Our two-day summit brought together 25 new endodontists and periodontists for learning, mentorship, collaboration, and connection with experienced SDP partner doctors.
Specialized Dental Partners (SDP) recently welcomed 25 of its newest endodontic and periodontal specialists to Chicago for the Thrive New Specialist Summit, held August 20–21, 2026.
Designed specifically to support specialists in the early stages of their careers with SDP, Thrive brought together new doctors and experienced partner specialists from across the organization for two days of learning, mentorship, collaboration, and meaningful connection.
The Summit reflects SDP’s commitment to supporting specialists throughout every stage of their careers, not only by providing operational resources within their practices, but also by creating opportunities to learn from and build relationships with other specialists across the country.
Learning From Specialists Who Have Been There
One of the most valuable aspects of Thrive was the opportunity for newer specialists to learn directly from experienced SDP doctors who understand firsthand what it takes to build a successful career in specialty dentistry.
Programming began with Dr. Vladana Babcic leading From Residency to Real Life, helping attendees think through the transition from specialty training into day-to-day practice. Dr. Milton Davenport followed with From Referrals to Relationships, focusing on the importance of developing strong, lasting relationships with referring doctors.
Attendees then separated into specialty-specific breakout sessions designed to address the realities of practicing as an endodontist or periodontist.
For the endodontists, Dr. Michelle Hack and Dr. Nabeel Atassi led Mastering the Endo Consult, including conversations around one-visit versus two-visit endodontics and creating an effective “perfect day” schedule.
Periodontists participated in Mastering the Perio Consult with Dr. Kate Quinlin and Dr. Neil Zachs, exploring treatment acceptance, scheduling strategies, and immediate implants.
The conversations continued with Dr. Rick Munaretto, who presented Working with an Assistant and Building Trust with the Team, highlighting the importance of collaboration and strong relationships within the practice.
Dr. Viet Vo then led When Clinical Treatment Becomes the Easy Part, addressing the many professional and practice considerations that extend beyond clinical skill alone.
“I loved all the lectures, it was great hearing from the partner doctors,” said Stephanie Sawyer, endodontist associate. “Dr. Vo’s lecture was great. It was very honest and gave a lot of insight over his last year as an associate, starting out right after residency.”
Together, the sessions gave new specialists the opportunity to learn practical lessons from doctors who have spent years navigating the same stages of their careers.
Preparing Specialists for the Realities of Practice
Thrive continued on Friday with programming focused on some of the challenges and decisions specialists encounter as their careers progress.
Dr. Reid Pullen led a session on Managing Mistakes, creating an opportunity for open conversation around navigating difficult situations, learning from experience, and continuing to grow as a clinician.
The Summit also looked beyond clinical practice to the long-term professional and financial journey of a specialist. Dr. Diwakar Kinra presented a session on Financial Planning, while SDP President Ronny Rowell closed out the programming with Thinking Long Term: Pathway to Partnership.
By covering everything from patient consultations and referral relationships to team dynamics, managing mistakes, financial planning, and partnership, Thrive was intentionally designed to address the full experience of building a career as a specialist.
Rather than focusing only on clinical education, the Summit gave attendees access to practical insights that can help them become stronger clinicians, colleagues, leaders, and future partners.
Building Connections Beyond the Classroom
Thrive was about more than presentations and professional development. The Summit also gave new specialists an opportunity to build relationships with one another and with doctors and team members from across SDP.
Throughout the two days, attendees had time to connect over meals, between sessions, and during a Thursday evening dinner event. Those informal moments created additional opportunities to exchange experiences, ask questions, and build relationships that can continue long after the Summit.
For specialists practicing in different states and markets, bringing everyone together in Chicago provided an opportunity to turn names and virtual connections into a stronger professional community.
Experience Shared Across Generations of Specialists
Thrive also demonstrated the value of bringing specialists at different stages of their careers together.
Experienced partner doctors had the opportunity to share lessons gained throughout years of practicing endodontics and periodontics, while newer doctors brought their own perspectives, questions, and enthusiasm to the conversation.
That exchange of knowledge is an important part of the Specialized Dental Partners community. By creating intentional opportunities for mentorship and collaboration, SDP helps ensure that valuable experience is shared rather than siloed within individual practices.
Supporting Specialists at Every Stage of Their Careers
The Thrive New Specialist Summit is part of Specialized Dental Partners’ broader commitment to supporting specialists throughout every stage of their professional journey.
The result is a community where experience is shared; relationships extend beyond individual practices, and specialists across the country have opportunities to continue learning from one another.
As the 25 specialists who attended Thrive return to their practices, they leave Chicago with more than two days of new information. They leave with new relationships, additional resources, experienced colleagues they can call on, and an even stronger connection to the Specialized Dental Partners community.
That is what Thrive is all about: helping specialists grow, connect, and imagine more for their careers.