health’s 21st build in partnership with KABOOM! It culminated with a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new playground, built on a lot that had been vacant for 20 years, and that will now provide local children and families with a place to play for years to come.

Dentistry

h. North Kendall Dentists (Office 1073)

i. Pleasant Hill Smiles Dentistry (Office 231)

j. Marketplace Smiles Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 180)

Regional Close Ups

BAY AREA CENTRAL VALLEY REGION

a. Dentists of Pittsburg (Office 1076)

EASTERN ARIZONA NEW MEXICO REGION

b. Sandia Ridge Dentists (Office 1194)

c. Dentists on Chaparral (Office 1050)

RENO IDAHO UTAH REGION

d. Centerville Dental Group (Office 587)

e. Clinton Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 584)

f. Sparks Modern Dentistry (Office 341)

NORTH LOS ANGELES REGION

g. Dentists of Rosemead (Office 1136)

INLAND DESERT REGION

h. Grand Terrace Modern Dentistry (Office 1247)

NORTH INLAND EMPIRE REGION

i. Hub Plaza Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 20)

j. Claremont Modern Dentistry (Office 405)

LOUISIANA REGION

k. Westbank Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 1097)

l. Baton Rouge Modern Dentistry (Office 699)

m. Lafayette Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 698)

LAS VEGAS REGION

n. Alexander Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 173)

OHIO KETUCKY REGION

o. Dentists of Eastgate (Office 767)

MASSACHUSETTS REGION

p. Swampscott Modern Dentistry (Office 1102)

SOUTH LOS ANGELES REGION

q. Long Beach Modern Dentistry (Office 1180)

r. Cerritos Smiles Dentistry (Office 427)

VIRGINIA MARYLAND REGION

s. Dentists of Gainesville (Office 955)

SOUTHERN ARIZONA REGION

a. Rita Ranch Dental Group and Orthodontics (Office 246)

NORTH SOUTH COLORADO REGION

b. Dentists of Frederick (Office 1238)

c. Modern Dentistry of Northfield (Office 553)

d. Castle Rock Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics (Office 538)

GULF COAST REGION

e. Dentists of Fort Bend and My Kids’ Dentist and Orthodontics (Office 655 and Office 7655)

INLAND EMPIRE REGION

f. Bedofrd Modern Dentistry (Office 753)

NORTH WEST ARIZONA REGION

g. Buckeye Modern Dentistry (Office 1006)

h. Cave Creek Dentistry (Office 294)

Date Your Mate Challenge: Dream Dates Come True

When PDS Health introduced the "Date Your Mate Challenge," team members welcomed the chance to focus on meaningful time with loved ones. We’re pleased to share how the challenge winners used their prizes to create memorable experiences together.

A Pixar-Perfect Getaway

For Itahti Orozco, healthcare coordinator, and Edwin Morales, lead dental assistant, working together at PDS Health has been rewarding both professionally and personally. When they won the Date Your Mate Challenge, they saw the perfect opportunity to enhance a trip they’d been planning to Disneyland.

Their prize transformed a day trip into a luxurious overnight escape. Itahi and Edwin checked into the whimsical Pixar Hotel, where beloved characters and immersive theming set the tone for their magical weekend. Before heading to the parks, they indulged in relaxing couples massages — a perfect way to unwind and reconnect away from their busy work schedules.

The highlight, of course, was their day at Disneyland, where they explored the park, enjoyed their favorite attractions and created new memories together.

Hawaiian Adventure Elevated

Dental Assistant Lydia Murillo and her husband had already been dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway when she entered the Date Your Mate Challenge. Winning meant they could transform their vacation from wonderful to extraordinary.

The couple took full advantage of their prize by adding thrilling adventures to their itinerary. They experienced the rush of jet skiing across crystal-clear Hawaiian waters and soared through lush tropical canopies on an exhilarating zipline tour — activities they described as “once-in-alifetime experiences.”

