Women in DSO® Archives - The Lead Magazine

With women now representing more than 50% of Canada’s recent dental graduates, the expansion of Women in DSO^® into Canada couldn’t have come at a better time. At the forefront of this movement are Education Committee Co-Chairs Joseé Desjardins and Sanaz Nestorov, who are championing the next generation of women leaders through dynamic programming— including the launch of Canadian Exchange Circle panels.

Desjardins reflects, “Within a year, we were diving into webinars with people we didn’t really know. I’ve done this kind of thing before with boards of trade or think tanks, but this felt different—it was more natural. I was outside my comfort zone, but I was loving it.”

It’s not just professional— it’s personal. It’s powerful.”

Nestorov shares that the impact has gone far beyond professional development. “I echo everything Joseé said. From an educational perspective, this experience has been intangible—but incredibly powerful. One of the biggest takeaways for me has been seeing how women can truly help each other stand taller.”

That peer-to-peer learning and support is central to the mission.

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“Being exposed to a diverse group of women has been incredibly valuable,” says Desjardins. “The conversations are richer, more open. There’s a strong spirit of women lifting one another, especially in a space designed for vulnerability and growth.”

In May 2025, Women in DSO hosted its first-ever DSO Summit in Canada, a milestone event that brought together professionals from across the country.

“There were people from large, competing DSOs who didn’t even realize they needed to learn from one another—until they were in the same room,” Nestorov recalls. “We’re creating space for meaningful engagement and building an ecosystem of mentorship that the corporate dental space in Canada has been missing.”

The expansion of Women in DSO into Canada is more than a geographic move—it’s a strategic investment in the future of the industry, one powerful woman at a time.

Joseé Desjardins

Joseé Desjardins is the Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at iFinance Canada, leading business development efforts focused on sustainable growth, innovation, and partnership.

Sanaz Nestorov

Sanaz Nestorov serves as the National Account Manager, Enterprise DSO at Align Technology, where she leverages her extensive expertise to drive growth and innovation.

The Program Turning Potential into Authority Across the Dental Industry
In a rapidly transforming dental landscape, clinical excellence is no longer enough. Strategic growth now hinges on something deeper: empowered leadership, visible expertise, and intentional talent development—especially among women professionals.

That’s the focus of the Women in DSO^® Education Committee, which is building the next generation of industry leaders by equipping women with the tools, platforms, and visibility to lead boldly. As Committee Chair Cheryl Polmatier puts it, “We’re not just creating content—we’re developing leaders.”

From executive presence to thought leadership, the Education Committee helps women show up confidently in rooms where decisions are made—and where your organization’s future is shaped.

The Competitive Advantage: Visible, Confident Leaders
Every dental leader knows that your team is your greatest asset. So what happens when you leave talent untapped within your organization?

The Women in DSO Education Committee helps your organization tap into that talent to reach its potential by coaching women professionals to become recognized experts in their fields. Whether through speaking engagements, panel participation, blog features, or virtual leadership sessions, participants gain more than visibility— they gain influence.

“The goal is readiness,” says Polmatier. “We help women build the communication skills and executive presence that organizations need to grow from the inside out.”

Strategic Platforms That Drive Real Development
The Education Committee offers three proven vehicles for leadership growth and personal brand expansion:

1. Exchange Circles
These 45-minute live, virtual sessions begin with a brief presentation by an industry expert, followed by a 10-minute Q&A and open peer dialogue led by a facilitator. Focused on the technical drivers of DSO success, the sessions align with five key pillars: operations, clinical, financial, growth, and leadership and people. They’re designed to support strategic thinking and career advancement through thought leadership.

2. Empower Networking
Centered on leadership and personal development, Empower Networking fosters the growth of professionals aiming to lead in the DSO space. These virtual panels focus on building confidence and influence—helping participants sharpen their leadership skills and expand their impact.

Both Exchange Circles and Empower Networking are hosted monthly and serve as platforms to feature women as experts, enhance their recognition, and accelerate their path to leadership.

