Chris Salierno, DDS

Saying goodbye to a dental legend

Oct. 1, 2020
Dental Economics’ Chief Editor Dr. Chris Salierno offers a tribute to Sally McKenzie, a woman who made her mark on the dental profession in so many positive ways.
Chris Salierno, DDS, Chief Dental Officer, Tend

Last month, we suddenly lost one of the great thought leaders in the profession: Sally McKenzie. Sally surely needs no introduction. She was CEO of McKenzie Management and had been a friendly face in our industry for decades. 

As warm and personable as she was, make no mistake that she meant business. Sally was passionate about helping dentists, their teams, and their practices be all that they could be. Her ideas were bold, and she continually asked us to think outside the box. She embraced the latest trends and technologies, such as digital marketing (the theme of this issue). But this was never done at the expense of the fundamentals, like good, old-fashioned customer service. Her articles would overflow with practical advice and her pearls of wisdom.

Sally was also an early champion of women in dentistry. At a time when there were fewer women in the profession and even fewer female practice owners, she helped give women the push they needed to pioneer in business. I hope she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment seeing the gender diversity we now enjoy.

So let’s raise a glass to Sally McKenzie—truly one of a kind in the dental profession. We may have lost the pleasure of her company, but her work will live on for many, many years to come.

With deep respect and admiration,

Chris Salierno, DDS

[email protected]

About the Author

Chris Salierno, DDS | Chief Dental Officer, Tend

Chris Salierno, DDS, is a general dentist from Long Island, New York. He graduated from Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine in 2005. Dr. Salierno lectures internationally on clinical dentistry, practice management, and leadership development. In 2017 he became a chief development officer with the Cellerant Consulting Group, and he was the chief editor of Dental Economics from 2014 to 2021. In 2021, he became the chief dental officer at Tend. He can be reached on Instagram @the_curious_dentist.

Updated May 13, 2022

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