Robert “RJ” Jerome on How Heartland Dental Makes Technology Decisions at Scale
The Dental Economist Show · 2026-05-14 · 56 min
Episode notes
Heartland Dental—the largest DSO in the U.S. with nearly 2,000 locations—operates at extraordinary scale, and in this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with SVP and Chief Digital Officer Robert "RJ" Jerome to unpack how Heartland makes high-stakes technology decisions. From enterprise data strategy and AI deployment to insurance automation and clinical innovation, RJ shares how Heartland balances business leadership, operational discipline, and future-focused digital transformation to support thousands of doctors while preserving practice autonomy. RJ offers an insider’s look into building scalable systems of engagement, standardizing data, choosing the right technology bets with imperfect information, and why successful digital leadership requires more than managing IT—it demands business fluency, courage, and relentless curiosity. This episode is a masterclass in how one of healthcare’s most influential organizations leverages technology to shape the future of dentistry.