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Sleep apnea is an often-overlooked medical condition that bears a significant impact on an individual’s mental and physical well-being. An astounding figure suggests there are 24 million potential patients in need of solutions for their sleep disorders. Without treatment, sleep apnea has the potential to be a life-threatening condition.
Avi Weisfogel, a trailblazer in dentistry, spotted this looming issue years before the CDC and HHS began running awareness campaigns. He witnessed the impact of sleep apnea first hand on his patients who were struggling with the condition. Determined to make a difference for the people he served, he focused his energies on bridging the gap between dentistry and sleep disorder solutions.
Navigating a Rapidly Changing Industry
After Avi Weisfogel discovered his passion for sleep and dentistry, he sold his clinical practice to focus on teaching other dentists how to effectively and profitably treat sleep disorders in patients. He established the International Academy of Sleep as a platform for teaching others his proven 27-step process to succeed in sleep dentistry. He spent the next 7 years growing the Academy to equip practitioners and educate the public about the treatment possibilities.
It was during this time that Avi recognized the beginning of a seachange in dentistry: an encroaching wave of consolidation driven by Private Equity Investment. In order to meet the demand of hungry investors, Corporate DSOs were rapidly absorbing small practices, often with terms that were unfavorable to the dentist. After witnessing his own father’s experience with the consolidation of the medical industry, Avi recognized this phenomenon was irreversible. But rather than feeling despair, he saw this challenge as an opportunity.
Keeping Dentistry in the Hands of Dentists
In partnership with fellow dentist-turned-entrepreneur Brady Frank, Avi founded Become the DSO, a co-operative dedicated to helping dentists achieve Total Dental Freedom. Become the DSO helps dentists band together to successfully negotiate with investors to ensure they receive above average compensation for the sale of their practices while maintaining control over the future of dentistry.
Raising an Army of Healthcare Entrepreneurs
Avi’s success in dentistry is a credit to his clinical background and his business acumen. From buying and selling five practices at a profit to establishing a multi-state empire for sleep apnea treatment, Avi Weisfogel demonstrates that being a practitioner goes hand in hand with being a visionary entrepreneur.
Despite being practice owners, few dentists have extensive knowledge of the business of dentistry. But Avi is on a mission to change that by training dentists how to continue their careers in dentistry as Healthcare Entrepreneurs after they’ve decided to leave clinical practice behind. There are so many opportunities unfolding within dentistry as this industry continues to transform. Avi Weisfogel is a shining example for other dentists who wish to find their place in this shifting landscape.
Charting New Horizons
Avi Weisfogel’s shift from a clinical dentist to a healthcare entrepreneur underscores a profound message: There are always untapped opportunities and undiscovered intersections in every profession. Whether it’s the world of sleep dentistry or the strategic play in the face of corporate consolidation, understanding these nuances not only shapes careers but also changes lives. For countless individuals battling sleep disorders, and for dentists seeking newer horizons, Weisfogel’s journey stands testament to the boundless possibilities that await when one dares to look beyond the familiar.
Connect with Avi Weisfogel
https://linktr.ee/aviweisfogel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aviweisfogel/
https://twitter.com/avi_weisfogel
