Dr. Rick Workman shared his life story and offered advice to students.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 8, 2022 – High Point University welcomed Dr. Rick Workman, Dental Innovator in Residence and founder of Heartland Dental, to campus on Nov. 2. He discussed with students how he founded his own company and experienced the changing landscape of health care.
Students from all majors listened to Workman’s story and asked questions during the Life Skills Seminar in the Callicutt Life Skills Theater. One student asked Workman what advice he would give students who are about to graduate.
“I’d tell every single one of you to commit to getting yourself a mentor,” said Workman. “For every one of you, there are a dozen people in your life who will want to help you learn something and make a difference in the world.”
Entrepreneurship student Grady Newton plans to use Workman’s advice in his future connections at HPU and after graduating.
“The one thing that stuck out to me is when Dr. Workman shared how he learned about the importance of working together with a vast majority of people, and how that is better than working harder and smarter,” said Newton, a junior from Wallburg, North Carolina. “In entrepreneurship, you need to find the connections that will help you the most. Dr. Qubein having connections with innovators like Dr. Workman and letting us hear what they have to say is incredible.”
Later in the day, Workman offered advice to budding entrepreneurs and recounted the lessons he’s learned in his life.
Workman serves as Heartland Dental’s executive chairman. Before founding the company in 1997, Workman practiced dentistry for nearly 20 years. Today, he provides leadership advice to more than 1,600 dental offices nationwide through various speaking engagements.