May 29, 2024
Rick Cacciatore and Dawn Metcalf, AIDA and AIDA Education, with the DINKS
Send us Fan Mail Make sure you tune into our next Humpday Happy Hour featuring Dawn Metcalf & Rick Cacciatore from American Independent Dental Alliance (AIDA) Education! AIDA is a champion of the independent dentist and helping those who are independent (or desire a future as an independent practice owner) to stay independent! 📺Stay up to day with every episode by subscribing to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dentistsintheknow The DINKs are proud partners of AIDA and are ✨SO✨ excited to chat with Dawn & Rick to get some insider info about the organization. AIDA provides education by the best speakers in the dental industry, effectively teaching you how to support private practice dentistry. We’ll learn from the experts about what makes CE for AIDA different & how clinicians can increase their knowledge by registering for AIDA events. Learn more about what AIDA Education has to offer: Website: https://aidagroup.org/education/ Get to know our guests! Rick Cacciatore is the CEO of AIDA and has over 40 years of experience in the dental industry. His previous positions include executive roles with Dentsply in Atlanta, Georgia, President and CEO of Iowa Dental Supply and Region President for Patterson Dental's North Central Region. Cacciatore's most recent role was as an independent consultant working directly with dentists on succession planning. Dawn Metcalf has over 30 years in the industry, including managing a sales territory, owning a dental supply company and creating education programs focused on private practice dentistry. She’s particularly passionate about quality education in the CE space and focused on supporting the independent dental practice. 👇Let us know in the comments what questions you have about getting involved with AIDA.
Duration: 2734
Subscribe & Listen On
Make sure you tune into our next Humpday Happy Hour featuring Dawn Metcalf & Rick Cacciatore from American Independent Dental Alliance (AIDA) Education! AIDA is a champion of the independent dentist and helping those who are independent (or desire a future as an independent practice owner) to stay independent!
📺Stay up to day with every episode by subscribing to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dentistsintheknow
The DINKs are proud partners of AIDA and are ✨SO✨ excited to chat with Dawn & Rick to get some insider info about the organization. AIDA provides education by the best speakers in the dental industry, effectively teaching you how to support private practice dentistry. We’ll learn from the experts about what makes CE for AIDA different & how clinicians can increase their knowledge by registering for AIDA events.
Learn more about what AIDA Education has to offer:
- Website: https://aidagroup.org/education/
Get to know our guests!
- Rick Cacciatore is the CEO of AIDA and has over 40 years of experience in the dental industry. His previous positions include executive roles with Dentsply in Atlanta, Georgia, President and CEO of Iowa Dental Supply and Region President for Patterson Dental's North Central Region. Cacciatore's most recent role was as an independent consultant working directly with dentists on succession planning.
- Dawn Metcalf has over 30 years in the industry, including managing a sales territory, owning a dental supply company and creating education programs focused on private practice dentistry. She’s particularly passionate about quality education in the CE space and focused on supporting the independent dental practice.
👇Let us know in the comments what questions you have about getting involved with AIDA.
Related Episodes
Sep 23, 2026
The Future of Big Dental Meetings | Humpday Happy Hour™ with Dr. Troy Schulman
Send us Fan Mail Dental conferences are about more than walking the exhibit hall and collecting CE credits. They're opportunities to learn, connect, build relationships, and stay engaged with the profession. This week on Humpday Happy Hour™, we're joined by Dr. Troy H. Schulman, a practicing general and esthetic dentist with decades of experience in dentistry and extensive involvement in organized dentistry and continuing education. Dr. Schulman has been deeply involved with The Hinman Dental Society for more than two decades, serving in numerous leadership roles including President in 2023 and continuing to serve in leadership today. His experience also extends throughout organized dentistry, including the Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, and numerous professional organizations and study clubs. In this episode, we talk about the value of dental conferences, the importance of continuing education, and what dentists can gain when they take full advantage of the opportunities these meetings provide. We'll also discuss what makes a great dental meeting and why staying connected to colleagues and the broader dental community can be just as valuable as the courses themselves. Whether you're a conference regular or someone who hasn't attended a dental meeting in years, this conversation is a reminder of why getting out of the office and continuing to learn can be one of the best investments you make in your career. Join us every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET for Humpday Happy Hour™. #Dentistry #DentalConferences #ContinuingEducation #DentalCE #HinmanDentalMeeting #DentalCommunity #DentistsInTheKnow #HumpdayHappyHour
Sep 22, 2026
DINKs News: Dyson’s New Toothbrush, Dental Hygiene Changes & A Root Canal Without Anesthesia
Send us Fan Mail
Sep 16, 2026
The Triple Brand: Dentistry. Ranching. Real Estate. | Humpday Happy Hour™ with Dr. Elizondo
Send us Fan Mail What do dentistry, raising cattle, and real estate have in common? For Dr. B. Octavio Elizondo, they're all part of the bigger picture. This week on Humpday Happy Hour™, we're joined by Dr. Elizondo, a lifelong Texan, dentist, entrepreneur, and cattle rancher whose career has been built around serving his community, continuing to learn, and pursuing the things he's passionate about. After discovering dentistry while attending Texas A&M University, Dr. Elizondo went on to graduate with honors from the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry in 1998. Today, he runs Howdy Dental, where he focuses on compassionate, conservative care while maintaining a particular interest in implant dentistry and orthodontics. And dentistry is just one part of his story. Outside of the practice, Dr. Elizondo operates a cattle ranch where he raises and shows registered Brahman and Red Brangus cattle. He's also involved in real estate, creating a unique "triple brand" that brings together his professional career, business interests, and life outside of dentistry. With more than 1,700 hours of continuing education completed in the past 24 months alone, Dr. Elizondo is also a strong believer in lifelong learning and continually expanding what he can offer his patients. Join us as we talk dentistry, business, ranching, real estate, continuing education, and what it looks like to build a life around multiple passions. Join us every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET for Humpday Happy Hour™. #Dentistry #DentalPractice #Entrepreneurship #Ranching #RealEstate #DentalEducation #DentistsInTheKnow #HumpdayHappyHour