Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists

Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists Elevating Pediatric Specialty Care Through Education And Community

05/05/2026

Airway orthodontics isn’t just “braces.”

It’s one of the most misunderstood—and most powerful—tools in pediatric healthcare.

From rapid maxillary expansion to functional appliances, myofunctional therapy, and even orthognathic surgery…
true airway-focused orthodontics requires a systems-based approach.

And that’s where most providers get it wrong.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, leaders like Dr. Alex Culp are redefining what interdisciplinary care actually looks like—bringing orthodontics, airway, and whole-child development into one conversation.

Because better collaboration = better outcomes.

If you’re treating kids and not thinking airway…
you’re missing a critical piece of the diagnosis.

05/04/2026

Watch 14 children's lives change in 60 seconds.
Fourteen kids. Fourteen cleft lip and cleft palate transformations. One coordinated model of care.

Every surgery in this reel was performed by Dr. Rick Kapitan, pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgeon and founder of the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists. But the lasting outcomes you're watching belong to entire teams — the pediatric dentists managing early oral health, the orthodontists guiding arch and facial development, the pediatric ENTs protecting hearing and airway, and the speech-language pathologists building communication and feeding skills year after year.
This is what collaborative pediatric craniofacial care looks like at scale. Fourteen children, fourteen families, and a network of specialists who refused to work in silos.
If you treat pediatric cleft and craniofacial patients, this is your community. www.thesouthernacademy.com

04/30/2026

It started as a simple idea…

What if you brought pediatric dentists and orthodontists into the same room… and just let them collaborate?

In this episode of the All In Practice Growth Podcast, Whitney Kapitan shares how The Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists was born from that exact concept.

Two specialties. Same patients. Different perspectives.

And when you bridge that gap—
not just clinically, but in how practices grow, communicate, and plan for the future…

Everything changes.

What started as a CE course quickly became something much bigger:
A space where specialists align on treatment, share ideas, and talk about the business of delivering better care.

Because collaboration isn’t just good for providers—
it’s transformational for patients.

🎧 Full episode now live on the All In Practice Growth Podcast with Shane McElroy.

04/28/2026

“I already had my tonsils removed…” But that doesn’t mean all tonsils are gone.

As Dr. Lea Matny explains, this is a common misunderstanding in airway evaluation 👇

✔️ Palatine tonsils (what most surgeries remove)
✔️ Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)
✔️ Lingual tonsils

Different structures.
Different locations.
Different potential for airway obstruction.

So when CBCT shows “enlarged tonsils”…
it’s not wrong—
it’s revealing what’s often overlooked.

This is where 3D imaging changes the game—
helping providers see beyond assumptions and identify the true source of airway restriction.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, this is how we elevate diagnosis—through clarity, not guesswork.

04/23/2026

“We talk about interdisciplinary care in residency… but at SAPS, I actually saw it happen in real life.”

As a pediatric dental resident, this wasn’t just another conference—it was a glimpse into the future of pediatric healthcare.

Seeing pediatric dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, and speech specialists all in the same room collaborating on patient care changes everything.

This is what real multidisciplinary pediatric care looks like.
This is how we create better outcomes for kids.

👉 If you’re entering the pediatric field and want to learn how to truly collaborate—this is where it starts.

🎯 Want to experience it yourself? Follow Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists and stay updated on the next event.
💬 Drop a comment if collaboration is something you want to build into your practice.
🔗 Save this to remind yourself what the future of healthcare should look like.

04/22/2026

Meet Dr. Rick Kapitan—a nationally recognized cleft and craniofacial surgeon dedicated to transforming the lives of children through advanced surgical care and multidisciplinary collaboration.
With more than 20 years of experience in cleft lip and palate surgery, craniofacial reconstruction, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Kapitan is a leader in complex pediatric care. As Director of the Carolinas Center for Cleft Lip & Palate Surgery and a national lecturer in implant dentistry, he plays a critical role in both patient care and clinical education.
But what truly sets him apart is his impact beyond the operating room.
Through global mission work and organizations like the Free to Smile Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse, Dr. Kapitan has helped provide life-changing cleft surgeries to children around the world. Locally, his nonprofit, Face to Face Foundation, supports families who need financial assistance for cleft care.
This is exactly what the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists (SAPS) represents.
SAPS brings together pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, ENTs, and medical professionals to collaborate, share knowledge, and improve outcomes for children through a multidisciplinary approach.
Because the best care for kids happens when specialists work together.
👉 If you're a pediatric specialist looking to grow, connect, and make a greater impact—SAPS is where you belong.