Anniversaries, Milestones & More

PDS Health celebrates team members every step of their career journey but especially during significant milestones along the way, including anniversaries and retirements.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all 2025 anniversary recipients. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to PDS Health through the years. You make us smile.

Anniversary Reward & Recognition Program

5th Anniversary - $150 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award and a recognition letter

10th Anniversary - $750 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award and a recognition letter

15th Anniversary - $750 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award, a weekend getaway (three nights) at a PDS Healthsponsored location with up to $500 in travel expenses (air and car) and a recognition letter

20th Anniversary - $1,500 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award, a five-night stay at a PDS Health-sponsored location with up to $2000 in travel expenses (air and car) and a recognition letter

25th Anniversary - $,1750 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award, a five-night stay at a PDS Health-sponsored location with up to $2000 in travel expenses (air and car) and a recognition letter

30th Anniversary - $2,000 awarded through payroll check in the month of the award, a seven-night stay at a PDS Health-sponsored location with up to $2000 in travel expenses (air and car) and a recognition letter

Retirements

20+ years

29 years

ELLEN ARCALA

Registered Dental Hygenist San Diego Region

15–19 years

17 years

MARY NAKAKI

Operations Manager II Northern California Central Valley Region

16 years

17 years

TINA NGUYEN

Regional Director, Specialty Orange County Region

JENNIFER DIETHRICH

Receptionist

San Diego Region

We're recognizing team members retiring from PDS Health in 2025 after years of service and dedication. Wishing the following team members a joyful and relaxing retirement.

10–14 years

11 years

THERESA ULRICH

Specialist, Insurance Collections National Support

5–9 years

8 years

TRISH ELLIOTT

Vice President, People and Systems National Support

8 years

DAISY LACOUR

Sr. Manager of L:eave of Absence, Diability and Worker's Comp, National Support

30 YEARS Celebrating a lasting legacy

Thank you for three decades of dedication, consistency and impact.

JOANNA RODGERS

Executive Vice President, Office of the CEO

Q: What is one tradition or cultural element at PDS Health that has remained meaningful to you over the years?

A: The most meaningful cultural element has been our high-performance culture. It signifies an environment where excellence is the norm, and everyone is encouraged to strive for their best. The stickiness comes when this spirit is rooted in operational excellence, my first love, and based on our We Believes. That foundation has been my north star, inspiring me to do my best to contribute in a meaningful way towards building an organization with a vision and purpose we are all proud of. It also drives my sense of ownership in investing in others and supporting their success.

SUDHAKAR CHOKKA, DDS Owner Dentist

North Inland Empire Region

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation of PDS Health team members and clinicians?

A: The legacy I hope to leave for the next generation of the PDS family is one rooted in relationships. I once read something that still resonates with me today: Almost everything you accomplish in dentistry depends, in large part, on what others think of you. The way your patients, peer, and support team experience you will largely determine the arc of your success. To be clear, I’m not talking about an insecure preoccupation with others’ opinions, but rather a deliberate commitment to prioritizing relationships in the workplace. It means leading with a heart of service, gratitude, and genuine interest in the people you share your work week with. My hope is that the next generation feels, deep in their bones, that dentistry is deeply personal, and that they remain committed to nurturing healthy, meaningful relationships not only with patients, but also with their team.

DAVID BRYANT

Vice President, Office of the CEO

Q: How has your leadership philosophy evolved over the past three decades at PDS Health?

A: I would say that much has changed and much hasn’t changed. In the early days we were (and we still are today) a very driven organization, intently focused on helping dentists build amazing practices. I believe the biggest changes have been developing a more driven organization, coupled with the right culture. This business has never been about simply revenue, ADP and collections. Those things are important, but we must pursue those while acting and functioning within a healthy culture. Each practice is dedicated to great clinical outcomes, healthy patients, finding the right spot on the bus for team members and growing amazing careers for the team.

DON WEBB Vice President, Construction & Maintenance

Q: In your view, what differentiates PDS Health today from when you first began and what has remained constant?