3. #WinDSO Blog
Published weekly, the blog amplifies diverse voices and thought leadership across the dental space. It’s a tool for executives looking to spotlight rising talent or to contribute their own strategic perspective to the national conversation.

Expert Content That Accelerates Growth
Exchange Circles and Empower Networking are designed not only to elevate individual careers but to strengthen entire organizations by developing the talent within. These platforms deliver high-value content aligned with the real challenges and strategic priorities facing DSOs and dental leaders— from optimizing operations and scaling revenue to building resilient, future-ready teams. Each session is led by industry experts who don’t just speak to theory—they bring hands-on experience and proven results from the front lines of dental innovation.

Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about making others feel capable of stepping forward.

Whether you’re investing in your own development or nurturing leadership across your team, Exchange Circles and Empower Networking offer practical, actionable insights that drive measurable impact. By creating space for rising leaders to engage, contribute, and be seen, these platforms help organizations grow from within—turning internal potential into visible, strategic advantage.

A Strategic Resource for Leaders
For forward-thinking dental leaders, learning doesn’t stop between conferences or quarterly meetings—it’s ongoing, intentional, and aligned with real-world priorities. That’s why Exchange Circles and Empower Networking offer on-demand access to a robust library of recorded sessions designed to fuel both individual and organizational growth.

This expertly curated content features high-impact discussions on topics that matter to today’s dental executives— from optimizing culture and strategy to marketing innovation and digital transformation. Some of the latest sessions added to the library include Global Insights: Culture vs. Strategy: What Really Drives Dental Organization Success?, Beyond the Chair: Innovative Marketing for Dental Industry Growth, and Canada Insights: Advancing Care Through Technology & Digital Transformation.

Whether you’re developing your leadership team, onboarding emerging talent, or sharpening your own executive lens, this content library offers a flexible, scalable way to stay ahead of industry shifts and turn insight into action—on your own schedule, at your own pace.

How to Get Involved: Share Your Voice, Grow Your Impact
Cheryl Polmatier joined the Education Committee three years ago and became Chair in January 2025. For her, the mission is personal.

“There’s no other platform in our industry that empowers women like this,” she says. “We’re here to help others rise—to spotlight women in a space long dominated by the ‘good old boys’ network.’

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The committee offers many ways to get involved—speaking, writing, or joining a subcommittee. “You get out of your silo and into real conversations about innovation, leadership, and growth,” Polmatier says. “It feels amazing to help other women shine.”

Invest in Your Leaders. Invest in Your Legacy.
The future of dentistry will be shaped by those who develop leaders—not just systems. Whether you’re a CEO, practice owner, or clinical director, giving your team access to Exchange Circles, Empower Networking, or blog contributions can unlock new levels of growth—for them and for your organization.

Leadership isn’t just about being in charge. It’s about making others feel capable of stepping forward. Let the Education Committee help you elevate the talent already within your reach.

Ready to nominate yourself or someone in your organization?

Email info@womenindso.org to learn more about speaking, moderating, or joining the planning team.

Upcoming Virtual Panels: Your Invitation to Engage and Grow
Join Exchange Circles and Empower Networking for a powerful lineup of upcoming virtual panels designed to inform, inspire, and elevate women in the dental industry. You don’t need to be a member to attend these live events. From shaping the future workforce to revolutionizing dental education and exploring cutting-edge topics like teledentistry and revenue cycle management, the Exchange Circles series offers valuable insights you won’t want to miss. Learn more and register at WomeninDSO.org/exchange-circles.

Empower Networking brings timely conversations for personal and professional growth—empowering female entrepreneurs, navigating career pivots, and mastering the art of setting boundaries. These sessions are crafted to help women lead with confidence and clarity. Explore the schedule and secure your spot at womenindso.org/empower-networking-1.

