Dr. Brian Harris

Dr. Brian Harris is a 2005 graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and a practicing dentist in Phoenix, AZ. With a passion for technology and cosmetic dentistry his unique process has transformed the smiles of patients from all over the world. He is the CEO and founder of Smile Virtual and co-founder of The ELITE Academy. As an Internationally recognized speaker and educator, he has lectured more than 300 times in 5 different countries. His ability to see things differently has helped thousands of doctors around the world transform their dental practices and do more of the dentistry they love to do.

Innovator Insights

• Finding Your Niche is Key: Dr. Harris emphasizes the importance of specializing in one area of dentistry rather than trying to be a “super GP.” By focusing on what you love and becoming the best at it, you can grow your business faster and make a more significant impact.

• The Power of Risk-Taking: Dr. Harris shares how taking risks early in his career, such as starting an online CE course aggregation platform, opened up unexpected opportunities and positioned him as an innovator in the dental field.

• Keep the Focus on Service: Throughout his career, Dr. Harris has maintained that the key to success is focusing on serving others—whether it’s transforming patients’ lives through cosmetic dentistry or mentoring other doctors. This outward focus has driven his success.

• Failure as a Learning Tool: Dr. Harris talks about a costly failure with a new version of his Smile Virtual platform and how it taught him to prioritize simplicity and the actual needs of his users. He now sees failure as a necessary part of growth and innovation.

• Balancing Passion with Practicality: Dr. Harris discusses the importance of aligning your work with your passions while also recognizing the importance of practical decisions. This balance has allowed him to thrive in both clinical practice and entrepreneurial ventures.