A: When I first started with PDS Health, we had just three dental offices. Today, we’ve grown to over 1,000 across the country. That growth shows how far we’ve come in the last 30 years in expanding access to care and supporting our providers. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to the We Believes. Steve had just created them when I joined, and they still guide our culture and decisions today. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and delivering care that truly matters is what creates patients for life. Through all the growth, we’ve held fast to conducting business with honesty, respect and strong values. I feel lucky to be part of PDS Health and am excited about what’s ahead.

25 YEARS Honoring 25 years of service

Thank you for the commitment, experience and care you bring every day.

TANISHA JACKSON, DDS

Owner Dentist

Inland Desert and Tennessee Regions

Q: What legacy do you feel the team you’ve been part of has created at PDS Health?

A: We’ve built a strong reputation for genuinely caring about our patients as people. I’m especially proud that throughout the pandemic, we continued to show up when our patients needed us most, deepening the trust we’ve earned over the years. Our legacy is a practice rooted in integrity, compassion, and resilience.

LUIS MORAN

Regional Back Office Manager

North Inland Empire Region

RACHEL LOPEZ

Lead Dental Assistant

North Inland Empire Region

Q: What’s a moment when you truly felt part of something bigger than yourself while working at PDS Health?

A: One moment that truly made me feel part of something bigger was providing free dental care during Serve Day. Using my skills to help restore someone’s smile and seeing the emotion in their eyes reminded me of the true purpose behind what we do — restoring confidence and changing lives. That experience made me proud to be part of a mission that reaches far beyond the dental chair.

Q What’s one lesson you’ve learned at PDS Health that’s impacted your life outside of work?

A: I’ve learned that trust isn’t built overnight — it comes from showing up, listening actively and doing what you say you’re going to do. That approach has translated into my personal life. I’ve become more intentional about how I show up for others and I’ve seen how even small actions can build stronger, more dependable relationships.

THERESA

ORTEGA-GOMEZ

Regional Manager

South Inland Empire Region

Q: How has your understanding of leadership or service changed over the past 25 years?

A: My journey has taught me that leadership and service are intertwined, grounded in mutual respect and a genuine desire to uplift others. This drives me to be a more compassionate leader, fostering a culture of collaboration in every endeavor we undertake as a team. The quote, “People don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care,” is one I take to heart. Thank you for an amazing 25 years.

GARY PICKARD

Sr. Director, Government and Industry Affairs

National Support

Q: How have you seen the organization evolve during your 25-year journey?

A: The single biggest evolution in my 25 years is PDS Health evolving from being leaders to becoming recognized as leaders throughout health care — from insurance to education, technology to operations, and corporate social responsibility to dental-medical integration. The difference now is we are regularly sought out by other subject matter experts and industry leaders for our opinions and expertise. We are creating the future.

MINERVA ORTIZ

Lead Dental Assistant

North Inland Empire Region

Q: What motivates you to continue showing up and giving your best every day?

A: Minerva’s (Minnie’s) motivation comes from within. When she started 25 years ago, she stood out as an extremely knowledgeable leader, taking the initiative and striving to be great at everything she does.

Minnie not only wants to be the best in the company but always wants her kids to be proud of her. She shows up to work with passion and sacrifice, always going above and beyond.

Thank you, Minnie, for your dedication to PDS Health and to our office. I am so proud of you.

– Submitted by Operations Manager Angela Davis while Minerva is on a leave of absence

YUKO WORKINGS, DDS

Owner Dentist

North Los Angeles Region

Q: Who has made the biggest impact on your career here and why?

A: The individual who’s had the greatest impact on my career isn’t a single person, but my entire office staff. Regardless of the challenges, they are always providing solid support and encouragement with a smile. With them by my side, I’m encouraged and confident I can perform my best. They are the reason for our success and I’m incredibly grateful for all their hard work and kind words.

CYNTHIA JERONIMO

Lead Dental Assistant

North Inland Empire Region

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give your Day One self starting at PDS Health?

