1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,279 Hello, everyone. This is Erica Spicer Mason with 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,599 Becker's Healthcare. Thank you so much for tuning 3 00:00:05,599 --> 00:00:07,940 into the Becker's Healthcare podcast series. 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,160 Today, we are thrilled to be joined by 5 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,724 doctor William Bloink, Heartland Dental's founding partner, to 6 00:00:13,724 --> 00:00:16,125 discuss the impact of the masters and mentors 7 00:00:16,125 --> 00:00:16,625 campaign. 8 00:00:17,004 --> 00:00:19,744 It's reflection of Heartland Dental's doctor led culture 9 00:00:19,804 --> 00:00:21,884 and the role of mentorship in shaping the 10 00:00:21,884 --> 00:00:22,785 future of dentistry. 11 00:00:23,484 --> 00:00:25,644 Doctor Bloink, thank you so much for making 12 00:00:25,644 --> 00:00:28,064 time for Becker's today and for joining us. 13 00:00:28,429 --> 00:00:30,269 Hi, Erica. Good morning. Thank you for having 14 00:00:30,269 --> 00:00:32,829 me. It's just a a real pleasure to 15 00:00:32,829 --> 00:00:34,289 to speak with you this morning. 16 00:00:35,229 --> 00:00:37,329 Likewise. And I'm so excited 17 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:39,549 to learn more a bit a bit more 18 00:00:39,549 --> 00:00:41,494 about the campaign that I kind of teased 19 00:00:41,494 --> 00:00:44,475 in the beginning, the masters and mentors campaign. 20 00:00:44,614 --> 00:00:45,114 So 21 00:00:45,494 --> 00:00:47,494 in your words, to get us started, what 22 00:00:47,494 --> 00:00:49,335 would you say is the significance of the 23 00:00:49,335 --> 00:00:51,814 masters and mentors campaign for the Heartland Dental 24 00:00:51,814 --> 00:00:54,475 community, and how is it reflecting the organization's 25 00:00:55,015 --> 00:00:56,155 doctor led culture? 26 00:00:57,250 --> 00:00:59,409 You know, it's a great question. And when 27 00:00:59,409 --> 00:01:02,369 I was first presented with the opportunities to 28 00:01:02,369 --> 00:01:05,590 participate in the masters and mentors program, 29 00:01:06,209 --> 00:01:08,790 you know, I I commented to the 30 00:01:10,024 --> 00:01:11,484 to the marketing folks 31 00:01:11,784 --> 00:01:13,484 who, were in charge 32 00:01:14,024 --> 00:01:16,524 of the the campaign about how 33 00:01:17,784 --> 00:01:20,765 aligned I believed that the campaign was 34 00:01:21,144 --> 00:01:23,880 with our company's vision and our and our 35 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,520 mission and our and our core values. And 36 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,700 the vision of Heartland Dental is to be 37 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:30,859 a world class company and the 38 00:01:31,159 --> 00:01:32,540 leader in dentistry. 39 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,239 And when we talk about being a world 40 00:01:35,239 --> 00:01:38,474 class company, that that really is in everything 41 00:01:38,775 --> 00:01:40,474 that we do, not just 42 00:01:40,854 --> 00:01:41,594 how we 43 00:01:41,974 --> 00:01:44,614 relate to the doctors that we support and 44 00:01:44,614 --> 00:01:45,354 their teams, 45 00:01:45,814 --> 00:01:47,194 but also how 46 00:01:47,814 --> 00:01:50,375 we interact with the world and with our 47 00:01:50,375 --> 00:01:53,269 vendors and the and the folks that we 48 00:01:53,329 --> 00:01:53,829 encounter 49 00:01:54,370 --> 00:01:56,069 through our our company. 