# #286 The Cultural Architect — Kaival Patel

An episode of [Dental Leaders Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1482901418), 9 Apr 2025, 1 h 34 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/f47b45cc/podcast/play/100728569/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-3-2%2Fd18281ad-2e2d-715d-1ca8-f50cd033feba.mp3

Payman chats with Kaival Patel, the dynamic force behind Kana Health Group. Kaival opens up about his journey from an enthusiastic associate dentist to the leader of a thriving dental empire comprising five large practices and 130 staff members. With refreshing candour, he shares the challenges of creating a positive culture, the emotional lows of practice ownership, and his innovative approaches to team building and referral marketing. What truly shines through is Kaival's passion for developing people and creating workplaces where positivity becomes the foundation for success. In This Episode 00:01:40 - Practice culture and family vibe across multiple locations 00:04:15 - North Star: Establishing positivity and respect as core values 00:09:50 - Evolution vs. revolution in practice acquisitions 00:12:35 - Growing as a leader and management evolution 00:16:30 - The Kana Cup: Points for positivity team system 00:19:20 - Handling resistance to new ideas 00:24:20 - Hiring for attitude over skill 00:30:15 - Business structure and organisation 00:40:35 - Pursuing peace vs. potential 00:53:05 - Creating a referral centre 00:57:45 - The hamper drop: Innovative referral marketing 01:04:00 - Career evolution and identity crisis 01:14:15 - Fantasy dinner party 01:28:55 - Last days and legacy About Kaival Patel Kaival is the co-director of Kana Health Group, which operates five large dental practices with 28-29 chairs across Milton Keynes, employing approximately 130 team members. Originally from a family of Ugandan Asian immigrants who valued education above all, Kaival transitioned from clinical dentistry to business leadership after experiencing eye health issues during COVID. Together with his wife Serena, he has developed the Kana Academy, an educational institution providing high-quality dental training in Milton Keynes.

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