A: I’d tell myself to be patient and take things one step at a time. Trust your team, you’ll learn so much from working together every day. And remember to take care of yourself too; balancing work and life makes you better at both.

ERICA STAPLETON

Director, Operations Support

National Support

Q: What’s one innovation or change you’re proud to have witnessed or been part of over the years?

A: I’m most proud of how much we’ve expanded access to care for all — from Serve Day to supporting patients with special needs, international trips to Guatemala and advancing medical-dental integration. Equally meaningful has been seeing potential in our team members, giving them opportunities like I was given and watching them grow. Being part of that journey has been one of the greatest rewards of my 25 years here.

RENATO ACAJABON

Specialty Dental AssistantOral Surgery

North Inland Empire Region

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would give your Day One self starting at PDS Health?

A: The advice I would give myself is: Take advantage of the many resources available to get better at what you do and to further your education so that you can support your team. I’m very grateful to PDS Health and to the specialty doctors I have the privilege of working with daily.

Celebrating 20 years with PDS Health

Carolinas

PAUL GEBHART, DDS Owner Dentist

Eastern Arizona

FRANCES HALL Specialty Dental Assistant Oral Surgery

Inland Desert

MAYURILEN ABAC Assistant Manager

SYLVIA GARCIA Specialty Dental Assistant Periodontics

GERALDINE PEREA Registered Dental Assistant Extended Functions

JOY RATHNAM Registered Dental Hygienist

TARICA SANNICOLAS Specialty Dental Assistant Oral Surgery

KIMBERLY VALKO Regional Partner

LISA ZENO Registered Dental Assistant

National Support

JOE CEA Director, IT Enterprise Operations

PAM HOSIER Sr. Director, Support Centers and Special Events

EMILIO MARIOLIS VP, Accounting

CATHERINE MCGOWAN Analyst I, Epic Application Cadence Prelude

MICKEY MOLISEE Lead Developer, Data Management and Analytics

ERIKA PEREZ Sr. Administrator, Asset and Lease Management

ANGELA ROMAN Coordinator, Outsource Collections

WENDI SUMNER

Auditor, Insurance Claims

PHILIP WONG

Engineer, IT Enterprise Operations

North Inland Empire

WALTER JEFFERSON, DDS Owner Dentist

LISA LOPER Specialty Dental Assistant Periodontics

GLORIA LOPEZ Specialty Dental Assistant Orthodontics

SARAH ROSADO Specialty Healthcare Coordinator

ANNA SANCHEZ Specialty Healthcare Coordinator

North Los Angeles

MONICA BAGDASARIAN Registered Dental Hygienist

ELENA GOGILTAN-WAXLER, DDS Owner Dentist

CARRIE PATINO Lead Dental Assistant

MARIA VACA Assistant Manager

Greater Sacramento

ALONA ATENTO Specialty Dental Assistant Periodontics

DENISE BAEZ Registered Dental Assistant

