Ellen Crean
Ellen Crean is DDS, PhD, MS
Dental Sleep Medicine, Neurobiology, and Higher Education Learning for Dental Programs
USA
Dr. Ellen Crean is a highly accomplished and experienced healthcare professional with over 25 years of dedicated service in the dental and medical fields. As the co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Be Well Collaborative Care, Dr. Crean has been at the forefront of developing and implementing collaborative care networks that bring together diverse healthcare providers, including dentists, physicians, respiratory therapists, myo-functional therapists, lactation specialists, and osteopathic physicians. Her goal is to ensure the achievement of optimal clinical outcomes through an interdisciplinary approach to wellness.
Dr. Crean holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology with a focus on sleep medicine. Her extensive education and training provide a comprehensive understanding of both the clinical and operational aspects of patient care.
Throughout her career, Dr. Crean has lectured nationally on various topics, including Dental Sleep Medicine, Medical Billing for Dentists, and the importance of collaborative care between medicine and dentistry. She has dedicated the last 15 years to setting up and managing collaborative care networks across the United States, with a particular focus on integrating airway-focused care within wellness-based practices.
In addition to her role in collaborative care, Dr. Crean is affiliated with several universities, where she oversees student and resident experiences, patient care management, and revenue cycle management in medical and dental patient care clinics. Most recently, Dr. Crean has expanded her expertise through Airway Collaborative Practice Solutions, a consulting service aimed at helping airway-focused providers implement operational systems that ensure success in collaborative care. Her practice solutions focus on key areas such as staff training, developing productive collaborative relationships, sequencing airway care, financial modeling, and creating predictable treatment plans based on intake data. She also emphasizes the importance of establishing progress and outcome data to document the success of treatments.
As part of the Airway Collaborative, Dr. Crean plays a crucial role in supporting provider success, managing vendor relationships, and designing the operational framework for Be Well Collaborative Care Centers. These centers are dedicated to delivering airway-focused, collaborative wellness-based care that addresses the holistic needs of patients.
Dr. Crean’s expertise in interdisciplinary care, her innovative approach to airway health, and her commitment to the success of collaborative care networks have established her as a leading figure in the integration of medicine and dentistry. She continues to shape the future of patient care through education, collaboration, and the development of innovative care models.
