Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran

Mark Johnson is the founder of StudentLoansRx.com and a wealth advisor with RBF Wealth Advisors in St. Louis, MO. Mark has been in the financial services industry since 1991. Mark is a registered investment advisor and is insurance licensed in a number of states. Several years ago, Mark discovered that the financial advisory industry had pretty much ignored one of the largest financial planning issues of our day, Student Loan Repayment. Mark and his team were early pioneers in developing strategies to help emerging healthcare professionals create smart, cost-effective financial plans to tackle their student loan debt in the context of their career aspirations, family situation and personal financial goals. Mark speaks to hundreds of dental professionals each year by visiting dental schools, residency programs, attending and speaking at dental conferences and interviews through social media platforms like podcasts. Mark and his wife Lisa, a nurse, have five children and live in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Adam Zilko is the CEO & Founder of Firegang Dental Marketing and has 18 years of digital marketing experience with over 10 years in the dental industry. Since starting Firegang, Adam has become an expert in new patient marketing and now he works exclusively with dental practices. He has written 3 Amazon best selling dental marketing books, scaled Firegang to millions in annual revenue, and has helped thousands of dentists all across North America attract new patients and grow their practice through cutting edge marketing strategies.

Robert J. Whitman is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Forward Science. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering from Tulane University and began his career as a Clinical Engineer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where his focus was developing advanced technology for early detection of cervical cancer. Fueled by a passion for early cancer diagnostics, Robert then went on to work in research and development at Remicalm LLC, where he worked on creating cancer-screening products utilizing fluorescence technology licensed from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Finally, in 2012, Robert launched Forward Science with fellow, former engineer, Brian M. Pikkula with the goal of developing innovative technologies for clinicians to advance oral cancer screening procedures. In addition to his role as CEO, Robert also serves as an adviser to startup medical technology companies on product development strategies at the Texas Medical Center and often speaks nationally on the topic of oral cancer and early discovery.

Dr. Michael T. Varallo, DMD is the founder of HoHoKus Dental Associates and the Nantucket Dental Society.

David Charnowitz is the founder and CEO of DC Dental. Jay Glazer is the Director of Business Development at Crazy Dental a subsidiary of DC Dental, the fastest growing authorized independent dental supply company in North America. Prior to joining DC Dental, Jay worked in the Non-Profit and Retail business sectors. Under his 7 years as a DC Dental sales rep, Jay built his book of business up in to the many millions a year. He showed care and tenacity to his doctors and offices. Jay was promoted from DC Dental to the Director of Business Development at Crazy Dental. Thank G-D, in his short 7 months since joining Crazy Dental, he has already navigated 10% growth for the company. Jay, or "Crazy Jay", as they call him, sits on several non-profit national and local boards and committees, likes play sports as well as coaches his children's sports teams. He, along with his wife, founded several popular non-profit institutions. Thank G-D, They have eight beautiful children. Howie Friedman is the CFO and COO of DC Dental, the fastest growing independent dental supply company in North America. Prior to joining DC Dental, Howie worked as an Internal Revenue Agent at the IRS. Under his tenure at DC Dental since 2007 revenue has grown 600% and continues to grow. Howie has implemented many large scale projects to support a larger enterprise, including the software running the business, the installation and integration of AI & robotics in their distribution center, and the eCommerce platform . In each instance, DC Dental saw significant reduction in redundancies, improved accuracy and increases in efficiencies. In recognition of his various achievements, Howie was presented the Smart CXO award by SmartCEO Magazine in 2012, the CFO of the Year in 2014 by the Washington Business Journal, and has been nominated for Baltimore Business Journal's 40 Under 40 in 2019. Howie is actively involved with various local charities and is an executive board member of Shoresh, a 501(c)(3) that brings community and positive experience to local teens and their families. He, along with his wife, founded the JEWELS School, a special needs school in Baltimore, MD. They have four beautiful children.