50 00:01:56,609 --> 00:01:59,329 And the mission of our company, which was 51 00:01:59,329 --> 00:02:01,109 really a reflection of 52 00:02:01,569 --> 00:02:04,689 of this campaign, the mission is to support 53 00:02:04,689 --> 00:02:05,989 doctors and their teams 54 00:02:06,645 --> 00:02:09,224 as they deliver the highest quality dentistry 55 00:02:09,925 --> 00:02:12,745 and experiences the communities they serve. 56 00:02:13,125 --> 00:02:14,985 And when you think about 57 00:02:15,844 --> 00:02:18,585 that part of our our mission statement, 58 00:02:20,069 --> 00:02:20,569 mentorship, 59 00:02:21,430 --> 00:02:23,930 and and seeking mastery in our profession 60 00:02:24,629 --> 00:02:25,129 absolutely 61 00:02:25,430 --> 00:02:27,849 has resonated with within that mission. 62 00:02:28,150 --> 00:02:30,789 So everything that this campaign is about is 63 00:02:30,789 --> 00:02:31,610 an absolute 64 00:02:31,909 --> 00:02:33,689 reflection of who we are 65 00:02:34,069 --> 00:02:34,889 as a company 66 00:02:35,474 --> 00:02:37,794 and what we believe in in trying to 67 00:02:37,794 --> 00:02:38,294 support 68 00:02:38,594 --> 00:02:39,335 the entire, 69 00:02:40,194 --> 00:02:43,094 communities that we serve and becoming better 70 00:02:43,555 --> 00:02:46,055 as doctors, becoming better as leaders, 71 00:02:46,354 --> 00:02:47,094 and becoming, 72 00:02:47,875 --> 00:02:49,495 better citizens within 73 00:02:49,875 --> 00:02:50,694 our communities. 74 00:02:52,730 --> 00:02:54,730 Doctor Blaing, thank you so much for that 75 00:02:54,730 --> 00:02:56,810 overview. And it sounds like there's just a 76 00:02:56,810 --> 00:02:59,689 lot of alignment between the campaign and Heartland 77 00:02:59,689 --> 00:03:00,590 Dental's mission, 78 00:03:01,530 --> 00:03:03,849 which is so important for any successful initiative. 79 00:03:03,849 --> 00:03:04,349 So 80 00:03:04,715 --> 00:03:06,634 I'm excited to delve a little bit more 81 00:03:06,634 --> 00:03:07,134 into, 82 00:03:07,435 --> 00:03:09,594 you know, what the campaign is all about. 83 00:03:09,594 --> 00:03:11,435 But before we do, I wanted to just 84 00:03:11,435 --> 00:03:14,074 note to our listeners that doctor Blank, you 85 00:03:14,074 --> 00:03:16,919 are featured very prominently in this campaign. So 86 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,360 would first like to hear a little bit 87 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,699 more about your own journey with Heartland Dental, 88 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,239 and what inspired you to become a mentor 89 00:03:23,239 --> 00:03:25,180 and leader in the dental industry? 90 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:27,500 Well, you know, I, 91 00:03:27,959 --> 00:03:28,699 I first 92 00:03:29,314 --> 00:03:31,574 met our founder, doctor Rick Workman, 93 00:03:32,034 --> 00:03:34,674 when I graduated from dental school way back 94 00:03:34,674 --> 00:03:35,574 in 1988. 95 00:03:36,594 --> 00:03:38,114 That was a that was a long time 96 00:03:38,114 --> 00:03:38,614 ago. 97 00:03:39,474 --> 00:03:42,114 But when I when I met him, you 98 00:03:42,114 --> 00:03:44,340 know, at the time, he had his main 99 00:03:44,340 --> 00:03:46,120 practice there in Effingham, 100 00:03:46,979 --> 00:03:48,759 Illinois and and then 101 00:03:49,139 --> 00:03:51,719 four practices in the surrounding communities, 102 00:03:52,580 --> 00:03:54,759 the little pharma communities that surrounded 103 00:03:55,060 --> 00:03:56,844 Effingham. And at the time, it was just 104 00:03:56,844 --> 00:03:59,245 myself and doctor Workman and one other doctor 105 00:03:59,245 --> 00:03:59,985 at the time, 106 00:04:00,604 --> 00:04:03,584 and I wanna say maybe 15 team members. 