Georgia School of Orthodontics Announces Interim Chief Operating Officer
Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Atlanta-based Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) has appointed Michael Puffe as Interim Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Puffe will focus on enhancing the patient experience, strengthening quality of care, and improving the organization’s overall operational efficiency.
GSO offers a 36-month specialty education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The residency provides collaborative, evidence-based training for dentists while delivering high-quality orthodontic care through GSO’s two clinics in Atlanta and Duluth.
“Michael’s depth of experience in healthcare operations and performance improvement makes him the ideal fit for this role,” said Randy Kluender, DDS, MS, President of GSO. “As we continue to grow, his leadership will help strengthen the systems and processes that support our clinics and our educational mission—ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience for both our patients and our residents.”
Puffe brings more than 30 years of healthcare industry experience, providing management, strategy, and performance improvement consulting services to a wide range of acute and outpatient organizations of varying size and complexity. In addition to his consulting work, he has co-founded two digital healthcare technology start-ups, contributing to innovation and advancement in the healthcare space. Prior to joining GSO full-time, Puffe worked with the organization as a consultant on several strategic initiatives, gaining firsthand insight into its mission, culture, and operations.
“In working alongside the GSO team, I saw firsthand the quality and caliber of the people who serve this organization,” said Puffe. “At the end of the day, it’s not the product or service that makes an organization great — it’s the people. When the opportunity to join GSO full-time was presented, it was an easy decision.”
“GSO has a unique mission—educating the next generation of orthodontic specialists while expanding access to advanced orthodontic care,” said Puffe. “I’m honored to step into this role. My first priority is to listen closely to our teams and identify practical improvements that strengthen our workflows, support educational excellence and, and ensure patients receive outstanding care at every visit.”
Puffe earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Auburn University. He resides in Marietta, Georgia, with his wife, and has two children who are currently in college.
