Special List #2: Just 5 Things I Know About Periodontal Practice Management with Dr. James Woodyard

Dr. James Woodyard doesn’t believe in coasting.  After over two decades in practice, he still looks at everything with a “fresh eyes” approach, from hygiene exams to communicating risks without sugarcoating to help patients confidently make difficult decisions.From the team training method inspired by his Boy Scouts leadership to his zero tolerance for gossip, his special list will help you rethink leadership, reset expectations, and align your team around clear, strategic goals.For Dr. Woodyard, transparency builds trust, and that trust leads to better outcomes.GUESTJames Woodyard, DMDPresident Woodyard Periodontics and One of the Leaders of the Perio Division of Gen4 Dental PartnersDr. James Woodyard is a board-certified periodontist in Newburgh, Indiana, specializing in periodontics and dental implants. He earned his DMD from the University of Kentucky and completed a residency and master’s in oral biology at the University of Louisville. A national lecturer and founder of the Select Study Club and Tumbleweed Mastermind Group, he’s active in multiple professional organizations and was honored with the 2023 Seattle Study Club Excellence in Leadership Award. Outside of dentistry, he’s a proud dad to two future Eagle Scouts, a Cubmaster, and a sporting clays champion.Learn more about Newburgh periodontist Dr. James WoodyardThe Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists.Running a dental practice isn’t easy, and if you’re in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an island. That’s why finding your people—those who’ve been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It’s about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.io Cameron FullCo-Founder of Referral LabCameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.Connect with Cameron on LinkedInJason Souyias, DDSPeriodontist and Co-Founder of Referral LabDr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason SouyiasMichael Seda, DMD, MSPeriodontist and Co-Developer of Referral LabA clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda’s interests are rooted in evaluating and influencing private practice management systems in dentistry. He wants to increase practice efficiency, establish a greater sense of collaboration and trust among practice team members, and enhance quality of care and service delivered—all while maximizing and growing profitability.Through associateship opportunities early in his career, Dr. Seda was exposed to various private practice leadership and business models. He witnessed first-hand inconsistencies in the degree of success and failure owners experienced in private practices. This ignited his passion for learning what empowers practices to thrive and grow successfully while delivering a highly satisfying patient experience.  He is particularly interested in using cutting-edge analytics platforms to measure advanced practice metrics. He leverages these to design data-driven strategies to enhance referral patterns, scheduling systems, case acceptance rates, and other key performance indicators that lead to practice growth and patient satisfaction.  His education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master’s degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University. More about San Rafael periodontist Dr. Michael SedaFollow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperioCo-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDSProducer: Eva Sheie @ The AxisAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Cameron LairdTheme music: Papa Funk, spring gangCover Art: Dan ChildsThe Special Lists is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io