MAX Surgical Specialty Management Success Story
For decades, the path from residency to practice has followed a familiar script: New surgeons would join an established private practice as an associate, eventually buying into ownership. In
some cases, newly graduated surgeons would secure loans to establish practices of their own. Today, with many graduates leaving residency already carrying significant student loans, taking on further debt at the start of their careers has become increasingly difficult and unappealing.
Redefining the post-residency path
Against this backdrop, many new surgeons are considering alternative paths.
For Dr. Daniel Kim, who joined MAX Surgical Specialty Management (MAX) partner practice Lititz Oral Surgery after completing his residency at LIJ (Northwell Health), that alternative meant finding a career path that allowed him to focus on patient care without the financial and administrative burden of practice ownership. “The days of finishing residency and then taking out another loan to start a practice are becoming more and more difficult. Surgeons are already coming out with nearly a million dollars in debt,” Dr. Kim noted. “MAX takes that burden off your hands and allows you to focus on what we became surgeons for — doing surgery.” With all the advantages of clinical autonomy and none of the back-office headaches, joining a support organization like MAX has become an increasingly attractive career path for new surgeons.
MAX’s equity purchase program gives new surgeons a path to shared prosperity without taking on additional debt.
Supporting the transition from residency to practice
This was the case for Dr. Radislav Meylikh, who first learned about MAX during his residency at Kings County Hospital, the same program where MAX Founder and Co-CEO Dr. Jason M. Auerbach trained. He was immediately attracted to how MAX combined strong clinical excellence with well-organized practice operations. “I interviewed at a lot of places, and beyond compensation, what stood out about MAX was the level of support they gave me from every aspect,” recalled Dr. Meylikh. “When I visited Coastal Oral Surgery, I could see right away that everything was well-run and structured. Other practices I interviewed with just didn’t have that same level of organization. I remember thinking, ‘Wow,
this is so nice.’ That’s what really drew me to Coastal and to MAX.”
Impressed by MAX’s model and comprehensive compensation, equity, and benefits package, Dr. Meylikh relocated to New Jersey to launch his career at Coastal Oral Surgery.
For both Drs. Meylikh and Kim, joining MAX was about more than just finding the right practice. It also allowed them a smoother transition into private practice, supported by structured onboarding for licensing and credentialing. “Younger surgeons want to hit the ground running,” said Dr. Kim. “Joining an organization with a clear pathway for new surgeons has been very helpful. They know exactly what you need to do and provide the right guidance along the way.”
Streamlined licensing and credentialing support so new surgeons can focus on patient care from day one.
The opportunity to focus solely on surgical excellence
Another major benefit of joining a Dental Support Organization (DSO) directly out of residency is the ability to focus entirely on the pursuit of oral and maxillofacial surgical perfection without the distraction of administrative work.
MAX manages back-office responsibilities such as marketing, supply procurement, payor negotiation, billing, and staff management. Freed from these burdens, surgeons can focus on refining their skills and doing what they love most — caring for patients.
“Residency trained me really well. The most difficult thing to adapt to was the business side, which I’m fortunate not to deal with here,” said Dr. Kim.
Building a referral network is one of the biggest business challenges for younger surgeons. MAX takes that burden off their shoulders by integrating new recruits into the community and providing dedicated relationship managers who engage with dental offices, strengthen existing connections, and generate new referrals. This support enables surgeons to focus fully on patient care.
At Coastal Oral Surgery, a dedicated relationship manager from MAX, Jodi, supports Dr. Meylikh in building and maintaining referral relationships with local dentists. “Jodi meets with dentists in the community and builds relationships. She took me along a few times to introduce myself and get acquainted with local offices,” Dr. Meylikh explained. “This opportunity MAX provides — having someone focused on those connections — really helps drive patients to our practice. She’s brought in many of the patients I’ve treated this year, and without her support, I don’t think I would be as busy.”
Dedicated community integration support to help new surgeons establish a thriving referral network.
A culture of mentorship and continuing education
Another critical way MAX supports newer surgeons is robust mentorship and continuing education (CE) programs. Through a structured approach, new surgeons are paired with experienced mentors with similar or complementary specializations at partner practices across the MAX network.
Additionally, with administrative responsibilities overseen by MAX, associates also benefit from the opportunity to learn from practice leaders who have more time to provide hands-on mentorship day-to-day.
“Private practice is completely different from residency, where someone is always looking over your shoulder,” said Dr. Meylikh. “I’ve been fortunate to have three surgeons in this practice who I can turn to with questions, and they are always there when I need support.” In addition to fostering camaraderie among surgeons within the MAX network across the Northeast, there is a strong emphasis on continuing education to enable surgeons to continue pushing the boundaries of oral and maxillofacial surgery. MAX regularly hosts CE events, and surgeons come together at industry gatherings such as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Annual Meeting, where MAX has one of the largest DSO presences.
“There’s a stereotype about working for corporate medical organizations where you’re just treated like a workhorse. I was really surprised by the sense of community that the surgeons
share here. It feels more like a family than a company,” Dr. Kim reflected.
Structured mentorship and CE programs give new surgeons the guidance and training needed to grow their skills and advance the specialty.
Building MAXimum momentum for associate surgeons
Drs. Kim and Meylikh have found that MAX is more than a first step out of residency. Launching their careers within a surgeon-led support organization has allowed them to focus on what drew them to the profession initially — providing exceptional patient care. As part of the MAX network, they have gained the mentorship, balance, and support needed to lay the foundation for successful careers and make a lasting impact on their patients’ lives. “Helping patients is the number one thing that makes me excited to come to work,” Dr. Meylikh emphasized. “When someone comes in with pain or discomfort and you’re able to treat them so they leave feeling better, there’s a real sense of accomplishment. Waking up and having that opportunity is something I don’t think many other careers can provide.”
