What does it really mean to be independent in dentistry today? For decades, private practice ownership has been defined by autonomy, entrepreneurship and the freedom to build something uniquely your own. But dentistry is changing. The pressures are different. The opportunities are different. And perhaps the definition of independence needs to evolve too. In this highly interactive session, Dr Whitney D Weiner and Ian McNickle will sit down for a candid fireside conversation about the changing landscape of private practice dentistry, what they have learned from decades spent building, leading and advising dentists, and what they believe the next generation of private practice can look like. They’ll explore the tension between independence and isolation, the power of community and collaboration, and how dentists can gain access to resources, expertise and scale without losing the things that made them want to own a practice in the first place. Then, the conversation turns to the room. Attendees will break into small groups around two deceptively simple questions: What would you never give up about private practice? And what would you happily never deal with again? The room will reconvene to unpack the answers and explore what they reveal about the future of our profession. Where do dentists truly need autonomy? Where could collaboration make us better? And how do we protect the culture, relationships, clinical freedom and entrepreneurial spirit that make private practice worth fighting for? This is not a traditional lecture. Expect a candid fireside conversation, lively debate, shared problem solving and a room full of dentists helping to imagine what comes next.

Upon completion of this workshop, attendees should be able to:

• Differentiate between ownership, independence and autonomy and identify the elements of private practice dentists most value and want to protect. 
• Evaluate how community, collaboration, shared resources and evolving practice models can reduce the burdens of ownership while preserving doctor leadership, clinical autonomy, culture and the entrepreneurial spirit of private practice.

Whitney Weiner, DDS, MS, is a board-certified periodontist, entrepreneur, and founder of Whole Dental Wellness and Lakeshore Dental Specialists in metro Detroit. She is also Director of the 3D Study Club, part of the Seattle Study Club network, and serves on the Executive Board of ICON Dental Partners. After building her practices as a fiercely independent entrepreneur, Whitney chose to partner with ICON while continuing to lead her practices and care for patients. Known for her “lone wolf to pack” philosophy, she is passionate about preserving doctor autonomy, culture, and entrepreneurship while harnessing the power of a larger team. Her perspective comes from living on both sides of the conversation: building independently and now building something bigger together. 

Ian McNickle is the co-founder and CEO of ICON Dental Partners. Prior to ICON, he was a co-founder and partner at WEO Media, an award-winning dental marketing agency. Ian has been an entrepreneur for the last 20 years and has been exclusively in the dental industry since 2011. Ian began his career as a mechanical engineer working in the high-tech manufacturing industry for 10 years, before graduating with an MBA from the University of Washington and launching into entrepreneurship.