From the Journal of the Colorado Dental Association Autumn 2024
By Becky O’Guin, CDA Director of Communications
Members are what make the CDA tick and each one of them has a unique and interesting story. With the Olympics in our rear-view mirror, one CDA dentist has relied and still relies on her training that took her to the Olympics and taught her to overcome hurdles and persevere.
Dr. Dijana Elmejdoubi’s journey to dentistry was not traditional, but she hopes it is inspirational. “Because I’m so passionate about dentistry, I hope maybe somebody will hear my story and get inspired. Somebody will say, ‘if she did it why not me.’”
Growing up in Bosnia during the civil war, Dr. Elmejdoubi credits running track as her lifeline during that tough time. “At 18 years old, I had the honor of representing Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 400-meter dash at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Growing up during the war in Bosnia, I faced unimaginable challenges — confined to basements, cut off from education, and forced to train in secret. Running became my way out, a path to a better future. Standing at the Olympic Stadium, surrounded by the roar of the crowd, I realized that all the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice had led to this moment.
“Being an Olympian taught me resilience, discipline, and the ability to manage life’s ups and downs — qualities I bring to my work in endodontics today. For me, endodontics is the Olympics of dentistry, requiring the same level of precision, commitment, and passion for improving the lives of others.”
It was her running that earned her a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a B.A. in biology and chemistry. After her she graduated, she wasn’t ready to give up competing, so she started working as an analytical chemist and competed in professional running full-time. After doing this for 12 years, she was ready for something else. She said her husband, Yousri, helped guide her in deciding what came next. She shadowed some medical doctors, but said several of the doctors she shadowed told her to go into dentistry because there was better work-life balance.
So, she started shadowing dentists, and the first time she went to see an endodontist, she knew this was what she wanted to do. It was so rewarding to see patients come into the office who were in so much pain and then watch the endodontist help alleviate the pain so quickly, she said. She enjoys the educational part of being an endodontist and the technical piece of the work too. “We are always chasing millimeters … that’s what really spoke to me,” she said chuckling.
After shadowing Dr. David Jones, a Fort Collins endodontist who became her mentor, she was offered a part-time job assisting him. She applied to the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, but did not get into the dental school. Yousri researched and advised her to go back to school to get a master’s degree to demonstrate that she could still do the necessary work after being out of school for 12 years and found the biomedical sciences degree program, so she went to Colorado State University and earned a master’s in biomedical sciences. After that, she reapplied to CU School of Dental Medicine and was accepted.
Despite being an older student, she said it was not difficult fitting into her classes and she was active in school volunteering for several student clubs including Alpha Omega, Dedicated to Aurora’s Wellness and Needs(DAWN) Clinic and the student ethics and professional committee. And, although she may have missed some of the fun and social pieces of dental school, she always felt like she was making a difference.
She is beyond grateful to Yousri, who is from Morocco. They met at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“He’s been there for me, helped put me through school,” Dr. Elmejdoubi said. “Dental school is really hard on your relationship, but Yousri is a big part of my success.” And, although dental school was hard on them, she said that from day one, the expectations were set that they were a team and in it together.
After finishing her residency, Dr. Elmejdoubi started her own business PLLC Olympic Endo. She is contracting with Pacific Dental Services where she covers 13 offices including offices in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Aurora and Lakewood.
She shares her story with us not to be part of the limelight, but to inspire and let people know that anything is possible with support and understanding.
Yousri continues to be supportive all while running his own business. He gets up when she gets up at 4:30 a.m. He makes her breakfast while she gets a quick workout in. “If I don’t exercise, I don’t feel that good,” she said. “If I’m traveling to Aurora, I’m going to be up at 4:30 a.m. so I can be on the road by 6 a.m. and in the office by 7 a.m. to get set up and ready for the first patient at 8 a.m.”
She has many plans for the future but is content now to get clinical experience. Down the road, she doesn’t rule out teaching and has nothing but high praise for the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where she says, they set the standard in level of education, amazing faculty knowledge and student support.
She currently volunteers for the American Association of Endodontists and is looking forward to getting more involved with the CDA. When she and Yousri go to visit family in Bosnia and Morocco she is always looking for ways to help dentists there deliver better dentistry.
