New England Center for Advanced Dental Education (NECADE) Mentorship Program

Elevate Your Clinical Mastery — With High-Level Clinical Support That Matches Your Ambition

You’ve invested in your education. You’ve put in the hours. You’re driven to be great. But you know that ascending to the next level in clinical dentistry requires more than just continuing education courses and isolated learning. It requires mentorship—true mentorship—from clinicians who’ve walked the same path, faced the same challenges, and achieved the mastery you seek.

At the New England Center for Advanced Dental Education (NECADE), we’ve built a unique mentorship program designed specifically for dentists ready to push boundaries, expand their clinical frontier, and practice at the highest level—while staying grounded in smart, safe, patient-centered dentistry.

What Makes the NECADE Mentorship Program Different?

It’s not a course. It’s not a subscription. It’s not another forum of disconnected opinions. It’s a structured, personal, and collaborative mentorship experience tailored around you—your vision, your challenges, and your growth.

We work with clinicians who are already invested in themselves. This program is for motivated dentists—those who are hungry to learn, who show up for their growth, and who don’t shy away from hard work. We customize the level of support and sherpa-style guidance based on your needs, but we don’t carry the unmotivated. We partner only with those who bring passion, focus, and a willingness to act.

“The man who buys cheaply pays dearly. When you invest deeply, you commit fully—and it shows in the results.”

There’s something powerful about putting real value behind your goals. Those who do, show up differently. They’re more focused, more accountable, and more successful—because the return on meaningful investment is often far greater than anyone can fully anticipate.

This mentorship program is built with that principle in mind. It attracts a particular kind of clinician—someone with skin in the game. Someone who knows that reaching their next level requires more than just wanting it; it requires stepping forward with intention and commitment. And in return, what they receive is not only guidance, but transformation.

This program is for those who have the motivation, but who may not yet have the roadmap. That’s where we come in.

Key Components of the NECADE Mentorship Experience:

  • Weekly 1:1 Mentor Meetings – Personal guidance and accountability from a mentor who has mastered the journey you’re on. You’ll never feel stuck or alone again.

  • Full Mouth Rehabilitation Sherpa-ing– Sir Edmund Hillary was known as the first person to ascend Mt. Everest. He didn’t get there alone. He used local sherpas to get him there. Your NECADE Master is your clinical Sherpa as you begin tackling full mouth rehabs, TMD, and other complicated cases.

  • Immediate Access to Clinical Flowcharts, Tips, and Protocols – Organized, actionable resources built by dentists for dentists. Save years of trial-and-error by leveraging what already works.

  • Mentor Hotline – Urgent case question? Patient communication challenge? Text or call your mentor and get timely, trusted advice when you need it most.

  • Mentorship Study Club – Join a high-level community of clinicians discussing real cases, real strategies, and real success. Expand your thinking with the power of peer dialogue.

  • Consent Forms, Communication Scripts & Patient Education Tools – Build patient trust and increase treatment acceptance with pre-built communication assets.

  • Affordable Supply & Business Tools – Streamline your overhead with curated resources and insights from mentors who’ve optimized their own systems.

  • Clinical Confidence Building Tools – Checklists, customized protocols, and digital walkthroughs to reduce mental fatigue and boost clinical certainty.

  • Access to the robust Mentorship Tip Library – From bite splints to veneers to full rehabs—an infinite amount of distilled clinical pearls.

  • Training in Human Relations & Emotional Intelligence – Because being a great dentist also means being a great leader, communicator, and coach.

  • Personalized Growth Roadmap – We work with you to reverse-engineer your career goals into quarterly targets, with mentorship support every step of the way.

Who Are the Mentors?

Every mentor in this program is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)—a distinction earned only through thousands of hours of advanced education, rigorous clinical application, and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in general dentistry. These are not just educators; they are practicing clinicians with real-world experience in the techniques, systems, and challenges you face.

Throughout this program, we refer to them simply as the Masters—because that’s who they are. Masters in skill. Masters in mentorship. Masters in elevating those around them.

High-Level Dentistry. Ground-Level Support.

Our Masters have experience with elite programs like Spear, Kois, Dawson, and Pankey. They understand the challenges that come with implementing high-level dentistry in real-life practice settings. That’s why NECADE’s approach is grounded in support that’s fast, practical, and transformational.

We believe in helping you reach further—but with a net beneath you.

Whether your goal is to do more comprehensive cases, full mouth rehabilitations, increase production without burnout, lead a stronger team, or simply feel more confident and fulfilled in your work—this mentorship program is built to help you get there.

We don’t promise overnight results. We promise growth, clarity, and the kind of clinical transformation that lasts.

Click below to see if you are a good fit for our NECADE Mentorship Program Today.

The next level of your career isn’t a mystery. It’s a conversation—and a partnership—away.

Nicholas Roy, DMD, MAGD

Dr. Nicholas Roy was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine. Growing up he enjoyed playing hockey, running, and track and field. He attended UVM for his undergraduate studies, and upon completing his B.S. in Chemistry, Dr. Roy headed south to The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, a top-rated dental school. It was an immensely rewarding educational experience, and Dr. Roy took advantage of the many opportunities presented to deepen his knowledge. During this time, Dr. Roy developed a passion for comprehensive care, which is a style of dental treatment that looks at the big picture of a person’s mouth and related systems, along with their overall systemic health. In order to help patients with such complex needs, he decided to enter an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program in Richmond, Virginia. This experience gave him the confidence and skills necessary to perform implant dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, sedation dentistry, and complex surgical treatment.

