society-of-oms-administrators-141804

Rethinking Pain Control: The Story Behind the Comfort Control Clock

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:10:37 GMT

Episode Summary

In this episode, pediatric dentist Dr. Jeffrey Berlin shares the origin story of the Comfort Control Clock , a simple analog tool that helps patients correctly alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen after surgery. While serving on a multidisciplinary committee re-evaluating pain-management practices during the opioid crisis, Dr. Berlin recognized that alternating OTC medications was well supported by literature—especially in dental and OMFS research—yet difficult for families to understand.

A moment of frustration in a PACU whiteboard session led him to sketch a rotating clock face that visually clarified medication timing. Early prototypes were handmade; later, a hospital innovation center and a skilled printer helped refine and scale the product. Adoption began internally and expanded nationally, with OMFS practices becoming the strongest users. The episode also covers the entrepreneurial process, early testing, challenges of commercialization, and the broader impact on reducing opioid exposure and post-op call volume.

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

7 Things a Cybersecurity Expert Wants Every OMS Administrator to Know

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:28:49 GMT

Episode Summary

Healthcare moved into the number one spot for cybercrime target sectors in the FBI's annual Internet Crime Report. Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) practices represent prime targets due to their high density of historical patient records, making proactive risk management essential.

In this episode of Oral Surgery Admin's Time Out, host Kate Gero ( McNally Brothers Oral Surgery ) sits down with Gary Salman , CEO and Co-Founder of Black Talon Security . Together, they discuss the operational realities of cyber risk management and why practice administrators must maintain direct visibility into network security posture.

The conversation explores:

Risk Score Visibility: How converting complex telemetry into a simple 1–100 cyber risk rating empowers administrators to evaluate network health without technical expertise.
Separation of Duties: Why managed service providers (IT) and independent cybersecurity specialists must remain separate entities to avoid conflicts of interest and satisfy legal expectations.
AI Integration and Threats: The operational benefits of clinical AI documentation alongside the risks of unvetted AI tools, protected health information (PHI) exposures, and AI-weaponized phishing schemes.

Whether evaluating software vendors or addressing legacy network vulnerabilities, this discussion equips administrative leaders with the knowledge needed to protect practice assets, patient data, and operational continuity. Tune in to gain practical strategies for leading cybersecurity oversight in your practice.

Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

SOMSA Announces Jhett Epp as Recipient of the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award

Sat, 16 May 2026 21:37:01 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOMSA Announces Jhett Epp as Recipient of the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Society of OMS Administrators (SOMSA) is proud to announce that Jhett Epp, Practice Administrator of Northern Virginia Surgical Arts , has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award.

Presented annually at the SOMSA Annual Conference, the Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional oral and maxillofacial surgery practice administrator who demonstrates excellence in leadership, education, authenticity, innovation, compliance, and networking—the six core values that guide SOMSA and reflect the legacy of former SOMSA President Dana Leach. Dana's passion for the profession, dedication to supporting OMS administrators, and commitment to helping others continue to inspire the Society today.

With the addition of Jhett Epp to this distinguished group of honorees, the Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award continues its tradition of recognizing exceptional leaders in OMS practice management. Previous recipients include

Karen Costello (2025), North Mississippi Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates , Tupelo, Mississippi;
Stacie Buchta (2024), Ivey Oral & Facial Surgery , Centennial, Colorado;
Deon Johnston (2023), MOSAIC – Maxillofacial Surgical Arts & Implant Center , Tampa, Florida;
David Nye (2022), Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery , South Carolina and Georgia;
and Julie Simpson (2020), Southwest Florida Oral & Facial Surgery , Fort Myers, Florida.

As Practice Administrator for Northern Virginia Surgical Arts, Epp has overseen operations across five oral surgery offices and three medical spa locations, providing leadership in clinical operations, finance, compliance, marketing, team development, and long-term strategic planning. Her colleagues describe her as a trusted advisor, a servant leader, and a driving force behind both organizational growth and team success.

