Q&A Rebecca Bockow

Dr. Rebecca Bockow

Culture-Driven Growth from a Dual-Trained Leader

Dr. Rebecca Bockow is one of the few specialists in the country dual-certified in Orthodontics and Periodontics, both from the University of Pennsylvania. She brings a uniquely interdisciplinary lens to patient care, team leadership, and clinical innovation.

A faculty member at Spear Education, Dr. Bockow lectures internationally on airway and sleep disorders, skeletal growth patterns, and collaborative treatment planning. She also leads a thriving multi-location private practice in Seattle and Bellevue, WA, where she’s known for building strong, engaged teams that drive both exceptional outcomes and sustainable growth. At OP Summit 2025, she’ll share her proven approach to retention, communication, and team culture—so you can grow your practice by growing your people.

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Q: Dr. Bockow, you’ve grown your practice significantly over the past decade. What have you learned about leadership and team culture along the way?

A:I’ve learned that no matter how great your clinical skills are, your practice will only grow as fast as your team does. Over the last 11 years, as we scaled to multiple locations, I had to evolve from being just a clinician into being a true leader. That meant focusing on retention, communication, and growth opportunities for my team.

We created systems around culture—how we huddle in the morning, how we resolve conflict, how we train and promote from within. None of that happened by accident. It was a conscious shift from managing a team to mentoring one, and it’s made all the difference in our growth and patient experience.

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Q: Your session at OP Summit is focused on retention and culture. Why is that so important right now for orthodontists?

A:Because team turnover is expensive, exhausting, and avoidable. We’re in a moment where hiring is harder than ever, and great team members have options. If your culture isn’t strong—if people don’t feel seen, supported, or challenged—they’ll leave.

A thriving culture doesn’t just keep your team—it attracts better candidates, increases efficiency, and directly improves your case conversion and patient satisfaction. This isn’t just about feeling good. It’s a business strategy.

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Q: What kind of systems have you put in place to create that kind of culture?

A:We start every day with a morning huddle. But it’s not just logistics—it’s also a chance to recognize team wins, reinforce our values, and set a positive tone. We’ve created communication pathways so team members feel safe bringing up issues early.

We also do regular employee reviews, we sponsor CE for our staff, and we share our quarterly goals with the whole team—so everyone understands how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Culture isn’t about ping pong tables. It’s about clarity, consistency, and shared growth.

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Q: Will your session include actionable steps doctors can take home and use right away?

A:Absolutely. My goal is that every attendee leaves with a list of changes they can implement on Monday morning—whether that’s improving onboarding, upgrading how they give feedback, or starting a simple system to recognize team effort. I’ll also share how we structure growth paths for our team members to reduce turnover and build long-term engagement.

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Q: You’ve mentioned that culture impacts more than just team morale. How does it affect the bottom line?

A:In every way. When your team is aligned, everything runs more smoothly—scheduling, follow-ups, treatment coordination. Patients notice when your office feels cohesive and positive, and that leads to better reviews, more referrals, and higher case acceptance.

When culture is broken, you spend your time fixing problems instead of focusing on growth. When it’s strong, your team becomes your greatest growth engine.

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Q: What would you say to a doctor who feels overwhelmed or unsure how to even begin improving their team culture?

A:Start small, but start intentionally. Ask your team, “What’s one thing we could do better as a group?” Then build from there. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating space for others to rise.

At my session, I’ll break it down in a way that’s approachable and honest. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to care enough to lead better, and be open to evolving how your practice functions from the inside out.

Lead with purpose. Grow with your team.

Join Dr. Rebecca Bockow at OP Summit 2025 in Las Vegas.

🎟 Use promo code BOCKOW200 to save $200 on registration.

Because culture isn’t just how you feel—it’s how your practice grows.