Anaida Deti came from Albania to Canada almost two decades ago, as a graduated dentist. After ten years of seven-day work and re-graduation in Canada, she opened her DentalX clinic in Toronto in 2013. A registered dental hygienist, Anaida has made it her mission to educate patients about health. He founded Mission Kind, a charity to help children in need receive free dental care. She is also a columnist for the popular online newspaper “The Huffington Post”, where she writes mainly dental advice, and characters in the main Canadian media. Below is the interview for the Albanian Diaspora.
All the descriptions for your professional profile say that you came to Canada 18 years ago, together with your husband, and had about $ 500 in your pocket. Now that you are a successful businesswoman here, how difficult has it been for you to integrate into Canada?
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| Anaida Deti on the cover of Forbes |
The journey has been without question very difficult. I came to Canada in 2002, after living over 5 years in Italy. In Italy I attended the Dental University. When I came to Canada, the school was not known at all and I had to start everything from scratch. I spoke very little English, we had learned it in school but we had not practiced it, it was very basic and it was very difficult to understand from the emphasis that people had here. I started learning English, got my high school diploma, and then went to college as a dental assistant. I worked for a year and a half, I wanted to do something more, I was still not completely satisfied and so I decided to go back to my studies. I decided to continue college for dental hygienists which was two years. I now have a little over 10 years since I graduated and got my state license. After two years working in different dental clinics, I decided to open something of my own. At first, I shared the space with other dental professionals in 3 different clinics, but it was very difficult because we had different visions on business and treating clients.
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| Cover of PrimeView showing Anaida Deti picture choosen as one of 10 most influential leaders in Canada |
The challenges have been many, starting with the language, then the school that was not known at all and everything had to start from scratch. I had to go to school and work after school. Long and tiring days. Jobs at first were different… until I finished school.
Another challenge was to be a mom and have a business. While I was going to school and working, I also had a very young son, and many times I was sleep-deprived and I had to go on with the day even though I did not rest at all. When I gave birth to the girl, after three days I had to go back to work. It is very difficult to manage family and business at the same time. When you have a business, you are not at work from 9 am to 5 pm, but the work never ends, even when you are not in the clinic.
After studying and obtaining a license, you opened your dental clinic “DentalX” in Toronto. How hard was the start, and where do you stand now?
I opened my clinic in May 2016. The beginning as always was very difficult, I could not wait for the phone to ring and the door to open. But now I am very satisfied, the clinic or the business is going very well and we have almost 3,000 patients that we treat, a number that is growing.
Look enthusiastic everywhere when talking about your profession. Do you see it as business, work or passion?
I have a very big passion for the work I do and it has been very easy to transfer to staff and patients. For me, it is not just a job and a business, but it is a very big passion, which I exercise with high professionalism. I look forward to daybreak and getting to work, even though it is often as stressful as any other job.
According to the profiles, your team that makes up this center is multiethnic…
Yes my staff consists of many different nationalities: Iranian, Filipino, Guatemalan, Russian, and Taiwanese…
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| Anaida and her team |
The American magazine “PrimeView” in its latest issue has placed you on its cover as “the ten most influential business leaders to follow” in North America. What are the characteristics that make you both a dentist and a successful businesswoman?
The biggest feature is (humble beginnings) starting from scratch and the very fast growth of the business, ie my clinic, which has started to enjoy the proper respect from the public. My story is considered a “success story”, and for this, I have won many local, national and international awards.
Years ago you founded the charity “Mission Kind” to help children aged 6-16 to receive free service, where you were the protagonist in the main Canadian media. How much has the organization managed to provide the assistance for which it was formed?
I have helped many children who have been badly affected by the economic situation, especially children of newcomer families in Canada. It is known that the number of immigrants in Canada is large every year, and consequently, the necessary assistance should be provided for the possible integration of these families in the new state.
When it comes to the media, you are also a regular columnist for the Huffington Post, the famous online newspaper in the US. How does the North American reader respond to dental advice in your columns?
Readers have welcomed the advice very well and are grateful for any information or comment I have made. I try to find topics that people are interested in knowing. Write to help them as much as possible and to have a higher interest. I said once again, that dentistry, is both a profession and a passion for me.
How connected are you to the Albanian community in Toronto? Do you also have patients from our community here?
To be honest I do not have much time as business and family take all the time I have free. But when I have the opportunity, especially on holidays or events I am definitely there with pleasure. Yes, I have some Albanian patients and I indisputably serve them with the most special pleasure.
You and your clinic have received various awards, including for Community Service from the Association of Dental Hygienists of Ontario. Can you tell us a resume of volunteer work?
My clinic and I do a lot of volunteer work, twice a year we offer free dental services by choosing a place that needs it. The events are one in April and the other for Christmas. We once offered for the “Red Door Family Center”, where we offered free services for 30 people there, children and adults. Next time for Jessi’s Center (center with single teenage mothers), again 25 mothers with children. From the volunteer work I have done, I have been awarded the Community Service Award
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