107 00:04:05,245 --> 00:04:08,125 And, you know, we really just focused on 108 00:04:08,125 --> 00:04:09,264 trying to get 109 00:04:10,019 --> 00:04:12,819 better as doctors, and we had this little 110 00:04:12,819 --> 00:04:13,959 community of 111 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:15,000 of, 112 00:04:15,939 --> 00:04:18,120 folks who were just trying to get better 113 00:04:18,500 --> 00:04:20,979 together. And and I was just when I 114 00:04:20,979 --> 00:04:22,519 first met doctor Workman, 115 00:04:23,014 --> 00:04:24,714 I was just so taken 116 00:04:25,495 --> 00:04:25,995 by 117 00:04:26,375 --> 00:04:27,435 his enthusiasm 118 00:04:27,814 --> 00:04:29,654 for the work that he was doing, his 119 00:04:29,654 --> 00:04:30,154 enthusiasm 120 00:04:31,014 --> 00:04:31,995 for serving 121 00:04:32,855 --> 00:04:34,235 the the communities 122 00:04:35,014 --> 00:04:37,915 around Effingham and his patients there at Effingham. 123 00:04:37,975 --> 00:04:39,079 And I was taken 124 00:04:39,379 --> 00:04:41,480 by how his team members 125 00:04:42,419 --> 00:04:44,819 loved to be with him and and loved 126 00:04:44,819 --> 00:04:45,319 serving 127 00:04:45,779 --> 00:04:48,839 one another and loved serving their patients ultimately. 128 00:04:49,459 --> 00:04:49,959 And 129 00:04:50,419 --> 00:04:52,040 I just knew that I 130 00:04:52,579 --> 00:04:53,720 wanted to be 131 00:04:54,634 --> 00:04:57,194 around him and his energy and wanted to 132 00:04:57,194 --> 00:04:59,995 be a part of whatever it was that 133 00:04:59,995 --> 00:05:00,814 he was 134 00:05:01,675 --> 00:05:02,894 going to accomplish 135 00:05:03,194 --> 00:05:05,915 in his career. And quite frankly, I didn't 136 00:05:05,915 --> 00:05:07,375 know how long I would stay 137 00:05:07,915 --> 00:05:10,014 there in in Effingham. And, 138 00:05:11,330 --> 00:05:12,550 in 1991, 139 00:05:13,810 --> 00:05:14,870 shortly after 140 00:05:15,170 --> 00:05:17,750 my oldest son, who is now a doctor 141 00:05:18,050 --> 00:05:20,389 with us in in Heartland Dental, 142 00:05:20,850 --> 00:05:23,250 shortly after he was born, I went to 143 00:05:23,250 --> 00:05:25,089 doctor Workman, and I I shared with him 144 00:05:25,089 --> 00:05:27,384 that I thought we would we would leave 145 00:05:27,384 --> 00:05:28,845 the Effingham area, 146 00:05:29,705 --> 00:05:31,384 because I grew up in the suburbs of 147 00:05:31,384 --> 00:05:33,165 Chicago. My wife grew up in 148 00:05:33,465 --> 00:05:36,525 Saint Louis. And while Effingham is a wonderful 149 00:05:36,665 --> 00:05:40,025 community and we still have wonderful friends there 150 00:05:40,025 --> 00:05:42,930 in Effingham. It wasn't really where we saw, 151 00:05:43,629 --> 00:05:44,930 starting our lives. 152 00:05:45,470 --> 00:05:46,750 And when I went to him and shared 153 00:05:46,750 --> 00:05:47,870 with him and I thought we were gonna 154 00:05:47,870 --> 00:05:49,389 leave, he said, hold on a second. Where 155 00:05:49,389 --> 00:05:51,229 do you where do you think you you 156 00:05:51,229 --> 00:05:52,829 wanna go? And I shared with him that 157 00:05:52,829 --> 00:05:54,524 I thought we'd go to Saint Louis. And 158 00:05:54,524 --> 00:05:56,524 he wasn't so sure about St. Louis, but 159 00:05:56,524 --> 00:05:58,225 he believed that there might be opportunity 160 00:05:59,485 --> 00:06:02,524 in either Champaign, Illinois, where the University of 161 00:06:02,524 --> 00:06:03,664 Illinois is located, 162 00:06:04,044 --> 00:06:05,345 or here in Springfield, 163 00:06:05,884 --> 00:06:08,839 where the capital of Illinois is. And it 164 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,579 just so happens that Springfield is about halfway 165 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:12,620 between 166 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,819 Chicago and St. Louis. And so we chose 167 00:06:16,599 --> 00:06:17,099 Springfield. 