The Journey of an International Doctor: Dr. Dafina Doberdoli's Path to Biomimetic Dentistry
Like many dentists, Alleman Center mentor Dr. Dafina Doberdoli was drawn to the field from her interest in science, medicine and helping others. Inspired by her aunt who is also a dentist, she thought of dentistry as a possible career for herself. “I saw that not many women were dentists in my country. Seeing her work, I thought I could do that too.”
Dr. Doberdoli is from Kosovo where she graduated from the University of Prishtina Dental School in 2010. After practicing for a year she completed a pediatric residency at the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo. She earned a Master’s in Restorative Dentistry and Aesthetics from the School of Dentistry at the University of Turin Italy in 2019 and began working on her PhD at the University of Zagreb in Croatia after that, all while still returning home to work with patients.
At the Alleman Center we talk a lot about the journeys doctors take to achieve their goals, Dr. David Alleman among them. For Dr. Doberdoli, her journey had taken her to different schools, research programs and countries, but she was still looking for better ways to help patients.
“When I was in school, I had a lot of questions in my mind that I was looking for the answers to. Then I saw Dr. David Alleman Sr.’s posts on Instagram, and I thought, ‘Wow. Someone figured it out.’”
Biomimetic restorative dentistry was the answer to Dr. Doberoli’s questions about restorations that were failing, symptomatic, or returning for retreatment. After seeing Dr. Alleman’s work, she saw that dentistry didn’t have to be about rushing from patient to patient, but about using the right protocols from the start to achieve the best outcomes.
“I wanted to be able to practice the way I wanted to practice. Moving to the U.S. would give me the freedom to do that,” she explains. So in January 2021, Dr. Doberdoli received a Permanent Residence Card and moved to the U.S., and, like so many other highly-skilled dentists who immigrate here, she worked as a dental assistant while she studied to get her license to practice.
Transitioning from the lead doctor to assistant is difficult for any medical professional, so while working as a dental assistant, Dr. Doberdoli stayed motivated by continuing to learn and study. She is an alum of the January 2021 Biomimetic Mastership and then joined the Alleman Center team as a mentor, lending her expertise in research and years of clinical experience to other doctors on paths similar to her own. She spent her free time studying for the required entrance exams for international dental programs. In addition to connecting with doctors through the Biomimetic Mastership, she found a community of international doctors. “There are a lot of online platforms for doctors wanting to practice in the U.S., and that was really helpful for me,” says Dr. Doberdoli, who recommends that other international doctors take advantage of them as well.
“I wasn’t motivated all the time,” clarifies Dr. Doberdoli. “I was homesick. I missed my family and my home. But what motivated me was I wanted to be able to practice.”
Dr. Doberdoli is now one step closer to reaching her goal of being able to practice in the U.S. In July she started an international residency program at the Indiana University Dental School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her advice for other doctors is to study hard and take their board exams as soon as they can and find ways to stay motivated. “The first thing you should do is start working for your boards. After a few years pass you may think you don’t have time or you aren’t motivated, so earlier is better,” she says.
While Dr. Doberdoli works with her own license in mind, she is also devoting her time to help others. As an Alleman Center mentor, Dr. Doberdoli supports the doctors in the Biomimetic Mastership as they go through what she has already experienced – immersing themselves in the sea of articles that support the protocols they’re learning and day by day incorporating these new techniques until they feel intuitive. But as a mentor she also talks with alumni who share her situation, who are also studying hard to get their license to practice in the U.S.
“Dr. David Alleman Sr. really was the reason that I moved here,” reflects Dr. Doberdoli. “I knew I wanted to work with him and be there to learn more about biomimetic dentistry, and now I am.” And she’s helping other doctors achieve their goals too.
Dr. Doberdoli is from Kosovo but currently studies in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. When she isn’t working, learning and sharing her knowledge with others, she enjoys exploring Indiana on her bike and watching movies. Follow Dr. Doberdoli’s work on Instagram at @daffinnad.
Dr. Doberdoli recommends the following resources for other international doctors working to practice in the U.S.:
American Dental Education Association
Educational Credential Evaluators
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
Bootcamp.com
Published: September 8, 2022
Author: Audrey Alessi
Editor: Dr. Dafina Doberdoli