Empower Networking:
Aug 21
Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

Sep 18
The Power of Pivot: Embracing Change to Fuel Career Growth

Nov 20
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: The Art of Setting Boundaries

Exchange Circles CA:
Aug 14
Transforming Care: How DSOs Are Redefining the Patient Experience

Oct 9
Beyond General Practice: Unlocking Same Store Growth in DSOs

Dec 11
Lighting the Way: The Impact of Women Who Lead and Lift

Exchange Circles:
Sep 4
DSO and Dental Schools: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce Together

Oct 2
Revolutionizing Dental Education: The Role of Learning Management Systems in DSOs

Nov 6
The Dollars Behind the Smiles: Optimizing Revenue Cycle Management in DSOs

Dec 4
The Rise of Teledentistry: How DSOs Can Adapt and Thrive

Work and life are both enmeshed throughout the moments of each day—from getting out the door in the mornings (or to your home office) while reflecting on your upcoming schedule to puzzling over a work conundrum on the treadmill. We’re driven to live our optimal lives. We want to be fully present when we are at work and at home.

We want to power through Maslow’s Hierarchy to self-actualization and set up a vacation house.

But what happens when we’re confronted with life’s inevitable difficulties? Sometimes those are pesky things like tax returns or refinancing your home. Other times they are devastating life events when therapy is a must or a crisis that suddenly demands elder care.

Dr. Aman Kaur and the Wellness Committee wanted to empower Women in DSO members with a proactive plan to be prepared for these myriad obligations in life. Not an insurance plan, but direct access to comprehensive health and wellness programs under one umbrella.

Dialing into the Full Wellness Spectrum
The WellnessPlan™ by Women in DSO steps in where most organizations’ employee assistance programs fall short for their women leaders, providing a holistic support system.

Wellness Committee Co-chair Leesa Smith explains, “Employee benefits received through employer groups can be sporadic or difficult to access, not offering what we need. Dr. Kaur wanted this program to be comprehensive, including things that EAPs don’t typically offer in their packages. It needed to be well-rounded for our members and employer groups who are looking to bring it on board.

The WellnessPlan™ dials into the full life and emotional wellness spectrum.”

Wellness Committee Co-chair Liz Meyers, who is pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology, agrees.

“When people think of health, they immediately think physical health—but mental wellness, emotional wellness, financial wellness, and legal wellness are all significant,” she notes.

“There are extensive resources, including caregiver wellness, assistance with childcare, and elder care. We want to do anything that we can do for our members that will help them be well and empower them to lead in all areas of their life.”

WellnessPlan™ for Members and Member Companies
The WellnessPlan™, available to Women in DSO member companies and to individual members, is a strategic, easy-to-implement solution that helps control healthcare costs, reduce burnout, and boost productivity. According to a study conducted by the Federal Occupational Health agency, such Employee Assistance Programs have reduced absenteeism by close to 70%.

The WellnessPlan™ has curated a much-needed and often unavailable bundle of services into one easy solution—so member companies’ HR teams can spend less time administering multiple programs. Employers can decide cost structure options to be employer-sponsored, partially subsidized, or a voluntary benefit.

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Solutions for the Eldercare Crisis
No one wants to admit they’re struggling, whether with eldercare responsibilities, legal questions, or healthcare decisions. But these challenges are part of life for many.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 37.1 million Americans provide unpaid eldercare, with nearly 60% of care providers being women. These responsibilities often come on top of parenting and full-time work, especially for the 7.8 million caregivers who are also raising children at home. Without help, women may be navigating an exhausting balancing act in silence.

Unpaid caregivers face higher levels of stress, anxiety, and fatigue, which can severely impact their health, job performance, and long-term retention in the workforce.

This is where a well-designed wellness plan becomes not just a benefit but a lifeline. Thanks to WellnessPlan™, women can tap into telephonic counseling and referral services from Resources for Living to provide much-needed support with solutions for caregivers, childcare, elder care, and many other personal, household, and family issues.

“Providing these resources to women opens the door for them to give themselves permission to seek these things out,” Meyers said—and that access can be transformative.

Trusted Legal Support
Imagine having the confidence to face any legal situation—big or small—knowing you have trusted advisors behind you.

Whether you’re preparing a will, going through a divorce, starting a business, or dealing with a traffic ticket, reliable legal help is just a call away with WellnessPlan™. With access to experienced attorneys across the country, members can get the guidance they need without the stress of overwhelming costs.