168 00:06:17,959 --> 00:06:20,439 And long story short, because it is a 169 00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:21,259 long story, 170 00:06:22,024 --> 00:06:24,425 the practice here in Springfield went so well 171 00:06:24,425 --> 00:06:25,245 that we did, 172 00:06:25,865 --> 00:06:27,944 about 3 or 4 months later, built one 173 00:06:27,944 --> 00:06:30,504 in Champaign, and that one went so well. 174 00:06:30,504 --> 00:06:32,745 And then we built one in Rockford, Illinois 175 00:06:32,745 --> 00:06:34,044 and Carbondale, Illinois 176 00:06:34,985 --> 00:06:36,904 and Bloomington, Illinois. And they just 177 00:06:38,050 --> 00:06:39,269 from that genesis, 178 00:06:40,050 --> 00:06:41,669 we just learned a lot. 179 00:06:41,970 --> 00:06:43,430 We grew a lot as 180 00:06:43,810 --> 00:06:46,850 doctors and as leaders and as human beings. 181 00:06:46,850 --> 00:06:50,050 And and, lo and behold, that's led us 182 00:06:50,050 --> 00:06:52,824 to where we are today. And doctor Workman 183 00:06:52,824 --> 00:06:54,365 was smart enough to hire 184 00:06:54,904 --> 00:06:55,545 and bring, 185 00:06:55,944 --> 00:06:58,444 to us some really, really smart, 186 00:06:58,824 --> 00:06:59,964 really great 187 00:07:00,585 --> 00:07:01,085 people 188 00:07:01,625 --> 00:07:03,245 to help our company grow 189 00:07:03,545 --> 00:07:05,245 to where it is today of 190 00:07:05,970 --> 00:07:06,470 about 191 00:07:07,169 --> 00:07:10,050 1800 practices. I think we're we're somewhere between 192 00:07:10,050 --> 00:07:12,610 18 1900 practices. I lost track how many 193 00:07:12,610 --> 00:07:16,149 practice we have. Almost 3,000 doctors and 194 00:07:16,689 --> 00:07:19,910 over 20,000 team members from that little beginning 195 00:07:20,634 --> 00:07:23,274 in Effingham, Illinois. It's it's been quite a 196 00:07:23,274 --> 00:07:25,134 journey. It's been the greatest 197 00:07:25,834 --> 00:07:27,935 blessing of my professional life, certainly, 198 00:07:28,474 --> 00:07:30,334 to have been with it since 199 00:07:30,794 --> 00:07:31,294 its 200 00:07:31,675 --> 00:07:32,175 inception. 201 00:07:33,889 --> 00:07:36,129 Wow. Oh, doctor Blenk, I'm I'm really blown 202 00:07:36,129 --> 00:07:38,209 away by this story, and I appreciate you 203 00:07:38,209 --> 00:07:39,029 sharing it. 204 00:07:39,330 --> 00:07:41,810 It's inspiring to hear how your your own 205 00:07:41,810 --> 00:07:44,770 mentor years ago, you know, just his passion 206 00:07:44,770 --> 00:07:45,270 for 207 00:07:45,735 --> 00:07:47,754 practice and serving his local community, 208 00:07:48,214 --> 00:07:50,694 how that inspired you to to continue on 209 00:07:50,694 --> 00:07:52,854 that work and also scale it to, I 210 00:07:52,854 --> 00:07:55,435 think you mentioned 1800 to 1900 practices. 211 00:07:56,535 --> 00:07:59,175 So impressive. And and again, just appreciate how 212 00:07:59,175 --> 00:08:00,954 you you shared that story with our listeners. 213 00:08:01,849 --> 00:08:03,769 Now I know that the masters and mentors 214 00:08:03,769 --> 00:08:05,069 campaign, it emphasizes 215 00:08:05,610 --> 00:08:07,370 some of the concepts that you've touched on 216 00:08:07,370 --> 00:08:08,430 here, collaboration, 217 00:08:08,810 --> 00:08:09,310 mentorship, 218 00:08:09,769 --> 00:08:10,990 continuous learning. 