"Jhett didn't just step into a role, she built it," said Dr. Joseph M. Arzadon of Northern Virginia Surgical Arts. "She took ownership of every moving part of the organization and elevated it with a level of care, accountability, and heart that is incredibly rare."

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Epp has dedicated significant time to volunteer service through Medical Mission of Mercy programs, supporting underserved communities in countries including the Philippines and Guatemala. Her commitment to service reflects the belief that leadership extends beyond the walls of the practice and into the communities it serves.

Those who work alongside Epp consistently point to her ability to develop others, foster trust, and lead with integrity. One colleague noted that her influence leaves people "stronger, more confident, and better because they had the privilege of working with her."

"Jhett exemplifies the qualities this award was created to honor," said Linden Tucker, Executive Director of SOMSA. "Her leadership has strengthened her practice, her mentorship has elevated those around her, and her commitment to service reflects the very best of our profession. We are honored to recognize her as the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year."

The Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award was established in memory of Dana Leach, who served as SOMSA President from 2017 to 2018 and as a member of the Board of Directors for six years. During his career, Dana helped grow Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery from seven offices to twenty locations and was widely respected for his commitment to supporting OMS administrators across the country. The award recipient receives the honeycomb-shaped crystal award first presented posthumously to Dana in 2019 in recognition of his leadership and service.

About SOMSA

Founded in 2004, the Society of OMS Administrators (SOMSA) is dedicated to the professional and personal development of oral and maxillofacial surgery practice administrators. Through educational programming, networking opportunities, leadership development, and peer support, SOMSA equips administrators to lead successful practices while advancing the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Today, SOMSA serves a nationwide community of professionals committed to excellence in OMS practice management.

Media Contact:

Linden Tucker
Executive Director
Society of OMS Administrators (SOMSA)
info@somsa.org
www.somsa.org

Rethinking Pain Control: Using Visual Guides to Reduce Post-Op Callbacks

Fri, 08 May 2026 14:53:00 GMT

Episode Summary

Managing post-operative pain without relying on opioids requires clear communication, yet patient retention of discharge instructions is often poor during stressful surgical days. In this episode of Oral Surgery Admin’s Time Out , host Linden Tucker (SOMSA) discusses how oral surgery practices use a physical tool—the Comfort Control Clock —to standardize recovery protocols and reduce team frustration.

The panel features the clock’s creator and design team, Dr. Jeff Berlin, Gerry Engelhart, and Rachel Gordon , alongside SOMSA members Julie Henriquez ( McNally Brothers Oral Surgery ), Wendy D'Oliveira ( Wellesley Oral Surgery and Implant Center ), and Susan Krpata-Young ( 47 North Oral Surgery ). These administrators share how implementing a visual, dual-arrow clock face helps patients accurately alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen every three hours after surgery. By giving families a tangible guide to take home, practices bridge knowledge gaps and lower the volume of post-op pain management phone calls.

Beyond patient comfort, the discussion centers on measurable practice efficiency. The administrators report saving an average of 10 minutes per patient by accelerating discharge education and preventing parking-lot callbacks. For a practice averaging 10 cases a day, chief strategy officer Gerry Engelhart notes this efficiency saves roughly 1.67 hours of staff time daily—amounting to an estimated $18,000 in annual wage recovery or providing the scheduling capacity to handle an additional surgical case per day. The panel also highlights how customization options, such as printing specific office branding or adding QR codes for digital instructions, turn the tool into a passive referral vehicle.

Tune in to hear practical strategies from your peers on structuring your discharge workflow, protecting your team from burnout, and minimizing after-hours pain calls.

Episode Sponsors

SnapScale: Remote staffing solutions for healthcare front offices. snapscale.com/start
Digimatic Marketing: Healthcare SEO, medical authority content, and answer engine optimization. digimatic.com

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

The Administrator’s Secret: Automating Busy Work to Humanize the Patient Journey

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:40:26 GMT

Episode Summary

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Boyce from Digimatiq Marketing to talk about future-proofing your oral surgery practice. The digital landscape is shifting fast, but the goal isn’t to replace your team with robots—it’s to use artificial intelligence to handle the mundane, repetitive tasks that drain your energy. Daniel explains how to bridge the gap between technical efficiency and authentic patient care.

