Meet the Synergy Dental Team

Synergy is unique in that it was founded by dental practitioners like you.

Our impetus for starting a GPO over a decade ago came from seeing smaller practices like ours struggle during the sluggish economy. Our efforts to grow Synergy, by bringing in more members and more vendor partners and by offering a diverse range of educational and informational resources, is a result of our mission to preserve and empower independent dental practices. We understand firsthand the challenges clinicians face in running an independent practice and we’re committed to helping.

Mustafa Shah-Khan, DDS

Co-Founder
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Mustafa Shah-Khan, DDS

Co-Founder

Dr. Mustafa Shah-Khan is a practicing General Dentist in Charlotte, NC. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Chemistry and received his DDS from UNC’s School of Dentistry.

Dr. Shah-Khan has served on the Board of Directors of the UNC School of Dentistry’s Dental Alumni Association as well as the Board of Directors of the Charlotte Dental Society. He has been a member of the nationally recognized Spear Education’s Faculty Club as well as CEREC Doctors’s Academy.

Dr. Shah-Khan is a contributing author for many nationally recognized journals including Dental Economics, Inside Dentistry, Dental Product Shopper and Dentaltown. His articles have been based on the preservation of the Independent Dental Practitioner and the economics of private practice.

Dr. Shah-Khan and his wife reside in Charlotte, NC with their two children.

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Richard Offutt, DDS, MS

Co-Founder
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Richard Offutt, DDS, MS

Co-Founder

Dr. Richard Offutt attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. He was elected Phi Beta Kappa while at Davidson. He earned his DDS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC he was elected to Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Dr. Offutt attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he received specialty degrees in periodontics and endodontics. Dr. Offutt was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania upon the completion of his specialty training.

Dr. Offutt has practiced periodontics and implantology in Charlotte since 1982. He has devoted an extensive number of days to continuing education in the areas of dental implants and periodontology. Dr. Offutt is married to his wife Becky and they have four grown children.

Dr. Offutt is a member of the American Dental Association, The Academy of Osseointegration, and North Carolina Dental Society.

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Brian Dershow

COO
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Brian Dershow

COO

Brian oversees the daily operations of the company. He works closely with Dr. Shah-Khan and Dr. Offutt to identify new ways to provide value to our members and ensure that our organization is run efficiently and effectively. Brian focuses on current and future strategy and implements systems to improve the overall operations and impact of the company.

Brian brings more than a dozen years of dental experience to Synergy, having worked as COO of Dental Fix Rx, the largest dental equipment repair/ sales franchise in North America. Under Brian’s leadership, the startup organization grew from its infancy to a successful and profitable service company. Brian is an exemplary leader and operator. He is committed to the companies principles and values and knows how to lead and execute strategy.

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Jim Gochis

EVP of Procurement
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Jim Gochis

EVP of Procurement

Jim leads program initiatives, development and implementation strategies, and broadens the suite of services and opportunities for our members. Jim plays a significant role in helping our members improve their businesses by providing services and goods to maintain margins and work within their budgets.

Jim brings more than 30 years of procurement experience to Synergy Dental Partners. In his most recent position as VP of Procurement for Dental Whale, Jim oversaw the development of savings programs and protocols for dentists nationwide and in Canada. Jim specializes in developing procurement strategies and process transformation. Jim is excited to bring his expertise to Synergy and provide dental professionals with solutions to improve their practice revenue and quality of service.

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Ted Osterer

VP of Sales
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Ted Osterer

VP of Sales

Ted brings over 11 years of Dental Experience. Ted started in dental distribution and worked among the likes of IQ Dental Supply and Benco Dental for almost six years, growing each month in sales while providing a quality care and service to his providers. Ted then transitioned to in-office positions for the DSO; National Dental. Within four months of joining National Dental, he became a Practice Manager. Ted would then join the National Dental Senior Management team and oversaw offices from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Eastern Long Island. Ted would move on to CareCredit as a Practice Development Manager, winning numerous awards at CareCredit and Synchrony before joining us here at Synergy. Ted is excited to be here at Synergy, where he will provide you with resources to both save you money and grow your practice.

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Morganne Guinther, MHA

Member Engagement Specialist
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Morganne Guinther, MHA

Member Engagement Specialist

Morganne joined the Synergy Dental Partners team in July 2020 as a Member Engagement Specialist. Prior to beginning her role, Morganne completed her Master of Health Administration degree at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During her time at UNC Charlotte, she was elected into the Upsilon Phi Delta honors society and was awarded the Richard Martin Excellence in Service Award. She also has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (Healthcare Management concentration) from Winthrop University.

During Morganne’s time with Synergy so far, she has enjoyed meeting and interacting with Synergy members on a daily basis. Morganne looks forward to continuing to help improve the member experience for all Synergy members.

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Naomi Shapiro

Account Specialist
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Naomi Shapiro

Account Specialist

Naomi brings over two decades of invaluable experience to the dental field, having served as a lead Dental Assistant for more than 20 years. Her career has been a journey through various specialties, including Orthodontics, Endodontics, and Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry. With a rich background in working chairside in multiple dental offices, she possesses a deep understanding of dental procedures and patient care. The extensive knowledge and hands-on experience make her a valuable resource for both our members and suppliers.

Having recently joined the Synergy team, Naomi brings a passionate commitment to serving all our members. Her dedication to providing guidance and education in the dental field ensures that our community receives the highest level of support.

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Read what our members have to say about Synergy in our Dental Product Shopper Evaluation

“These are the same brand name dental supplies at a discounted price.”

Thomas Farley,
DMD, Charlotte, NC

“I can order from one vendor with confidence that the products are at a good price point.”

Gregory Camp,
DDS, Mansfield, TX

“Synergy allowed me to leverage the power of group buying, saving money and lower overhead.”

Levy Do,
DDS, Charlotte, NC
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