Smile Doctors Off Mute

Mentorship has the power to shape not just careers, but entire lives. Few people understand that better than Dr. Jackie Zimmer.Inspired by the intentional mentorship of the late Dr. Tom Sperry, Dr. Zimmer of Prairie View Orthodontics in Illinois has built a career rooted in paying that guidance forward. Today, she’s one of the experienced mentors behind the Smile Doctors Doctor Fellowship, where she helps rising orthodontists grow as both doctors and leaders.On this episode, Dr. Zimmer joins Dr. Scott Law to explore the impact of generous leadership — what unlocks when practice ownership evolves into delegation, how experienced doctors can make the path easier for the next generation, and why passing wisdom forward is one of the most rewarding parts of the profession.Monetization ID HNC9FIUDJ5JZNQY4

At 13 years old, Dr. George Bork told his local newspaper that he was going to become a Harvard-trained orthodontist.After seeing a friend suffer from harsh bullying about her smile, he examined his mediocre grades and decided to make a change that would set him on a lifesaving journey.As he puts it, orthodontics became his North Star.What began as a middle school dream eventually brought him to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where a standard residency project led to a critical discovery that quite literally saved his life.Today, he joins Dr. Scott Law on the Smile Doctors Off Mute Podcast to discuss some of the highest and lowest points of his life — and how his orthodontic dream and a heart fixed on faith is the wire running through it all.Monetization ID HNC9FIUDJ5JZNQY4

What Ideas Resonated the Most in 2025?Let’s take a step back to revisit the conversations that meant the most to our listeners.This special “Best of 2025” episode features five standout moments — from honest reflections on perfectionism and leadership growth, to stories of partnership, mentorship, and building practices that are both efficient and deeply patient-centered.These aren’t highlight reels for the sake of nostalgia. They’re conversations that sparked reflection, challenged assumptions, and reminded us that the most meaningful progress often comes from clarity, trust, and intention.Whether you’re revisiting these ideas or hearing them for the first time, this episode offers perspective worth carrying into the year ahead:1. Letting Go of Perfection Without Lowering the BarA candid conversation with Dr. Jacquee Schieck about how perfectionism shows up in orthodontics and how learning to prioritize progress over flawlessness can improve leadership, well-being, and results.2. Rethinking Adult Aligner Treatment in Modern OrthodonticsDr. Law leads a candid conversation with four Smile Express® leaders — Dr. Zach Casagrande, Dr. Amanda Gallagher, Dr. David Jones, and Dr. Jessica Itani — on the real impact of adult aligner care on modern orthodontics.3. Efficiency That Puts Patients FirstDr. Damon DeArment and Dr. Dan Lill are redefining efficiency using technology and systems thoughtfully to improve outcomes for patients, teams, and practices alike.4. Partnership Built on Trust, Not ConvenienceA powerful story featuring Dr. Glenn Krieger, exploring what makes a true partnership work: mutual respect, shared sacrifice, and a belief that the other person is the better half of the relationship.5. Mentorship That Changes the Course of a LifeDr. Dan Keith on an unforgettable moment that illustrates how a single conversation — and a mentor willing to invest five minutes — can completely redirect a career and a future.Monetization ID HNC9FIUDJ5JZNQY4

How Many Orthodontists Can Say They've Been in Every Seat in a Practice?On this episode of Smile Doctors Off Mute, Dr. Scott Law interviews Dr. Kathleen Pale (Orthodontics Limited in Pennsylvania), whose journey through orthodontics began long before dental school.At eight years old, Dr. Pale was a phase-one patient to treat her high, narrow palate. By sixteen, she started working as a sterile tech in the very practice that treated her. Over the years, she sterilized instruments, assisted chairside, worked at the front desk, managed records, jumped into lab work, and even spent time in general dentistry. Those experiences have shaped the kind of orthodontist, community advocate, and parent she is today.Having come full circle, now Dr. Pale reassures nervous kids who are in the same chair she sat in, receiving the same treatment she did as a young girl.Dr. Pale opens up about when she first fell in love with orthodontics, how mentorship played a significant role in her early career, and why parenthood has added a new dimension to her work.Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about leadership grounded in lived experiences — the kind earned by rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work. Here’s what you’ll take from this jam-packed episode:💪 How working every role in a practice shaped Dr. Pale’s leadership style🎓 Dr. Pale’s unique educational and professional path, from her first job in high school through dental school and orthodontic residency⛰️ The mentors who opened doors along the way, and how she pays their guidance and generosity forward today❤️ Why becoming a parent changed the way she relates to patients and their familiesMORE INFOSmile Doctors partnership opportunities: https://smiledoctorspartners.com/ Orthodontics Limited in Pennsylvania: https://www.orthodonticslimited.com/Email Dr. Kathleen Pale: [email protected] and follow Orthodontics Limited on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ortholimited/Monetization ID HNC9FIUDJ5JZNQY4

What if new orthodontists could start succeeding sooner? This was the question Dr. Tonya Volk found herself pondering throughout years of conversations with her peers. Was the answer a playbook? A blog post? A podcast?No. It was a community. This year, Smile Doctors launched our inaugural fellowship program — a cohort of 51 doctors who are within 5 years of joining our organization — with Dr. Volk and several other leading orthodontists at the helm. On this episode, she joins Dr. Scott Law to share the vision and heart behind the Smile Doctors Fellowship, as well as how developing the younger generation has ultimate payoffs for legacy doctors and the organization as a whole. MORE INFO:Smile Doctors opportunities: https://smiledoctorspartners.com/Email Dr. Scott Law: [email protected] and Volk Orthodontics in Illinois: https://hurleyvolkortho.com/Email Dr. Tonya Volk: [email protected] ID HNC9FIUDJ5JZNQY4