EVELYN GUTIERREZ-JENNINGS Lead Registered Dental Assistant

TERRI KAHBODY, DDS Associate Dentist

MYLOAN PHAM Lead Registered Dental Hygienist

SERGIO VICUNA, DDS Owner Dentist

Orange County

DONNA FOLEY Registered Dental Hygienist

BARBARA GAFFINO, DDS Owner Dentist

FAVIOLA GIL Registered Dental Assistant

LETICIA GONZALEZ Specialty Dental Assistant Endodontics

RACHEL GORDON-MARQUEZ Regional Manager, Specialty

BROOKE KAMP Regional Collection Specialist

LINDA VANSON, DDS Owner Dentist

JOANNE ZAMORA Registered Dental Assistant

San Diego

ERNESTINA CHAVEZ Specialty Dental Assistant Oral Surgery

MARVIN MOSTAJO Specialty Dental Assistant Oral Surgery

CLINTON PARKS, DDS Owner Dentist

MARJAN ROGERS, DMD Owner Dentist

South Inland Empire

CRISTINA ALFARO Operations Manager

FLORENCE ANAYA Operations Manager

DIANA DO-YABUT, DMD Owner Dentist

GISELA HERNANDEZ Registered Dental Assistant

PHILIP ISRAEL Registered Dental Assistant

MARINA TEJEDA Operations Manager

RACHEL BUSCH Regional Back Office Manager

OLIVER MALINAO Specialty Dental Assistant Periodontics

RENE MOSQUEDA Regional Front Office Trainer

South Los Angeles

KARINA GARCIA Operations Manager II

JOAN TO, DDS Owner Dentist

Congratulations New Owner Dentists

APRIL – OCTOBER 2025

Jim Tran, DMD Fort Apache Dental Group Las Vegas Region

Patrick Rufo, DDS Santa Fe Dentist Office Eastern Arizona New Mexico Region

Ghazal Mofrad, DDS Rampart Dental Group Las Vegas Region

Shadi Ryad, DDS Dentists of Vista Central Florida Region

Adelle Fuller, DMD The Springs Modern Dentistry North South Colorado Region

David Park, DDS Dentists of Studio City North Los Angeles Region

Frank Wang, DDS McKinney Dental Group North Dallas Fort Worth Region

Leonard Van, DDS Sparks Modern Dentistry Reno Idaho Utah Region

Brooke Kovinsky, DDS Clermont Modern Dentistry Central Florida Region

Matthew Avey, DDS Constitution Dental Group North South Colorado Region

Conor Jacobson, DDS Downtown Long Beach Dentistry South Los Angeles Region

Amy Lawson, DMD Dentists of Peoria North West Arizona Region

Adam Holowecky, DDS Dentists of St. Vrain Creek North South Colorado Region

Jashandeep Kaur, DMD Fresno Modern Dentistry Bay Area Central Valley Region

Kevin Kim, DMD, PhD Canton Modern Dentistry Massachusetts Region

Jason Sun, DMD Fontana Modern Dentistry North Inland Empire Region

Danielle Baratz, DDS Redstone Dental Group Central Colorado Region

Youstina Mekhael, DDS Azusa Modern Dentistry North Inland Empire Region

Maria Cristina Cisneros, DMD, MS Dentists on Sand Canyon North Los Angeles Region

Anastasia Boutros, DMD Candlewood Smiles Dentistry South Los Angeles Region

Brock Riedel, DMD Arsenal Modern Dentistry Massachusetts Region

Annie Ru Guo Yang, DMD Signal Butte Kids’ Dentistry Eastern Arizona New Mexico Region

