The Dental Economist Show
Robert “RJ” Jerome on How Heartland Dental Makes Technology Decisions at Scale
May 14, 2026
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. #dentaleconomist #dentaltechnology #digitaltransformation If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, like, and comment📱
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.


#dentaleconomist #dentaltechnology #digitaltransformation


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, like, and comment📱


Chapters:


00:00 Introduction & Meeting RJ Jerome
02:30 RJ’s Early Life, Leadership Foundations & Career Journey
08:30 How Heartland Dental Became RJ’s Next Big Bet
14:00 Becoming a Business Leader Through Technology
19:00 “So What?” and “Why Not Us?” Leadership Philosophy
23:00 Why Standardization Matters at Scale
30:00 Systems of Engagement vs Systems of Record
37:00 Decentralized RCM, AI & Insurance Automation at Heartland
46:00 Rolling Out AI Across 1,700+ Practices
52:00 Leadership, Innovation & The Future of Dental Technology


Connect with the team:
👉 Mike Huffaker on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/huffaaker/
👉 Robert “RJ” Jerome on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-jerome-5b75895/
👉 Heartland Dental Website: https://heartland.com/
👉 Planet DDS Website: https://planetdds.com/


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👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3tMmaO7
👉 Fame Host: https://bit.ly/4aQNQ51


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