219 00:08:11,370 --> 00:08:13,129 So can you also share an example of 220 00:08:13,129 --> 00:08:14,029 how mentorship 221 00:08:14,595 --> 00:08:16,355 maybe in addition to, you know, your early 222 00:08:16,355 --> 00:08:18,435 mentor, how has that shaped your career and 223 00:08:18,435 --> 00:08:20,535 influenced your approach to dentistry? 224 00:08:22,115 --> 00:08:23,714 Well, you know, one of the one of 225 00:08:23,714 --> 00:08:27,415 the things about dentistry is is and certainly, 226 00:08:27,475 --> 00:08:30,319 when I was in my training back in 227 00:08:30,319 --> 00:08:32,740 the back in the the days, 228 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,000 in 19 eighties, you know, one of the 229 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,019 things that we're really 230 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,240 focused on is and we have to learn 231 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,174 as as doctors. We have to 232 00:08:46,274 --> 00:08:47,095 be technically 233 00:08:47,875 --> 00:08:48,375 trained, 234 00:08:48,754 --> 00:08:51,334 and we we're so focused on the technical 235 00:08:51,634 --> 00:08:52,934 aspects of our work 236 00:08:53,315 --> 00:08:54,054 that oftentimes 237 00:08:55,180 --> 00:08:55,920 we forget 238 00:08:56,540 --> 00:08:59,279 that there are communities and there are people 239 00:08:59,740 --> 00:09:02,779 that we are serving. We get so focused 240 00:09:02,779 --> 00:09:03,279 on 241 00:09:03,980 --> 00:09:06,860 the technical aspects of our of our work 242 00:09:06,860 --> 00:09:08,779 that we forget that there are that there's 243 00:09:08,779 --> 00:09:10,754 sometimes a a bigger picture 244 00:09:11,455 --> 00:09:12,274 out there. 245 00:09:12,654 --> 00:09:15,154 And so one of the things that spoke 246 00:09:15,934 --> 00:09:16,595 to me 247 00:09:18,014 --> 00:09:20,115 and one of the things that I continually 248 00:09:20,495 --> 00:09:20,995 hear 249 00:09:21,695 --> 00:09:24,274 as we grow as a as an organization, 250 00:09:25,129 --> 00:09:27,370 as I speak to folks who have joined 251 00:09:27,370 --> 00:09:30,190 us, who have been in practice for years 252 00:09:30,250 --> 00:09:31,389 years years, 253 00:09:31,850 --> 00:09:35,289 and then have decided to affiliate and and 254 00:09:35,289 --> 00:09:36,029 join us, 255 00:09:37,625 --> 00:09:41,325 is this idea of collaboration because dentistry 256 00:09:41,945 --> 00:09:43,884 can sometimes be an isolating 257 00:09:44,825 --> 00:09:45,325 profession 258 00:09:45,784 --> 00:09:47,964 where we're in our practices. We're by ourselves. 259 00:09:48,504 --> 00:09:49,004 We're 260 00:09:50,190 --> 00:09:52,350 working with our patients and with our own 261 00:09:52,350 --> 00:09:55,230 individual teams. But one of the things that 262 00:09:55,230 --> 00:09:56,450 really has resonated 263 00:09:57,070 --> 00:09:58,050 for me and 264 00:09:58,429 --> 00:09:59,330 and the reason 265 00:09:59,950 --> 00:10:00,450 why 266 00:10:01,629 --> 00:10:04,269 I wanted to continue moving forward with our 267 00:10:04,269 --> 00:10:07,024 organization to share the things that I've learned 268 00:10:07,404 --> 00:10:09,345 is this power of collaboration 269 00:10:10,445 --> 00:10:11,264 and how 270 00:10:12,044 --> 00:10:13,825 the the sum total 271 00:10:14,605 --> 00:10:17,105 of the the the parts 272 00:10:17,660 --> 00:10:18,800 is much greater 273 00:10:19,340 --> 00:10:22,300 than just the individual parts alone. And when 274 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:23,120 we collaborate 275 00:10:23,899 --> 00:10:26,800 as professionals and we're sharing with one another 276 00:10:27,180 --> 00:10:29,100 the things that we've learned along the way 277 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:31,180 and the things that we failed at along 278 00:10:31,180 --> 00:10:33,715 the way, which as both of you may 279 00:10:33,715 --> 00:10:36,195 know, and I'm I'm much older than than 280 00:10:36,195 --> 00:10:37,254 you are, Erica. 