Lee Culp, CDT is the CEO of Sculpture Studios, Sculpture Academy, and is a recognized pioneer in Digital Dentistry and advanced functional aesthetic dentistry. He holds true to a belief that the attainment of perfection in restorative dentistry can only be harnessed through a unique combination of skillful application coupled with superior knowledge. As a world-renowned innovator and educator, he maintains an unparalleled focus and commitment to understanding the revolutionary, often complex, changes that continue to influence modern aesthetic dentistry. Thus, he lends his vision and talent to developing, throughout dentistry and within his laboratory, the related materials and communications standards necessary to ensure the most realistic opportunities for success and gratification for those discriminating dental professionals who maintain a higher profile, cutting-edge practice philosophy. He is a leading resource/inventor for many of the materials, products, and techniques used in dentistry today, and holds numerous patents for his ideas and products.  Lee writes many articles per year, and his writing, photography, and teaching style have brought him international recognition, as one of today’s most exciting lecturers and innovative artisans in the specialty of digital dentistry, dental ceramics and functional esthetics. Lee’s life is all about two things, his wife, Dr Lida Swann (Prosthodontist, Implant Surgeon, and recently named head of Digital Dentistry at UNC) and Dentistry, well, kind of the same thing. He has three children, one of which is also a dentist.

Ryan Moynihan has a diversified background in finance, analytics, strategy, sales, marketing, business development, product management and operations with over 19 years’ experience across many Fortune 100 companies in the areas of health care, consulting, and technology. He worked at Disney, Intel, Ernst & Young and Miller Brewing Company before earning his MBA from Georgetown. He has spent the past 13 years of his career in the Dental/Orthodontic industry with 3M and Ormco (Danaher), most recently as the VP of Global Marketing (2 years) and VP of NA Sales (2 1/2 years) for Ormco. He joined Gaidge in August 2017 as CEO. Ryan has lived in 10 different cities throughout his professional career and recently completed a cross country move to Atlanta from Sacramento in early 2018 with his family, wife Maria of 10 years and two boys, Joseph 9, and Macklin 6. Ryan enjoys spending time with the family and being outdoors and pretty much anything sports related.

Las Vegas Esthetics was founded in 1997. The lab sponsored LVI for 12 years and supported all of the live patient courses including Dr. Ron Jackson’s posterior course and all of the esthetic/smile and neuromuscular courses taught at LVI. The lab had the pleasure of working with some of the best dentists in the US and Canada. Their focus at the lab is on implant cases, smile enhancement, full mouth rehabilitation, quadrant dentistry and TMJ appliances. At the lab they work with many different doctors with different disciplines as they have found it important not to be limited in their knowledge. Currently Las Vegas Esthetics sponsors courses for Myotronics and Occlusal Connections.

Dr. Desirée Walker is a general dentist and owner of a ground up construction, state-of the-art dental practice called Lumber River Dental in Lumberton North Carolina. Dr. Desiree Walker, also known in many circles as the Ninja Dentist, is a three(3) time competitor on the hit NBC television show American Ninja Warrior. She has creatively integrated her love of fitness into dentistry by transforming her private office into a Ninja training suite - equipped with rings from the ceiling, bars on the wall, and  a balancing slack line. Outside of her dental practice and “Ninja” training, she enjoys outdoor yoga with her 2 cats - Jones and Lu, as well as long hikes with her husband Ash. She is passionate about helping others integrate movement and fun into their dental workday.

Pete Johnson is entrepreneur, video marketing expert, and professional storyteller. He has spent all of his career in marketing, with the last 7 of those years specifically focused on the dental industry. He has held multiple leadership positions at both boutique and large dental marketing agencies. In early 2018, Pete cofounded Get Practice Growth and set out on a mission to disrupt the dental industry. His company focuses on the use of custom video to help practices tell their story, earn their patients trust, and generate more revenue.  Pete grew up in sunny San Diego, where the “surf meets the turf”. Pete played competitive sports all through college, where he learned the value of teamwork and developed his leadership skills. Pete is an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan but is still left heartbroken by the desertion of his beloved Chargers. He is currently a free agent fan and accepting offers from other NFL fan bases. He also has a 4 year old daughter (Riley), who keeps him young and makes him watch My Little Pony and other princess movies on repeat. Pete is getting very close to being able to recite every single line in the movie “Frozen”.