Geoff Wayne on Working Smarter and Growing Fast in Dentistry
Focused leadership in dentistry can transform the growth of your dental practice. But what do they look like? In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host CRO Mike Huffaker of Planet DDS welcomes Geoff Wayne, CEO of Jefferson Dental and Orthodontics—seasoned medical leader—for a conversation full of actionable insights and practical strategies to boost growth.
Together, they discuss:
- The importance of a mission-driven approach to serving patients, emphasizing education and accessibility
- Sustainable and effective patient engagement strategies
- The strategic importance of clear organizational priorities
- The growing role of AI, specialty service expansion, and the ongoing evolution of patient care models
Tune in for the strategic handbook on growth in every area—patient care, business expansion and profitability.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, Geoff Wayne discusses the dental world’s relationship with technology and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2025. Here are some highlights from the show:
Moving to dentistry & AI for culture building
Geoff shares his journey into dentistry and shines a light on the similarities between traditional healthcare and dentistry, detailing some of the unique challenges the dental landscape faces. He draws from his experience in medical leadership, emphasizing the importance of robust leadership strategies for organizational growth. He also shares a unique AI-podcasting exercise he implemented within his organization and how it lends itself to culture building and internal communication.
Data-driven strategies increase patient engagement
Geoff reveals eye-opening takeaways on patient engagement and management strategies, examining how challenging assumptions about patient behavior led to valuable insights about their business. He emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in building long-term relationships with patients, eventually elevating patient care.
Staying in touch with a human approach
Geoff reveals that phone calls remain the most effective way of establishing a connection with patients and, therefore, a useful tool in patient reactivation. Challenging modern-day forms of communication, this practice highlights the importance of maintaining personal connections while balancing efficiency with effectiveness. He further highlights technology adoption in dentistry and the real story behind its use in the industry.
Strategic prioritization and goal alignment
Geoff shares his approach to organizational leadership, emphasizing the importance of having three to five key goals that guide all significant activities. He highlights how giving teams permission to say no to projects that don’t align with these goals can be liberating and more productive.
Being innovative while executing fundamentals
Geoff outlines a unique strategy of focusing on excellent execution of fundamentals while strategically testing new initiatives. This balanced approach combines maintaining high standards in core operations while exploring innovations like AI implementation and specialty service expansion.
About the Dental Economist Show
Don’t miss conversations with industry experts on the latest trends and top strategies to grow your DSO or dental business. Tune in to The Dental Economist Show each week as we meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.