Key Concepts for the Modern Practice

Agile Practice Management: Building a workflow that can adapt to digital changes within 24 to 48 hours is the best way to "future-proof."
AI for Busy Work, Humans for Moments: Use LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT and Gemini for drafting, transcribing, and routing. This frees your staff to focus on "empathy moments"—like high-stakes treatment plan conversations or direct patient support.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): Search is moving away from simple keywords. Patients are asking complex, natural-language questions, and your practice needs to provide "clusters" of expert information to be quoted by AI search engines.
Personifying the Surgeon: Learn how a simple two-minute voice memo from your doctor can be transformed into a blog or FAQ that showcases their bedside manner before the patient even walks in the door.
Referral Relationship Management: Discover how to use AI to track and summarize CE events, allowing for hyper-personalized follow-ups that turn "C" level referrers into "A" level partners.

Reclaiming Your Time

Whether it’s saving an hour on meeting recaps or automating clinical notes and SOAP notes, the secret lies in finding the right tool for the specific job. By letting AI act as a "brilliant mime" for your admin tasks, you can lead with the authenticity and innovation that define SOMSA’s core values.

The Future of OMS Marketing: Harnessing AI and Digital Strategy (podcast ep. 201)

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 23:44:49 GMT

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Oral Surgery Admins Timeout podcast, hosts Jamie Leos and Nathan Greenberg dive deep into the evolving landscape of OMS practices and how modern marketing and AI tools are reshaping the field. Guest Chris Suchánek, CEO of Firm Media, shares his extensive experience working with oral surgery practices, highlighting the unique challenges they face in transitioning from traditional referral-based models to direct patient acquisition. He emphasizes that many OMS practitioners struggle to see a patient as a potential lead, and often lack structured strategies to convert online interest into real appointments. Unlike other specialties, OMS offices tend to rely heavily on front office staff for converting leads, creating gaps in digital and mixed media marketing execution.

Chris explains how brand positioning and differentiated online presence are crucial for an OMS practice to compete, especially as more practices shift toward fee-for-service revenue models. He underscores that while basic websites and SEO help with visibility, it’s compelling content, strategic use of digital channels, and a clear brand story that truly set one practice apart from competitors. Tools powered by AI now enable faster, more precise competitor analysis, content development, and audience targeting, saving practices both time and significant costs traditionally associated with high-end consulting services.

The discussion also explores the resurgence of mixed media marketing, where tactics like smart cards and connected TV ads combine with digital campaigns for impactful brand recognition. Chris argues that understanding the lifetime value of a patient and weaving together online and offline touchpoints is essential for sustainable growth. He cautions that without active leadership from practice owners and regular review of data, even sophisticated marketing efforts can falter. Ultimately, successful OMS practices are those that embrace AI, invest in clear brand differentiation, and commit to proactive, data-driven marketing strategies that convert leads into loyal patients.

society-of-oms-administrators-141804

Rethinking Pain Control: The Story Behind the Comfort Control Clock

Episode Summary

7 Things a Cybersecurity Expert Wants Every OMS Administrator to Know

Episode Summary

SOMSA Announces Jhett Epp as Recipient of the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOMSA Announces Jhett Epp as Recipient of the 2026 Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award

About SOMSA

Media Contact:

Rethinking Pain Control: Using Visual Guides to Reduce Post-Op Callbacks

Episode Summary

Episode Sponsors

The Administrator’s Secret: Automating Busy Work to Humanize the Patient Journey

Episode Summary

Key Concepts for the Modern Practice

Reclaiming Your Time

The Future of OMS Marketing: Harnessing AI and Digital Strategy (podcast ep. 201)

Episode Summary

Meet the Co-Hosts