PDS Health

Stephen E. Thorne, IV, BA, MHA, is the Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), a leading dental and medical support organization. Established in 1994 and based in Irvine, California, PDS provides business services to nearly 1,000 dental and primary care practices across 25 states. Thorne began his career in healthcare in 1989 by managing a struggling dental office owned by his father, and later founded PDS with the goal of integrating dental and medical care.

Under his leadership, PDS has become a prominent advocate for the Mouth-Body Connection®, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between dental and medical professionals to improve patient outcomes. Thorne’s company was the first dental support organization to integrate Epic®, a widely used electronic health record system, into its practices, enabling better care coordination.

Thorne is also a key figure in the dental industry, having helped establish the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO) and served on several influential boards, including those of the Forsyth Institute and the DMS German Mouth-Health Foundation. He is involved in academic initiatives, serving on boards at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, A.T. Still University, and others, to promote the integration of oral health and medicine.

Thorne holds a degree in Business Economics from UCLA and a Master’s in Health Administration from Chapman University. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from A.T. Still University in 2016. Thorne lives in Nevada with his wife, Pam, and their seven children and five grandchildren.