Dr. Damon Barbieri
Dr. Damon Barbieri has a history of melding people, process, and technology to innovate.
Upon completing residency in 2010, Dr. Barbieri moved to Nashville and purchased an exising orthodontic practice in Smyrna and Brentwood. The early years brought hard lessons, but they ultimately became the foundation for Barbieri Orthdontics, a practice recognized as the "Best of Music City", in part by blending technology with extraordinary customer service.
Following a bout with thyroid cancer, Dr. Barbieri reevalulated his path and chose to partner with Shore Capital, selling his practice to help found Southern Orthodontic Partners (SOP). There he served as Director of Innovation, sat on the Board of Directors, and mentored doctors in clear aligner care. His time with SOP gave him firsthand experience scaling healthcare businesses, along with a clear view of both the strengths and limitations of private equity-backed practice consolodation models.
Ultimately, Dr. Barbieri did not find his calling in partnership with private equity, leading to a buy-out in late 2024. After a very short break, he began drawing up Indie Ortho: a modern orthodontic platform that allows local dentists to add concierge orthodontic care to their practices with local support. Indie Ortho launched with its first partner in December 2025.
Dr. Barbieri and his wife, McLean, reside in Green Hills and have twin daughters in college, a 13-year old son, and two dogs. Beyond his professional work, Dr. Barbieri is drawn to mentorship, the outdoors, fly fishing, live music, and the lessons that come from both the highs and lows of life.
Career Highlights
2025 Founder, Indie Ortho
2019 Co-Founder/Board Member/Director of Innovation, Southern Orthodontic Partners
2016 Member, Entrepreneurs' Organization
2014 Clinical Advisory Chair, SmileDirectClub
2010 Founder, Barbieri Orthodontics
2010 M.S. Oral Biology & Chief Resident, Temple University
2006 D.D.S. University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
2001 B.A. Biology, University of Colorado
What is a personal piece of advice (business advice/saying/quote) that you lean on and could pass on to others?
I think about the lessons Viktor Frankl teaches us in Man's Search For Meaning every single day. The most poignant, personally and professionally, is his statement on resilience: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Best business book you’ve ever read?
Professionally, I'm a doctor first, businessman second. So I'll give you two books. The one that naturally resonates with me as a leader and human is Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, the Founder of Patagonia. I think the world right now is thirsting for his type of leadership--it's authentic, iconoclastic, and purpose-driven. The book that I've intentionally implemented most in my business life is, honestly, Take The Stairs by our own Rory Vaden. We organized our entire annual retreat around it years ago (12?), and it still impacts me and the employees I occasionally hear from.
One misstep you took in your business that you could caution others about?
I encourage healthcare providers to speak with me privately about that one...
How to you de-stress after a particularly hard day?
I used to pour myself a stiff drink, but happy to say I've gotten out of that cycle. Nowadays, it's a combination of connecting with my wife, listening to music to match the mood, and digging into the NYT Crossword archives.
What’s something about you that would surprise everyone reading this?
Everyone?! I'm a pretty open book, so that's hard to do. I'd say the thing about me that produces the most surprise is how much I love solo travel. It has nothing to do with how much I love my family and friends, and everything to do with how much I value total personal freedom and quiet self-connection. It started when I had to isolate myself for a week or so for thyroid cancer treatment--my "radioactive retreat." Now, I head out west alone once a year--usually to Montana or Wyoming--to ramble, fly fish, and breathe. I think everyone should take at least a long weekend a year for a personal offsite.
What EO benefit has been most valuable to you?
Forum, duh. I imagine you can copy/paste that one from most spotlights. I will say, however, that I've been lucky enough to be in two Forums that have very little in common with one another, which I think has been a tremendous benefit. Each suited who I was at the time I started, and had indelible effects on who I am now.
Any exciting plans for the rest of 2026?
Deep in start-up mode right now. In October, I'll be opening a small orthodontic practice in Green Hills called Indie Ortho. Braces, Invisalign, help with TMJ and airway issues, etc. I would love nothing more than to see some familiar EO faces in there with their families!