281 00:10:37,715 --> 00:10:38,215 But 282 00:10:38,995 --> 00:10:41,075 one of the things that you'll that you'll 283 00:10:41,075 --> 00:10:42,455 learn along the way 284 00:10:42,914 --> 00:10:45,715 is that you can learn from other people's 285 00:10:45,715 --> 00:10:47,575 mistakes. You may even learn more 286 00:10:48,169 --> 00:10:51,049 from your mistakes and and other people's mistakes. 287 00:10:51,049 --> 00:10:53,370 And one of the great things about our 288 00:10:53,370 --> 00:10:55,389 company is the spirit of collaboration 289 00:10:55,769 --> 00:10:56,350 and transparency. 290 00:10:57,370 --> 00:10:58,350 And we have 291 00:10:58,970 --> 00:11:02,274 this wonderful ability to share with one another. 292 00:11:02,274 --> 00:11:03,975 The 3,000 doctors 293 00:11:04,355 --> 00:11:07,495 now ish that we have in Heartland 294 00:11:07,875 --> 00:11:08,774 all sharing, 295 00:11:09,634 --> 00:11:11,875 with one another both the things that are 296 00:11:11,875 --> 00:11:13,554 working for us and the things that we 297 00:11:13,554 --> 00:11:15,990 struggle with so that we can all grow 298 00:11:15,990 --> 00:11:16,730 and learn 299 00:11:17,190 --> 00:11:18,730 together. And it's 300 00:11:19,110 --> 00:11:20,409 quite frankly been 301 00:11:20,710 --> 00:11:22,090 one of the most gratifying, 302 00:11:22,470 --> 00:11:22,970 satisfying 303 00:11:23,909 --> 00:11:24,409 aspects 304 00:11:24,950 --> 00:11:27,190 of this journey that we have found ourselves 305 00:11:27,190 --> 00:11:28,330 on, that I found 306 00:11:28,865 --> 00:11:29,764 myself on, 307 00:11:30,625 --> 00:11:33,504 is is the ability to to learn and 308 00:11:33,504 --> 00:11:34,325 to grow 309 00:11:34,704 --> 00:11:35,764 with and from 310 00:11:36,225 --> 00:11:37,684 other folks who are, 311 00:11:38,384 --> 00:11:40,304 just trying to be the best versions of 312 00:11:40,304 --> 00:11:41,605 themselves every day. 313 00:11:43,549 --> 00:11:46,110 What a great sentiment. Thanks, doctor Blank. And 314 00:11:46,110 --> 00:11:49,730 I can only imagine having 3,000 doctors collaborating 315 00:11:50,029 --> 00:11:51,649 the power that can come from that. 316 00:11:52,269 --> 00:11:54,350 So it sounds like a really great approach 317 00:11:54,350 --> 00:11:54,850 here. 318 00:11:55,355 --> 00:11:57,195 And I feel like we'd be remiss to 319 00:11:57,195 --> 00:11:58,975 not also touch on 320 00:11:59,355 --> 00:12:01,754 kind of where technology and innovation is heading 321 00:12:01,754 --> 00:12:03,675 as it when it comes to kind of 322 00:12:03,675 --> 00:12:04,654 growing and developing, 323 00:12:05,835 --> 00:12:06,335 physicians 324 00:12:06,715 --> 00:12:08,254 and dentists as leaders. 325 00:12:08,795 --> 00:12:09,295 And 326 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,399 so I'd love to get your take here 327 00:12:11,399 --> 00:12:11,899 on 328 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,320 as you're seeing advancements like AI being embraced 329 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:15,980 in dentistry, 330 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:18,199 how do you see innovation playing a role 331 00:12:18,199 --> 00:12:21,179 in mentorship and leadership within Heartland Dental? 