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Women Are a Powerhouse at 42 North Dental Over one-third of its 80-plus supported practices are female led
Among the more than 200,000 dentists working in dentistry in the U.S. today, 34.5% are female according to the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI). That percentage is growing as the demographics of the dental industry continue to shift.
Forty years ago, just 7% of dental school graduates in the U.S. were women, according to HPI, and that percentage is up to 49% in recent years. So how do dental groups and practices recruit, attract and retain female dentists and female leaders? 42 North Dental, a DSO supporting dental practices in the Northeast for over 40 years, aims to be an “Employer of Choice.” To be successful, they recognize that the changing demographics of today’s dental school graduates means emphasizing and embracing female leadership across its supported practices, where more than one-third of its 80-plus practices are currently led by women. Out of the nearly 300 dentists, the top three producers at 42 North Dental supported practices are all female specialists. Their leadership style is embraced at the DSO and leveraged across all brands and practices. “Dentists and specialists aren’t expected to fit any one style of managing or practicing here,” said Caitlin Maehr, director of specialties for 42 North Dental. “Providers have freedom to practice and manage their team how they want. That leads to
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more productive providers and a more engaged staff.” Maehr leads an all-female team providing business support to more than 80 specialists across the organization. There are over 2,000 dental professionals at 42 North Dental and its supported practices, and about 300 of those are general dentists and specialists. “Our top three producers the past three months are all women who are originally from three different countries,” said Maehr. “We encourage supported dentists and specialists to work together for the greater good of the patients,” explained Maehr. “When you treat patients right, the rest will follow. The culture at 42 North Dental is at the core of the organization’s success fostering female leadership. According to Maehr, there’s opportunity for growth, development of skills and mentorship by strong women in leadership positions. One such leader is Dr. Maryanne Irwin, an endodontist and member of the clinical management team, who was recognized by 42 North Dental with the Award for Excellence in Endodontics in 2019.
MARCH/APRIL 2021 • EFFICIENCY IN GROUP PRACTICE
Caitlin Maehr
Dr. Natalia Hoffmann
Dr. Erin Hersey
dentalgrouppractice.com