From everyday matters to life-changing events, legal decisions become simple, affordable, and accessible for you and your family—including dependents up to age 25. WellnessPlan™ gives peace of mind and protection, knowing you’re not alone when life gets complicated.

Empowering Through Balance
So while the vacation home in self-actualization may have to wait, the WellnessPlan™ delivers something even more immediate and impactful—a practical, restorative path to balance across work, life, and everything in between.

The WellnessPlan™ solutions do more than promote wellness—they meet women where they are, nurturing their whole health amid the realities of their daily lives. Especially in the dental industry, where 85% of the workforce is women, this isn’t just a perk—it’s a strategy to help organizations retain employees who feel engaged and supported by their organizations in a truly meaningful way.

A comprehensive plan that includes legal guidance, eldercare navigation, mental health care, and many other flexible benefits empowers women to manage their concerns and responsibilities with confidence and dignity. Offering it signals that employers understand the realities their teams face—and are willing to invest in their well-being. For companies committed to building resilient, inclusive workplaces, this kind of wellness support isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Women in DSO members can start using WellnessPlan™ benefits by visiting WellnessPlan.life. Or call (833) 946-3761 or email office@womenindso.org to learn more.

Learn quick insights and success strategies from Women in DSO members shaping the future of dentistry. Gain wisdom, inspiration and practical guidance.

Learn from Women in DSO^® members shaping the future of dentistry. Gain wisdom, inspiration, and practical guidance from these quick insights and success strategies.

Remarkable women across the industry are supporting great organizations with outstanding achievements, and well-deserved promotions. Join us in recognizing these Women in DSO® members and the empowering organizations that recognize their brilliance.

Promotions. Achievements. Purpose in motion. Across the industry, remarkable Women in DSO^® members are being seen, celebrated, and elevated by companies that understand the value of unstoppable leadership. This is what progress looks like.

Remarkable women across the industry are supporting great organizations with outstanding achievements, and well-deserved promotions. Join us in recognizing these Women in DSO members and the empowering organizations that recognize their brilliance.

A foundation for sustainable success, Women In DSO® launched its Wellness Program in 2024. The program was built on the belief that thriving individuals lead thriving organizations. By addressing financial, professional, personal, and relational wellness, this program empowers members to achieve sustainable success both in and outside their careers.

The Four Pillars
of Wellness

Financial Wellness:

Promoting stability and peace of
mind through sound financial
decisions in budgeting, debt
management, and savings.

Professional Wellness:

Advancing career fulfillment and
work-life harmony as essential
components of overall wellness.

Personal Wellness:

Integrating mental, physical,
and spiritual practices to elevate
overall quality of life.

Relational Wellness:

Strengthening relationships
through empathy and
communication.

2024 Highlights by Pillar

The year unfolded with dynamic workshops, thought-provoking blogs, interactive challenges, and signature events aimed at inspiring members to take charge of their wellness.

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Looking Ahead to 2025

The momentum continues with new initiatives coming in 2025. Building on the success of last year, Women In DSO® plans to expand with the following initiatives:

The 2nd Annual Wellness Summit in Washington, D.C., on October 22, 2025.
Programs like Wellness Accountability Partnerships, Try-it Sessions, a Book Club and Wellness Playlists.
The launch of the Wellness Plan, offering members childcare, elder care, financial guidance, and mental health resources.

Women In DSO® is equipping women with tools to lead authentically and prioritize holistic well-being. Get involved today.

Category: Women in DSO®

Canadian Expansion

From Ready to Recognized

WellnessPlan™ Built for Those Who Lead

Lessons in Leadership

Lessons in Leadership

Lessons in Leadership

Bold Moves & Rising Stars

Bold Moves & Rising Stars

Bold Moves & Rising Stars

Thriving Leadership

The Four Pillars
of Wellness

2024 Highlights by Pillar

Looking Ahead to 2025

The Four Pillars of Wellness

2024 Highlights by Pillar

Looking Ahead to 2025

The Four Pillars
of Wellness