332 00:12:22,504 --> 00:12:25,084 Well, you know, it's an incredibly exciting time, 333 00:12:25,865 --> 00:12:27,644 in dentistry in the world 334 00:12:28,184 --> 00:12:28,985 with the, 335 00:12:29,625 --> 00:12:32,745 the introduction of of AI and how that 336 00:12:32,745 --> 00:12:33,644 can influence 337 00:12:34,184 --> 00:12:36,284 our ability to serve our patients 338 00:12:36,789 --> 00:12:38,950 at the highest level. And as a you 339 00:12:38,950 --> 00:12:40,710 know, as as an old guy, and I'm 340 00:12:40,710 --> 00:12:42,710 now officially a member of the old guy 341 00:12:42,710 --> 00:12:43,210 club, 342 00:12:43,669 --> 00:12:45,129 it's just been remarkable 343 00:12:45,830 --> 00:12:47,450 to see where these advancements 344 00:12:48,629 --> 00:12:49,769 are taking us 345 00:12:50,154 --> 00:12:52,894 in the the AI space and the technology 346 00:12:53,034 --> 00:12:56,154 that's available to us with the scanning and 347 00:12:56,154 --> 00:12:58,394 the printing that we're we're able to do 348 00:12:58,394 --> 00:12:59,934 and how that's 349 00:13:00,394 --> 00:13:01,455 allowing us 350 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:05,049 to serve our patients at at an even 351 00:13:05,049 --> 00:13:07,549 higher level than we ever dreamed, 352 00:13:08,649 --> 00:13:09,290 of just, 353 00:13:10,009 --> 00:13:11,549 5 or 10 years ago. 354 00:13:11,850 --> 00:13:14,509 It's an exciting time, and the things that 355 00:13:14,649 --> 00:13:17,230 that we're learning, and it's it's been so 356 00:13:17,774 --> 00:13:19,714 fun for for me watching 357 00:13:20,334 --> 00:13:22,975 the young people and learning from the the 358 00:13:22,975 --> 00:13:26,194 young doctors in our company and their enthusiasm 359 00:13:26,574 --> 00:13:27,074 for 360 00:13:27,534 --> 00:13:30,654 technology and where that's taking us. It's, 361 00:13:31,490 --> 00:13:33,730 it's gonna be an exciting time. And I'm 362 00:13:33,730 --> 00:13:36,629 I'm just looking forward to seeing where the 363 00:13:36,690 --> 00:13:37,350 the next 364 00:13:37,809 --> 00:13:39,669 5, 10, 15 years, 365 00:13:40,529 --> 00:13:43,190 take us in, in our profession. 366 00:13:44,095 --> 00:13:44,595 It's 367 00:13:45,054 --> 00:13:48,414 an exciting future to consider for sure, especially 368 00:13:48,414 --> 00:13:50,654 when we reflect back on, you know, 5 369 00:13:50,654 --> 00:13:52,035 years ago. ChatGPT 370 00:13:52,495 --> 00:13:54,815 and other AI tools weren't really even in 371 00:13:54,815 --> 00:13:56,835 our normal conversations. But 372 00:13:57,330 --> 00:13:59,509 today, it's just shifted so much and, 373 00:14:00,210 --> 00:14:01,889 excited to see where it takes us. So 374 00:14:01,889 --> 00:14:03,670 thanks for those thoughts, doctor Bloink. 375 00:14:04,210 --> 00:14:06,129 And I know we're we're coming close to 376 00:14:06,129 --> 00:14:08,050 the end of our time together. But before 377 00:14:08,050 --> 00:14:10,225 I let you go, I wanted to see 378 00:14:10,225 --> 00:14:13,264 what message you hope the masters and mentors 379 00:14:13,264 --> 00:14:16,384 campaign can send to both seasoned professionals and 380 00:14:16,384 --> 00:14:18,784 also those doctors who are just beginning their 381 00:14:18,784 --> 00:14:19,924 careers in dentistry. 382 00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:24,009 You know, that's another that's another great question. 