EP2505 | Orthodontics is a Team Sport: We Grow Together

What Does It Take to Go from Total Beginner to Industry Leader?

On this episode of Smile Doctors: Off Mute, Dr. Scott Law sits down with Shelli McNabb, VP of Operations Excellence for Smile Doctors. Shelli’s journey into orthodontics wasn’t just unexpected — it was a complete pivot.

She once dreamed of being a second-grade teacher, but life had other plans. As a single mom of four starting over in a new city, she needed a career fast. With no experience in the field, she took a chance on orthodontics and never looked back. From learning the ropes on day one to helping build a startup practice from scratch, Shelli’s path has been shaped by resilience, adaptability, and the mentors who pushed her to grow.

Now, her mission is to make life easier for clinical teams by eliminating inefficiencies and streamlining processes — because great patient care starts with great systems. In this episode, she shares how asking the right questions leads to smarter, more effective workflows, and why she believes true leadership is all about service.

Whether you’re early on in your career or also find yourself at a crossroads, you’ll take away impactful lessons from their conversation, like:

• The difference between having a mentor and having an advocate (and why you need both!)
• How to embrace the unknown and adapt to sudden change, in work and in life
• Why leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about empowering others to step up to the plate

Tune in to this inspiring episode with Shelli for a story of hard-earned wisdom and the power of saying yes to new opportunities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Shelli's Journey into Orthodontics (00:00:08)
2. Sink or Swim: Shelli Dives into Ortho (00:03:33)
3. Becoming a Key Player (00:06:31)
4. Lessons from Startups (00:10:34)
5. Growth through Challenges (00:14:22)
6. Embracing Change Management (00:18:58)
7. Operationalizing Ideas (00:23:32)
8. Building Efficient Treatment Plans (00:28:44)
9. Mentorship and Leadership (00:34:53)
10. Philosophy of Servant Leadership (00:36:40)
11. Work/Life Passion (00:37:50)

MORE INFO:

Smile Doctors partnership opportunities: https://smiledoctorspartners.com/ 

Email Shelli McNabb: shelli.mcnabb@smiledoctors.com

Email Dr. Scott Law: scott.law@smiledoctors.com

 

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