Women in DSO® - Delegated Credentialing for Dental Service Organizations

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on Delegated Credentialing: Empowering DSOs for Excellence, and discover the strategic benefits of adopting a delegated credentialing model.  

Learn how this approach empowers dental service organizations to collaborate with trusted partners, streamline operations, and focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Discover best practices, real-world case studies, and practical implementation strategies to seamlessly integrate delegated credentialing into your organization's framework.

Esteemed panelists for this session include:

• Carmen Woods, Director of Dental Insurance Administration, Heartland Dental 

• Cynthia Yanes, Careington International,  Credentialing Manager

• Michaela Muniz, Director, Insurance Plan Management, Dental Care Alliance

The moderator for this session is Cheryl Polmatier, AVP, Network Strategic Solutions, DentaQuest.

Experience Women in DSO Exchange Circles: a platform to highlight your thought leadership, enhance visibility, and establish strategic career objectives. Engage in impactful exchange circles meticulously crafted to address pertinent subjects, fostering your advancement as a prominent figure in the field of DSO leadership.  

Carmen Woods, Director of Dental Insurance Administration, Heartland Dental 

Carmen Woods is the Director of Dental Insurance Administration at Heartland Dental based in Effingham, IL. Over the course of her time with Heartland over the last 11+ years she has assisted in the implementation of electronic onboarding and also led the initiative of Heartland Dental’s proprietary credentialing software, Insurance Management System, that launched in December 2022. Prior to her current role, Woods worked in Patient Services, Talent Acquisition(System Manager), and DIA. Her passion is developing systems and processes to create efficiencies and increase team member/customer satisfaction. Carmen currently resides in Effingham with her son Cohen and her dog Stella. Her son is also a sophomore the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terra Haute, IN. Carmen enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.  

Cheryl Polmatier, AVP, Network Strategic Solutions, DentaQuest

My name is Cheryl Polmatier and I’m the Vice President of Network Strategic Solutions at DentaQuest, which is now part of Sun Life Financial Inc.  In my current position, I oversee our national dental network recruitment efforts, dental home and value-based care programs, and credentialing operations. In total, DentaQuest supports more than 80,000 providers who serve 33 million members from coast to coast. I’ve been with DentaQuest for over sixteen years. 

With over 29 years’ experience in insurance and health, I recognize the importance of both providers and payers in healthcare. To that end, I am passionate about building a structure to help align providers and payers to be true partners in promoting high quality oral health outcomes. 

Prior to DentaQuest, I worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and Passport Health of Tennessee in various roles related to HIPAA compliance and claims management, as well as for other health technology organizations. 

I enjoy volunteering for organizations that support underserved communities, including Missions of Mercy and TeamSmile.  I’m a wife and mother of two teenagers, so you’ll find me at tennis and dance competitions on the weekends.  I earned my undergrad from Marquette University and my MBA from Concordia University – both located in Wisconsin.  Go Packers! 

Cynthia Yanes, Manager of Provider Credentialing, Careington

Cynthia Yanes, Manager of Provider Credentialing at Careington, boasts over two decades of unparalleled experience in the dental network industry. With a profound grasp on the details of Credentialing and Delegated Credentialing standards, Cynthia has been an invaluable asset in strengthening Careington's provider network across the US, UK, and the Telehealth domain. Her pivotal role in provider expansion, credentialing, and retention showcases her unwavering dedication to excellence. Cynthia’s illustrious career is marked not only by her instrumental contributions to Careington’s growth but also by the strong bonds she's cultivated with providers, DSOs, stakeholders, and partners. These connections have consistently enriched network accessibility and enhanced provider experiences.

Michaela Muniz – Senior Director, Insurance Plan Management, Dental Care Alliance
Michaela Muniz is an accomplished professional with a career spanning over three decades in the ever-evolving landscape medical and dental provider network marketplace. Currently, she holds the position of Senior Director of Insurance Plan Management at Dental Care Alliance (DCA), a role she assumed in September 2017. 

In her role at DCA, Michaela fosters strategic relationships with insurance plan partners, a responsibility that is instrumental in enhancing DCA's plan participation and revenue. She also leads the credentialing department and oversees a dedicated team responsible for delegated credentialing. 

Before joining DCA, Michaela served as the Vice President of Provider & Network Management at Argus Dental & Vision, where her expertise in provider networks was put to excellent use. Prior to this, she held the position of National Director of Provider Networks at Ameritas Group Dental. 

In addition to her career achievements, Michaela actively contributes to the industry. She chairs the DSO Advisory Council, has served on the NADP Operations Workgroup since 2012, and played an active role in the Delegated Credentialing and Network Leasing Sub Workgroup within the NADP. 

Michaela is a proud graduate of the University of Florida.