Heartland Dental knows the value of investing in development and has always provided supported doctors, their teams, and business and office professionals with continuing education opportunities. For over 25 years, we have recognized education’s crucial role in supported doctor satisfaction and in fostering the success of supported doctors and their teams in delivering exceptional patient care.
This July, we are celebrating one year since we unveiled our new educational flagship – Heartland Dental University (HDU), reflecting our unwavering commitment to providing supported doctors, hygienists, and team members the opportunities they need to grow personally and professionally.
A Year of Growth and Innovation
As Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at Heartland Dental, I am deeply committed to advancing dental education and fostering the personal growth of our dental community. Dentistry is a quickly evolving field, and it's essential that we equip our supported doctors and their teams with the educational opportunities, tools, and resources they need to continue delivering the best possible patient care and experiences. With the recent advancements in technology that impact patient care and workflow as it relates to AI and scanner we have provided comprehensive training at all levels to elevate the level of adoption and implementation.
HDU both honors Heartland Dental's rich educational history and paves the way for future educational opportunities. With HDU, we have taken the necessary steps to help ensure that Heartland supported doctors, hygienists, and team members are empowered with the opportunities to build themselves to meet the shifting demands of the dental industry.
Honoring Our Core Values
Heartland Dental’s Core Values drive the decisions and priorities across the company every day, highlighting our passion and commitment to constant and never-ending improvement, camaraderie, and working hard, smart, and together. It is no surprise that our continuing education offerings remain a top differentiator.
One of our supported doctors, Ashley Gray, DMD, puts it perfectly: “The amazing thing about Heartland Dental and what sets it apart from other DSOs is the amount of education and personal growth that you get when you are with Heartland Dental. Anything that I want to grow into, whether that’s implants, prosthodontics, Invisalign—they really take the time to support me and help me grow in that direction.”
When highly skilled doctors and their teams deliver lifetime care, patients win. At Heartland Dental University, we have worked to ensure access to courses to build clinical, business, and leadership skills so our supported offices can better care for patients and thrive as a team. HDU's offerings empower clinical, front office, and operational teams by developing both essential technical skills and effective communication skills. This comprehensive approach leads to increased case acceptance with patients.
With HDU we offer a diverse range of training modalities – self-paced web-based learning for flexibility, live virtual sessions for interaction, tabletop exercises for hands-on practice, regional workshops for deeper dives, and traditional in-person classrooms. This flexibility allows us to scale education across our supported network ensuring everyone has access to the learning style that best suits them.
But HDU isn't just about acquiring knowledge. Our focus is on implementation. We believe the true measure of education is results-producing action. That's why we don't stop at courses. HDU leverages our network of field mentors to create a supportive learning environment. This partnership ensures that our supported doctors and teams receive relevant, hands-on guidance to apply their learning in real-world scenarios, maximizing the effectiveness of the education we provide.
Reflecting on the accessibility and support provided, another supported doctor, Chelsea Harper, DDS shares, “Continuing education with Heartland is fantastic. They have everything right there at your fingertips and it’s very easy to access, sign up for, and you have such a great support system.”
A Lifelong Learning Journey
HDU goes beyond traditional courses. We cultivate a vibrant community that encourages collaboration and growth. Supported doctors and clinical team members can gain valuable hands-on experience through immersive, in-person learning experiences. These experiences, guided by our expert clinical team, involve simulated tabletop exercises and real-time patient interactions, fostering expertise in key areas like clear aligner therapy, endodontics, implants, aesthetics, lasers and oral surgery.
The proof is in the numbers. In just one-year HDU has facilitated an impressive 85,679 Instructor-Led Training (ILT) and virtual ILT completions. Our programs boast a sky-high Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 65.49%, meaning a vast majority of participants would recommend the courses – far exceeding industry standards. But the results go deeper. Participants report an average performance improvement of 35.7%, and supported offices see positive ROI
At Heartland Dental University, we truly believe that learning extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. New supported doctors benefit from a dedicated mentorship program, providing ongoing guidance and support throughout their careers. Study clubs, workshops, and social events further solidify this commitment to collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing among peers.
Always Learning. Always Leading.
At Heartland Dental University, we are Always Learning and Always Leading. I am proud that we have created a powerful platform where our supported doctors and their teams can unlock their full potential. In just one year, HDU has become a vibrant community fostering collaboration and growth. As we celebrate this first year, we look forward to an even brighter future for HDU. Together, we'll continue to learn, lead, and shape the future of dentistry.
Learn more about how Heartland Dental can help you unlock your full potential at heartland.com/HDU.