Chad W. Wise, DDS built and exited one of the largest dental service organizations in the country. Now he helps healthcare leaders do the same.
Dr. Wise is a 2001 graduate from CWRU Dental and a visionary leader with over two decades of experience transforming dental practices into thriving, patient-centered businesses.
As co-founder and Chief Professional Officer of North American Dental Group, Dr. Wise scaled the organization from inception to 225+ locations across 11+ states — culminating in a successful exit in 2019. He didn't just build a business. He built the model.
Today, as Chairman of the Board at Prosmile Dental (operating partner for Trispan Private Equity) and Founder & CEO of Wise Strategy, Dr. Wise brings a rare combination: clinical credibility, operational depth, and the pattern recognition that only comes from doing it yourself.
Left the chair. Never left the mission. Austin roots. Family first. Dentistry runs deep.
A small town outside of Pittsburgh. Two parents who were teachers. It was the kind of upbringing where work ethic wasn't taught — it was assumed.
Athletics defined my early years. Multi-sport through college, then coaching and mentoring after my playing days inevitably ended. It was the world that taught me what no classroom can: you show up, be accountable, and make the people around you better.
My first dental practice came in 2002. Patient care mattered — but it became clear quickly that the real passion was on the business side. Building the team. Designing the systems. Creating a culture worth showing up for.
Selling that practice and starting over in a new market wasn't about ambition. It was about answering a simple question: does this model actually work?
It did.
That conviction led to founding North American Dental Group — 225+ locations across 11 states before a successful exit in 2019.
While the numbers get attention, they're not the point. The point is the dentists who entrusted their practices, the teams who bought into the vision early, and the relationships that made any of it worth building.
Wise Strategy exists because this work isn't finished. Helping dental and healthcare leaders navigate growth, partnership, and transition — with the perspective that only comes from having been on every side of the table.
Founded and scaled NADG from a single practice to 225+ locations across 11+ states. Led clinical operations, provider recruitment, and culture. Navigated two PE partnerships — a growth round in 2012 and a liquidity event in 2015 — before a full successful exit in 2019. One of the largest independently-founded DSOs in the U.S.
Operating partner for Trispan Private Equity. Active board governance of a 100+ location, multi-state DSO focused on leadership development, provider engagement, and strategic growth. Bringing founder-level operational thinking to board-level oversight.
Advisory and consulting for healthcare leaders navigating growth, PE readiness, and exit. Purpose-built for the challenges Dr. Wise has already solved — from the operator's seat.
Be present. Don't come in with a playbook and force-fit it. Every practice, every market, every team is different. Real strategy starts with understanding.
Not "us vs. them." The best DSOs win when clinical and operations are true partners. I've sat in both chairs — and I bridge the gap.
Growth requires decisions most people avoid. Right people, right seats, right time. I help you make the calls that move the needle — not someday, but now.
You've grown past 1–2 locations and the playbook that got you here won't get you there. You need someone who's been where you're going.
Private equity is knocking — or you want them to. You need help understanding the landscape, positioning your group, and not leaving money on the table.
5–15 locations and scaling fast. Culture is straining, systems are breaking, and you need operational maturity without losing what made you special.
You have the capital. You need someone who's been the operator — for board oversight, due diligence, or as an operating partner who actually knows the business.
"Chad's extensive background in the dental industry enables him to provide highly qualified guidance across both the operational and clinical aspects of the business. His ability to understand and integrate perspectives from both sides results in pragmatic, lasting solutions. Chad's depth of experience in multi-site operations brings a level of insight that elevates performance in any environment and consistently drives tangible, measurable outcomes."
"Having built and exited one of the largest DSOs in the country, Chad brings deep experience to the table. He's an operator who can bridge the gap between clinical teams, operations and the boardroom. Chad's insight during initial and add-on due diligence, operational integration execution, strategic planning and board oversight discussions consistently improved outcome and value creation across the Prosmile portfolio."
"As CFO of North American Dental Group for six years (2014–2020), I had the opportunity to work closely with Chad and saw firsthand how effectively he blends dental expertise with strong business strategy. His ability to think like both a clinician and an operator makes him an invaluable partner for founders navigating growth, private equity, or exit decisions."
"In healthcare services, the gap between what operators know and what investors need is where most value gets lost. Chad closes that gap. We've relied on Chad's expertise to sharpen our understanding of clinical operations, evaluate opportunities with greater precision, and ask the right questions at the board level. He's not advising from theory – he built and scaled one of the largest platforms in the space. He's made us better operators and better investors."
"As the Chief Dental Officer at Prosmile for over 4 years, I've leaned on Dr. Wise's mentorship at critical points in my leadership journey. His expertise spans both operational strategy and clinical dentistry in a way that's genuinely rare. He doesn't just understand both sides, he connects them."
"I had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Wise, as partners at a national DSO, and as formulary and lab committee members. Dr. Wise played a crucial role in negotiating favorable outcomes for lab and supplies pricing, services, and quality control. I've been inspired to model my own group after it."
"I worked with Chad for a few years at North American Dental Group. He escorted me into the practice with smoothness, pure professionalism, and patience. I depended on his leadership and knowledge of the profession, both clinically and administrative, which developed me into the best dentist that I ever imagined becoming."
"I had the pleasure of working with Chad at NA. His high-energy approach kept the entire team motivated, while his compassionate leadership created a genuinely supportive environment. I especially appreciated his empathetic nature, which made even the toughest challenges feel manageable."
"I had the pleasure of working closely with Chad at the executive and board level and consistently found him to be an authentic, high-energy leader with exceptional business acumen. He earns trust quickly, balances clinical realities with enterprise value creation, and brings clarity to complex decisions."
"Chad is one of the most personable and kind professionals I've worked with. He has such a warm, welcoming presence, but he also knows how to really dive deep into practice systems and give thoughtful, actionable feedback. His experience in the dental industry really shows."
No pitch deck. No pressure. Just a candid conversation about where you are and where you want to go.
Schedule a CallOr reach out directly — chad@wisestrategy.com