The Dentist Who Ditched Six Practices to Build a Global Healthcare Revolution
Most dentists dream of opening multiple locations to multiply their income. Dr. Kianor Shah actually did it, built six successful practices, then did something that would make most practice consultants weep: he sold them all to focus on one location. And he’s making more money and working fewer hours than when he was managing his mini dental empire.
But that’s just the beginning of Dr. Shah’s unconventional journey. When he’s not performing full-mouth rehabilitations or managing his team of specialists at Desert Dream Dentistry and Spa in Southern California, he’s orchestrating something far more ambitious: a global movement to put healthcare providers back in control of their industry. Through his Global Summits Institute, Dr. Shah has connected over 1,000 doctors across 160 countries, creating what he calls “a paradigm shift from the academic, administrative and financial perspectives of healthcare.”
During his recent conversation with Adrian Lefler on the Byte Sized Podcast, Dr. Shah revealed why he believes the traditional multi-location growth model is often a trap, how he’s building a worldwide network of healthcare leaders, and why his upcoming AI consensus summit in London might be the most important healthcare event you’ve never heard of.
From Six Practices to One: The Counterintuitive Path to Success
Dr. Shah’s journey reads like a cautionary tale about the difference between growth and profit. After building six dental locations, he discovered what many expansion-focused dentists learn the hard way: more locations don’t automatically equal more money or happiness.
“I did at some point have six locations,” Dr. Shah explained. “I gave up those six locations. I started focusing just on one. It was one of those mistakes that you make. Medicine is, you know, we all have a good living, you make a good living, everybody’s fed, you have investments, you have homes. I do better in one location than six I used to have financially because I take care of these patients, I spend really good time with them.”
The math might seem backwards, but Dr. Shah’s experience illustrates a fundamental truth about dental practice economics. When you’re spread across multiple locations, you’re managing HR issues, dealing with inconsistent quality control, and spending more time putting out fires than actually practicing dentistry. Meanwhile, patients at corporate-style practices often feel rushed and undervalued.
The result of this focused approach? Dr. Shah now practices just two to three days per week, his single practice financially supports all his other ventures, and his patients are so satisfied that he maintains five-star reviews across all platforms. His practice has become so efficient and profitable that it funds his global healthcare initiatives while still providing excellent compensation for his team of specialists.
Building Quality Over Quantity: The Desert Dream Model
Dr. Shah’s current practice, Desert Dream Dentistry and Spa, operates on a radically different model than the typical high-volume dental office. Instead of seeing 20 patients a day for basic cleanings and fillings, Dr. Shah focuses on complex cases that other practices can’t or won’t handle.
“We have an oral surgeon, we have a couple of anesthesiologists, a general practitioner, two endodontists on staff, and a robust team,” Dr. Shah described. “And in a local area where patients have apprehension or anxiety or they just can’t get that done, we make it happen. We have built a reputation for that.”
This approach allows Dr. Shah to work on cases like the full rehabilitation he mentioned during the podcast – a six to seven-hour procedure that provides “a big payday for everyone” while transforming a patient’s smile and oral health. These complex cases are not only more professionally satisfying but also more financially rewarding than cramming multiple routine appointments into the same timeframe.
The business model also creates a competitive moat. While corporate dental chains compete on price and convenience for routine procedures, Dr. Shah’s practice has established itself as the go-to solution for cases that require specialized expertise and a patient-centered approach. This positioning naturally attracts higher-value patients and creates referral relationships with other practitioners who encounter cases beyond their scope.
The Global Summits Institute: Networking with a Purpose
While Dr. Shah’s practice success story is compelling, it’s his work outside the operatory that sets him apart in the dental industry. The Global Summits Institute, which he founded and self-funds through his practice revenue, has become a powerful force for connecting healthcare leaders worldwide.
“In dental school, I learned all these things about ethics and benevolence and doctrines of medicine and beneficence and doing no harm,” Dr. Shah explained. “And then I get out in the private sector and I start seeing all this stuff going on that’s very questionable. So I thought the way we’re gonna restore order back to the Hippocratic origins is by bringing in the best of the best from all over the world.”
Today, the Global Summits Institute operates across 160 countries with over 1,000 participating doctors. The organization focuses on bringing together healthcare professionals who have made significant contributions to their fields, whether through innovation, education, or leadership. Unlike many medical conferences that are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies or device manufacturers, Dr. Shah’s summits are entirely self-funded, eliminating potential conflicts of interest.
The AI Consensus Summit: Addressing Healthcare’s Wild West
Dr. Shah’s most ambitious project yet is the Global Consensus Summit on AI, scheduled for London in 2026. This event represents the first major attempt to create ethical frameworks and regulatory guidelines for artificial intelligence in healthcare – a field that Dr. Shah describes as currently operating like “the wild west.”
The summit will bring together government officials, potential royalty from Britain and Saudi Arabia, healthcare providers, and their support staff to discuss building ethical frameworks for AI implementation. Dr. Shah emphasized that “AI must be led by doctors and healthcare providers” because they have the most invested in patient outcomes and safety.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Recent developments, like the class-action lawsuit against Heartland Dental for allegedly using patient conversations to train AI systems without proper consent, highlight the urgent need for clear guidelines and ethical standards in healthcare AI applications.
