A patient should tell the difference.
Independent practices should be easy to find.
CorpFree is a directory, a review process, and a public record. One standard, one seal, checked by a real person and re-earned every year.
Most patients have no idea who owns the practice they walk into.
The sign on the door rarely changes when corporate purchases a practice. The decisions about your treatment, though, start coming from a boardroom two states away.
Dental practices now owned by a DSO or private equity group. A decade ago it was 1 in 10.
Of U.S. veterinary clinics are corporate-owned, including a majority of emergency and specialty hospitals.
Median tenure of an associate doctor at a corporate-run practice, dental or veterinary.
When corporate purchases a practice, most of what you can see stays the same.
What changes is almost always behind the scenes. That difference is why this directory exists.
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WHAT YOU MAY STILL SEE
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WHAT MAY BE CHANGING BEHIND IT
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|---|---|
| The familiar name above the door | New ownership making decisions from somewhere else |
| The same phone number | A different voice—or system—on the other end |
| The doctor you've trusted for years | Less freedom over how the practice is run |
| The team welcoming you at the front desk | More turnover—and more unfamiliar faces |
| The care plan discussed in the exam room | More attention to targets, pricing, and performance |
| A practice rooted in your community | Profits traveling far beyond it |
The whole story, in three minutes.
How corporate consolidation reshaped local care, why ownership matters in the chair, and the certification we built in response.
“CorpFree grew directly out of our own experience with corporate ownership in our fields.”
My name is Dr. David E. Walker, and I am the founder of CorpFree. I am a dentist and orthodontist, and my wife, Dr. Rebecca E. Walker, a veterinarian, is my co-founder. We are raising three kids in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which means our own household covers both kinds of doctors this directory lists: the dental office and the vet clinic.
Rebecca and I have both worked in privately owned practices and in corporate ones. I previously owned my own orthodontic practice, served as a dentist in the Air Force, and currently serve in the Army National Guard. Those roles gave us a well-rounded view of the challenges facing independent healthcare providers today.
Sylvie first met Rebecca after being surrendered to the veterinary hospital where Rebecca worked. She had suffered from neglect, and there was concern that one of her legs might need to be amputated. Thankfully, she recovered fully—and went on to become a very important member of the Walker family.
Sylvie later spent time as a therapy dog at David's orthodontic office, where she comforted nervous patients by curling up in their laps and promptly falling asleep. These days, she brings that same calming presence to CorpFree, where she specializes in team morale, snack supervision, and an extraordinary amount of napping.
The idea for CorpFree grew directly out of our personal experiences with corporate ownership in our fields. We saw how it affected clinical autonomy, patient relationships, and the overall quality and cost of care. The sign on the door stays the same. What changes is harder to see.
So we built the thing we kept wishing existed: a directory that makes it easy for patients and pet owners to identify truly doctor-owned practices, and that gives independent practice owners a way to be found and to grow while remaining fully private.
We remain independent and hands-on by design. We read every application. The seal means one thing and one thing only: the person treating you, or your animal, owns the practice.
David & Rebecca
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO · DENTISTRY & VETERINARY MEDICINE
Three principles the directory is built on.
The best care is between the patient and the doctor.
Care works best when decisions are shaped by the doctor and the patient or pet owner in the room. That relationship should remain at the center of every recommendation.
Ownership should be clear.
People deserve to know who owns the practice they trust with their health or their pet’s care. Finding that answer shouldn’t require detective work.
Independent practices should stand apart.
Doctor-owned practices deserve a clear way to distinguish themselves in an increasingly consolidated marketplace. CorpFree gives their independence a name, a certification, and a place to be found.
We believe preserving doctor-owned practices is essential for the future of quality healthcare in America.
We hope to strengthen independent dental and veterinary practices across the country, help patients and pet owners find providers who prioritize long-term health and genuine relationships, and give doctors the tools to grow without giving up their independence. As CorpFree grows, we plan to bring that same visibility and support to more fields of healthcare. Our ultimate goal is to return healthcare to the people who provide it—until directories like ours are no longer needed and we have successfully put ourselves out of business.
The sourced statements contained in this section of the website are true and accurate to the best of CorpFree’s knowledge and understanding. CorpFree assumes no liability or responsibility for any sourced statements contained herein or for any errors or omissions in the content of such statements. The sourced content of this section is for informational and educational purposes only and is used at your own risk. CorpFree makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of any such sourced statements. The sourced content is provided “as is” with no guarantees of completeness or timeliness.
The other statements and content contained in this section of the website are the opinions of CorpFree. Any descriptions, characterizations, or names used herein are generalizations and are not about or directed to any specific person, entity, or organization. The unsourced content provided in this section is for informational and educational purposes only and is used at your own risk. CorpFree makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of any such statements. CorpFree assumes no liability or responsibility for opinions stated herein or for any errors or omissions in the content of any statement contained in this website. The information is provided “as is” with no guarantees of completeness or timeliness.
You built an independent practice. Let’s make sure people can find it.
Membership includes ownership verification, a searchable public listing, and physical and digital marketing assets that help your practice communicate—and capitalize on—its independent ownership.