Altius Healthcare Management was founded in 2016 by Drs. Gunjan Dhir and Gaurav Puri. As dental specialists and lifelong entrepreneurs, they spent the previous 8 years opening practices in rural and underserved areas of Texas. Entering these markets, they quickly realized that there was an emerging oral health crisis that was not being addressed.

Many providers in these rural areas were starting to retire and no younger dentists were seeking to replace them. Furthermore, many larger DSOs were not moving into these markets to provide care. The result is that patients, particularly Medicaid kids, had significant barriers to access to care and would often have to travel 45 minutes or more to see a dentist. They knew then and there, that this was a challenge worth taking on. They did not see the value in opening another dental practice in an overserved, urban area while there were people out there truly in need of a dentist.

In 2017, they made the commitment to build the DSO infrastructure and executive team needed to address this market. In the past 4 years, they have opened or purchased dozens of practices to become the largest DSO focused on rural populations in the State of Texas. And while the challenges of serving rural communities are sometimes great, its a mission that everyone at Altius has embraced.

We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.

Altius is always looking to connect with motivated dental professionals seeking employment or partnership opportunities. Please fill out the inquire form below and one of our dedicated team members will contact you as soon as possible.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as medical advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship.

Darren served in the United States Army for over 14 years. After leaving the military, he pursued a career with Patterson Dental. While there, he developed a number of relationships with dental practice owners.

Through these connections, he left to work on the business side of the dental industry. Joining a small DSO, he quickly learned the industry and saw the opportunity to help more dentists own their own practices. From starting as a small time consultant, to being instrumental in the building of three dental management organizations, Darren quickly learned how to build teams and systems that work.

As the Chief Executive Officer, Darren oversees the day to day operations of the company. He is also responsible for maintaining and improving the key systems and processes needed to keep the company operating smoothly and efficiently. Darren loves to read and is an avid student of history. Often weaving historical context into todays challenges, his focus is always on the pursuit for improvement and excellence.

Dr. Gunjan Dhir graduated from the Himachal Dental College in 2002. She moved to the United States in the same year and began a prosthodontics residency. She completed her residency in 2005 and worked in private practice in Spokane, Washington.

Her current role is to oversee the compliance & clinical team through chart audits and provider utilization metrics. She is also heavily involved in the dentist recruiting for the company. She is married to Dr. Gaurav Puri and together they have two children.