383 00:14:24,009 --> 00:14:26,169 And and one of the things that I 384 00:14:26,169 --> 00:14:29,070 hope our campaign, the masters and mentors campaign, 385 00:14:30,649 --> 00:14:31,870 shares with 386 00:14:32,250 --> 00:14:32,750 our 387 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:33,950 profession 388 00:14:34,490 --> 00:14:36,990 is that there is so much to learn 389 00:14:37,584 --> 00:14:38,084 together. 390 00:14:39,024 --> 00:14:40,565 And when we are able 391 00:14:41,024 --> 00:14:42,565 to to combine 392 00:14:43,584 --> 00:14:44,084 our 393 00:14:44,464 --> 00:14:44,964 experiences 394 00:14:46,144 --> 00:14:49,365 as seasoned professionals along with the enthusiasm 395 00:14:50,370 --> 00:14:52,529 of the young people who are coming into 396 00:14:52,529 --> 00:14:54,389 our profession. And I will say 397 00:14:54,929 --> 00:14:55,429 that 398 00:14:56,129 --> 00:14:57,910 I am so confident 399 00:14:58,610 --> 00:14:59,910 in our young people 400 00:15:00,450 --> 00:15:02,769 and the folks that I see who are 401 00:15:02,769 --> 00:15:03,945 coming out of 402 00:15:04,424 --> 00:15:07,245 of dental school today, they are 403 00:15:08,024 --> 00:15:08,524 brighter 404 00:15:09,384 --> 00:15:10,684 and more enthusiastic 405 00:15:11,705 --> 00:15:14,605 and more open to learning than any other 406 00:15:15,065 --> 00:15:18,059 generation, certainly, that I've that I've been a 407 00:15:18,059 --> 00:15:19,159 a part of. 408 00:15:19,620 --> 00:15:20,120 And 409 00:15:20,740 --> 00:15:22,580 for those of us who are a little 410 00:15:22,580 --> 00:15:24,580 more seasoned to to be a part of 411 00:15:24,580 --> 00:15:26,679 that and to share with the young people, 412 00:15:27,779 --> 00:15:30,120 the things that we've learned along the way. 413 00:15:30,259 --> 00:15:33,355 And when we're able to to combine those 414 00:15:33,355 --> 00:15:34,174 two things 415 00:15:34,714 --> 00:15:36,014 and and develop 416 00:15:36,554 --> 00:15:39,534 more mentors, and we're developing more masters 417 00:15:40,235 --> 00:15:41,774 in our profession. 418 00:15:42,394 --> 00:15:44,735 I do believe that the future of dentistry 419 00:15:44,794 --> 00:15:47,190 is bright. And I do believe that the 420 00:15:47,190 --> 00:15:49,450 future of our company, Heartland Dental, 421 00:15:49,910 --> 00:15:52,330 is bright. And I'm just looking forward 422 00:15:52,950 --> 00:15:55,590 to seeing where this journey of ours takes 423 00:15:55,590 --> 00:15:58,889 us and how we're able to move forward 424 00:15:59,565 --> 00:16:01,884 together as a as a profession moving into 425 00:16:01,884 --> 00:16:02,544 the future. 426 00:16:04,205 --> 00:16:06,285 Doctor Bloink, what a an incredible note to 427 00:16:06,285 --> 00:16:09,004 end our conversation on today. It's been so 428 00:16:09,004 --> 00:16:11,665 great learning about your passion for your practice 429 00:16:11,725 --> 00:16:14,410 and this masters and mentors campaign and all 430 00:16:14,410 --> 00:16:16,090 of the hope that you have for the 431 00:16:16,090 --> 00:16:18,250 future and for those entering dentistry. Thank you 432 00:16:18,250 --> 00:16:19,769 so much for your time and your insights 433 00:16:19,769 --> 00:16:22,250 today. Erica, it's been a pleasure being with 434 00:16:22,250 --> 00:16:23,929 you, and best of luck and happy new 435 00:16:23,929 --> 00:16:25,690 year to you and all, all of your 436 00:16:25,690 --> 00:16:26,190 listeners. 437 00:16:26,914 --> 00:16:28,995 Thank you so much, doctor Bloink. And we'd 438 00:16:28,995 --> 00:16:31,714 also like to thank today's podcast sponsor, Heartland 439 00:16:31,714 --> 00:16:34,355 Dental. Listeners, you can tune into more podcasts 440 00:16:34,355 --> 00:16:36,995 from Becker's Healthcare by visiting our podcast page 441 00:16:36,995 --> 00:16:37,735 at beckershospitalreview.com.