04/20/2026

Poor sleep isn’t just a sleep problem. It can change a child’s entire health trajectory.

As Dr. Ryan Colosi highlights, research shows something most providers overlook 👇

✔️ Sleep-disordered breathing in early life
➡️ Can contribute to childhood obesity

Especially in kids already predisposed.

Think about that.

Airway → Sleep → Metabolism → Weight

This is why pediatric dentists play a bigger role than most realize.

We’re often the first to see the signs:
➡️ Mouth breathing
➡️ Poor sleep quality
➡️ Behavioral changes

And those signs go far beyond the mouth.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, we train providers to understand the why—so early intervention can change long-term outcomes.

04/16/2026

The procedure isn’t the problem… The protocol is.

As Dr. Raymond Tseng explains, what happens after a frenectomy is just as important as the procedure itself 👇

✔️ The first 2 weeks are critical
✔️ Missed stretches = increased scar tissue
✔️ Healing can reverse progress fast

In this case?
❌ Missed week of stretches
❌ 0% symptom improvement
❌ Even more symptoms at 4 weeks

That’s the reality of wound healing.

You can do a perfect procedure…
and still get a poor outcome without proper follow-through.

This is why education, compliance, and interdisciplinary support matter just as much as surgical skill.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, we focus on protocols that drive predictable, evidence-based results—not just procedures.

04/13/2026

Before you jump to surgery with a pediatric patient…
change the position.

As Dr. Rick Kapitan explains, one simple question can change the entire treatment plan 👇

👉 Does the airway improve when the child is repositioned?

✔️ If yes → this may be an airway management issue, not immediate surgery
✔️ If no → now you start considering surgical intervention

Sometimes a 45° tilt tells you more than any scan.

Because not every airway case needs surgery—
but every case needs the right decision at the right time.

This is the difference between reactive care…
and thoughtful, patient-first care.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, we train providers to think critically before acting—because avoiding unnecessary surgery is just as important as performing it well.

04/10/2026

It’s not about timing the market. It’s about time in the market.

As JD Thacker explains, one of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing on when to invest… instead of how long they stay invested.

Here’s the reality 👇

✔️ Short-term = volatility
✔️ Long-term = consistency
✔️ 5+ years → historically low probability of negative returns

When you invest in growth assets, you’re not just allocating money—
you’re allocating time.

Because time is what allows those assets to actually work.

The biggest wins don’t come from perfect timing…
they come from staying in the game.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, even conversations beyond clinical care—like financial health—play a role in building a stronger, more sustainable future for providers.

04/08/2026

The future of pediatric healthcare isn’t built in silos—it’s built through collaboration.

The Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists (SAPS) brings together leading pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and medical professionals who are committed to improving outcomes for children through a multidisciplinary approach.

This is not just another organization.
This is a network of high-level clinicians, educators, and leaders working together to solve real problems in pediatric healthcare—from airway and development to complex surgical care and long-term treatment planning.
When specialists collaborate, patients win.
When knowledge is shared, outcomes improve.
When leaders come together, the entire standard of care evolves.
If you're a pediatric specialist looking to grow, connect, and be part of something bigger—this is where you belong.
👉 Join SAPS. Get involved. Be part of the future of pediatric care.

04/07/2026

“You’ve gotta get out of here… this isn’t for you.”

Not what you expect to hear early in your career.

But for Dr. Reza Ardalan, that moment changed everything.

Because sometimes the right mentor doesn’t just encourage you—
they challenge you to think bigger.

➡️ Bigger impact
➡️ Better care
➡️ A different path forward

And in that moment… he realized something powerful:

He could do more.

For his patients.
For his profession.
For himself.

That’s the power of the right conversation at the right time.

At the Southern Academy of Pediatric Specialists, it’s not just about clinical education—
it’s about the people, perspectives, and moments that shape your entire career.

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