“There’s nothing out there from stopping anybody from creating a software product and starting to sell it and completely bypassing HIPAA regulations, encryption, cyber security issues,” Dr. Shaw noted. The summit aims to address these gaps by creating what he calls “the Hippocratic seal” – a certification process that would thoroughly vet AI companies and set ethical guidelines for their products
Lessons for Modern Dental Practitioners
Dr. Shah’s journey offers several counterintuitive lessons for dental professionals looking to build successful careers:
Quality trumps quantity: Instead of chasing multiple locations or high patient volume, focusing on complex, high-value cases can be more profitable and professionally satisfying. Dr. Shah’s approach of specializing in difficult cases that other practices avoid has created a sustainable competitive advantage.
Build meaningful networks: Rather than collecting business cards at dental conferences, Dr. Shaw demonstrates the value of creating genuine professional relationships based on shared values and mutual support. His Global Summits Institute shows how networking can evolve into collaborative community building.
Think beyond the operatory: While clinical excellence remains important, Dr. Shah’s success stems largely from his vision for healthcare’s future and his willingness to invest time and resources in industry-wide improvements. This broader perspective has opened doors to opportunities that pure clinical focus couldn’t provide.
Maintain ethical standards: In an industry increasingly dominated by corporate interests and technological disruption, Dr. Shah’s emphasis on Hippocratic principles and patient-centered care provides a differentiation strategy that resonates with both patients and colleagues.
Leverage success for impact: Rather than simply accumulating wealth, Dr. Shah uses his practice’s profitability to fund initiatives that benefit the broader healthcare community. This approach creates legacy value that extends far beyond personal financial success.
The Future of Healthcare Leadership
Dr. Shah’s work represents a broader trend in healthcare: the recognition that technological advancement without ethical frameworks and physician leadership can be dangerous. His prediction that current political trends toward deregulating AI development pose risks to patient safety and professional autonomy reflects concerns shared by many healthcare leaders.
The Global Consensus Summit on AI represents more than just another medical conference. It’s an attempt to create the kind of physician-led governance that Dr. Shah believes is essential for healthcare’s future. By bringing together international leaders, government officials, and practicing clinicians, the summit aims to establish frameworks that protect patient interests while enabling beneficial technological advancement.
For dental professionals considering their own career paths, Dr. Shah’s example demonstrates that success doesn’t always follow conventional wisdom. Sometimes the most profitable and fulfilling approach involves stepping back from traditional growth metrics to focus on quality, relationships, and industry leadership. In a field increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and technological disruption, the practitioners who maintain patient-centered values while actively shaping their profession’s future may find themselves best positioned for long-term success.
Dr. Shah’s invitation to his London summit extends beyond attendance at another continuing education event. It’s a call for healthcare professionals to take active roles in determining their industry’s direction. As he puts it, “We as doctors can’t do everything alone,” but with the right community and shared commitment to ethical practice, they can preserve the patient-doctor relationship that drew them to healthcare in the first place.
In This Episode:
Dr. Kianor Shah, Founder of the Global Summits Institute
Dr. Kianor Shah is a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Global Summits Institute based in Palm Desert, California. He holds a DMD from Southern Illinois University and an MBA in international business from Brandman University, with fellowship credentials from multiple dental academies including Mastership status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Having practiced in over 300 offices as a traveling healthcare provider, Dr. Shah now focuses on complex multi-specialty cases at his single practice while leading global healthcare initiatives across 160 countries.
Adrian Lefler, CEO and Co-founder of My Social Practice
Adrian Lefler, CEO of My Social Practice, is a seasoned expert in the dental marketing industry with 14 years of experience. He is widely recognized for his engaging and informative presentations. Based in Suncrest, Utah, Adrian shares his life with his wife, four children, and a lively mix of pets. My Social Practice is a leading dental marketing company, and Adrian is passionate about helping dental professionals succeed in this dynamic field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a single dental practice be more profitable than multiple locations?
Dr. Shah’s experience demonstrates several factors that make single-location focus more profitable than multi-location expansion. First, operational overhead decreases dramatically when you’re not managing multiple teams, HR issues, and varying quality standards across locations. Second, focusing on complex, high-value cases (like full-mouth rehabilitations) generates more revenue per hour than routine procedures. Third, building deep patient relationships in one location creates stronger referral networks and higher case acceptance rates. Dr. Shah now practices only 2-3 days per week while his single practice generates enough revenue to fund his global healthcare initiatives and support his specialized team of oral surgeons, anesthesiologists, and endodontists.
Why is physician leadership in AI development so important for dentists?
Dr. Shah argues that healthcare providers must lead AI development because they have the strongest vested interest in patient safety and outcomes. Unlike technology companies focused on profit or government regulators concerned with broad policy, practicing dentists understand the nuances of patient care and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Recent controversies, like the Heartland Dental lawsuit over using patient conversations to train AI without proper consent, illustrate what happens when AI development proceeds without adequate clinical oversight. The Global Consensus Summit aims to create ethical frameworks and certification processes (like the proposed “Hippocratic seal”) that ensure AI tools serve patient interests rather than simply maximizing efficiency or revenue.
How can dentists get involved with the Global Summits Institute?
Dentists can apply to join the Global Summits Institute through the application process at top100doc.com, which involves filling out a form, attaching a CV and photo, and review by the committee of regents. There are no membership fees, and the organization welcomes applicants regardless of age or career stage, focusing instead on mindset, moral fiber, and commitment to improving healthcare. The next major event is the Global Consensus Summit on AI in London in 2026, which is open to healthcare providers and their support staff. Beyond attending events, members can participate in the organization’s 24 ongoing projects and connect through the institute’s communication platforms and dream team network.
