women in dso leadership award

The winners of the 2024 Women in DSO Leadership Award will be announced and celebrated at the 2024 Women in DSO® event to be held March 6-8 in Las Vegas. 

Nominations will close on December 15, 2023.

The Women in DSO Leadership Award recognizes professional women in DSO who have emerged as leaders in their field. As leaders, these powerful women have made a marked difference for women across our industry, in their companies, and in their communities, creating new pathways for others to follow.  

Only one nomination is needed to include a woman leader for the Women in DSO Leadership Award. Information forms/applications for gathering background and information will be sent to all nominees beginning September 15 and continue until nominations are closed Dec, 15. Nominations will be reviewed by a formal selection committee composed of Women in DSO® leadership.  Considerations for choosing finalists will include:

• She has made a marked difference across our industry, creating new pathways for others to follow
• Her mission/influence will grow and more women will benefit as a result of her being a finalist
• She has specifically helped women advance in their companies, in their communities, or in our industry
• Her selection as a finalist will highlight and raise the profile of diversity in the DSO world
• She has been a leader and influence inside and outside her job responsibilities

Specific examples and accomplishments will be encouraged in the information form/application sent to the nominees this fall

Who should you nominate?

Outstanding women leaders who work in group practices, at a DSO or an affiliated DSO clinic, or who support DSOs as a clinician, consultants, business partners, etc. Both business and clinical leaders are encouraged and self-nominations are accepted.  (The clinical category includes but is not limited to DDS/DMD/RDH/ EFDA/EDDA, DA, and women leaders who work for a DSO or a business that supports DSOs, in clinical-related work, but not necessarily chairside.) 

Women in DSO Leadership Award, Clinical Leadership

• Sarah Balaster, DMD, Chief Dental Officer, Dental Care Alliance
• Misty Mattingly, RDH, BS, SVP and Chief of Dental Hygiene Operations, Sage Dental
• Dr. Mary Pham, CEO and Founder, Lollipop Dental
• Rebecca Pounds, DDS, Regional Doctor Mentor of Operations, Cherry Way Dental
• Tina Saw, DDS, CEO, Oral Genome

Women in DSO Leadership Award, Business Leadership

• Michelle Dowling, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Rectangle Health
• Dee Fischer, Founder, Fischers Professional Group
• Cathy Haibach, Senior Manager, DSO and Group Practice Membership, American Dental Association
• Virginia Jones, CEO, Village Family Dental/ Valleygate Dental Surgery Centers
• Margaret McGuckin, Founder, i3 Ignite