After returning to his home state, Dr. Roy decided to help those in need by joining a public health facility. This gave him time to give back, while evaluating where he’d like to plant his roots. A chance encounter led him to join Dr. Wayne Lopez and Dr. Jin Hwang. Dr. Lopez had built an extensive patient base in Gorham in the 1970s-1990s. Dr. Lopez moved his practice to Buxton in 1999, into a house built in 1812. Although this house was excellent for a dentist in the final years of their career, it could not support the efficient and comprehensive care Dr. Roy envisioned for his patients. He acquired the practice in 2013 and began to craft the practice of his dreams.

HIllary Caruso, DMD, MAGD

I attended the University of Vermont for my undergraduate education, graduating from the Honors College with a degree in Biology, and a minor in Nutrition in 2000. I went on to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, graduating in 2004. After graduation, I returned to Maine to fulfill a lifelong dream of practicing dentistry with my father. He and I greatly enjoy working together to serve the people of central Maine.

I married Joe Caruso, my high school sweetheart, in 2000, and am fortunate to be able to work with him every day, as he is the business manager for the office. Joe and I feel very fortunate to have been able to return to our home town to raise our family.

We have two boys, Jack and Griffin, and a daughter, Lauren, who many of you have met in our office. Perhaps one of them may be part of the next generation of dentists to serve Central Maine!

Outside of the office, I enjoy horseback riding, hiking, traveling, reading and enjoying the outdoors with my family. As my children grow, what is left of my free time is spent on bleachers cheering on my children and their teammates throughout the football, field hockey, basketball, and baseball/softball seasons.

Credentials

Dr. Caruso strives to provide the highest possible quality of care through continuing education. While at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Caruso received numerous awards in academic excellence, leadership, and clinical skills. She also established the first student chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry in the country, and was a delegate for the American Student Dental Association. Dr. Caruso was awarded her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in July 2010, and her Mastership in 2014. To be given these awards, Dr. Caruso passed a 400-question comprehensive exam and took over 1,600 hours of continuing education. Dr. Caruso is also a Fellow in the International Congress of Oral lmplantologists, and a Diplomate in the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

A list of her membership organizations are as follows:

  • Maine Academy of General Dentistry

    • Past Chair of Continuing Education

    • Past President

  • New England Master Study Club

    • Past Secretary

    • Past President

  • International Congress of Oral lmplantologists Fellow

  • Academy of General Dentistry

  • Maine Dental Association

  • American Dental Association

  • Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation

  • American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

Daniel Steinke, DDS, MAGD

Let me introduce myself. In my personal time, while not in the office with you enjoying the people and challenges of dentistry, my interests focus on my family, athletics, and the outdoors.

After growing up in Michigan, I attended the University of Iowa on a football scholarship and although we didn't visit the Rose Bowl, I was able to graduate in the Honors College majoring in pre dental science, biochemistry, and nutrition.

I married Beth, my high school sweetheart, in Yarmouth and then fell in love with Maine. We spent the next year at the University of Maine at Orono where I taught and did research in biochemistry and nutrition.

We returned to Iowa for dental school where I graduated with honors and received awards, including the Academy of Orthodontics award and the Dean's Leadership award. A year's post-graduate residency at Maine Medical Center brought us back to Maine permanently.

For the next six years I developed my practice in South Portland, enjoyed a very satisfying and rewarding dental practice and thought I would stay there until I retired. Fate led us to Dover-Foxcroft and to people who value the importance of family and a unique quality of life.

We have four children, Hillary, Heather, Jeff and Chris who continue to provide our greatest joy in their growth and love. We also have one son-in-law, Joe Caruso, who married Hillary in 2000.

Credentials

Dr. Steinke has focused his ability to provide the highest quality care through dedicating himself to nearly unparalleled continuing education. After graduating with Honors from the University of Iowa, he completed a one-year general practice residency at the Maine Medical Center, where he focused on increasing his skills in all aspects of dentistry and, in addition, took the medical rotation of Anesthesiology. Also in the residency, Dr. Steinke gained extensive skills in dental trauma care, working closely with oral surgeons.

Highlights of Dr. Dan Steinke's continuing education are as follows:

  • Master of the Academy of General Dentistry(MAGD)

  • Alumni of the LD Pankey Institute with completion of the entire continuum plus the Master's Forum.

  • Founding President of New England Masters Study Club, a group exclusively limited to AGD Masters who meet biannually to concentrate study on a specific aspect of dentistry under the direction of the finest instructors in the country.

  • Dr. Steinke continues to spend over 25 days per year outside the office in continuing education.

A list of his membership organizations are as follows:

  • Academy of General Dentistry - Master plus 2 Life Long Learning and Service Awards

  • American Dental Association

  • Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation- Fellow

  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

  • Pierre Fauchaud Academy

  • Pankey Institute Alumni

  • Maine Dental Association

  • Maine Academy of General Dentistry (current president)

  • International Congress of Oral Implantologists - Master