Chioma Aniwigbo, DDS Greenspot Crossings Dentistry North Inland Empire Region

Hadeel Hedo, DDS La Jolla Village Smiles Dentistry San Diego Region

Nazifa Rai, DDS Bothell Modern Dentistry Washington Oregon Region

Kirstie Ninan, DDS Olney Modern Dentistry Virginia Maryland Region

Tam Le, DMD Castle Rock Modern Dentistry North South Colorado Region

Rupinder Kaur, DDS Dentists of Hanford Bay Area Central Valley Region

Keri Smith, DDS Main Street Dental Group Inland Desert Region

Yuna Choi, DMD, MS Odessa Modern Dentistry Central Florida Region

Vajeh Victory, DDS Oxnard Modern Dentistry North Los Angeles Region

Linda Trinh, DDS Sierra Commons Dental Group North Los Angeles Region

Harsheen Sidhu, DDS Triangle Dental Group North Inland Empire Region

Christopher Walters, DDS Grand Terrace Modern Dentistry Inland Desert Region

Melissa Palmieri, DMD Edina Modern Dentistry Minnesota Region

Neha Shrestha, DMD Dentists of Frederick North South Colorado Region

Sarmad Yaqouna, DDS Paseo Dentistry San Diego Region

Mustapha Mansuri, DDS Richfield Dentistry Minnesota Region

Tatyana Pihur, DMD Dentists of Mukilteo Washington Oregon Region

Summar Amin, DDS Anaheim Hills Dental Group Orange County Region

Cynthia Uzoukwu, DDS Keller Modern Dentistry South Dallas Fort Worth Region

Yong In "Kevin" Joung, DDS San Pedro Smiles Dentistry South Los Angeles Region

1 MAITLAND 1 Florida. Opened 5/6/2025 Dentists of Maitland 9

LAS VEGAS 23 Nevada. Opened 7/8/2025 Fort Apache Dental Group

2 SANTA FE SPRINGS 1 California. Opened 5/6/2025 Santa Fe Springs Modern Dentistry 10 FRESNO 4 California. Opened 7/8/2025 Fresno Modern Dentistry

3 FAIR OAKS 2 California. Opened 6/3/2025 Madison Modern Dentistry 11 FONTANA 4 California. Opened 7/8/2025 Fontana Modern Dentistry

4 LONG BEACH 7 California. Opened 6/10/2025 Downtown Long Beach Dentistry 12

17 BOTHELL 1 Washington. Opened 8/12/2025 Bothell Modern Dentistry

18 BOISE 3 Idaho. Opened 8/19/2025 Bown Crossing Dentistry

24

FOUNTAIN 3

Colorado. Opened 9/9/2025 Dentists of Fountain

25 GAHANNA 1 Ohio. Opened 9/9/2025 Gahanna Modern Dentistry

19 JACKSONVILLE 2 Florida. Opened 9/2/2025 Regency Modern Dentistry 26

SANTA CLARITA 2 California. Opened 7/29/2025 Dentists on Sand Canyon 20

5 NAMPA 1 Idaho. Opened 6/17/2025 Dentists of Nampa 13 WEST SACRAMENTO 2 California. Opened 8/4/2025 Dentists of West Sacramento

GRAND TERRACE 1 California. Opened 9/3/2025 Grand Terrace Modern Dentistry 27

1 California. Opened 9/3/2025 Azusa Modern Dentistry

CARLSBAD 3

California. Opened 9/16/2025 Paseo Dentistry

31

ALBUQUERQUE 11

New Mexico. Opened 10/21/2025 Sandia Ridge Dentists

32

33

FREDERICK 1 Colorado. Opened 9/23/2025 Dentists of Frederick 34

CLAIREMONT 2

Opened 9/30/2025 Genesee Dentists

RANCHO PALOS VERDES 2 California. Opened 10/21/2025 San Pedro Smiles Dentistry

BUCKEYE 5

Arizona. Opened 10/28/2025 Dentists at Buckeye Commons

KISSIMMEE 2 Florida. Opened 10/28/2025 Kissimmee Modern Dentistry

KANSAS CITY 9

PDS Health has a long tradition of recognizing extraordinary performance across the organization at our annual XP Awards celebration. We need your help to recognize team members across the organization who go above and beyond. Your‘re invited to take a moment to recognize those who inspire and elevate our workplace, making PDS Health the greatest integrated healthcare company in the world.

How to submit an XP Award Nomination

Search for “XP Award Nominations” on PDSConnect to access the form and submit a nomination. Be sure to describe why the team member stands out, including the behaviors they demonstrated and the results they achieved.

What are the XP Awards?

The eXtraordinary Performance (XP) Program recognizes the exceptional behaviors and actions of team members, both hourly and salaried, who contribute to achieving the PDS Health mission and embodiment of our We Believes. All team members may nominate another colleague who they feel exemplifies these behaviors.

There are eight categories of nominees:

• Front Office Team Member

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Hygienist

• Associate Dentist/Specialists/Owner Dentist

• Operations Manager/Regional Manager/Specialty Regional Manager

• Medical

• Regional Support

• National Support

Winners will be announced in early February and celebrated at the XP Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend of April 17-19, 2026. The deadline to submit nominations is midnight (PST), January 4th, 2026. You may submit a maximum of five nominations. For questions, please email pdsevents@pdshealth.com.