Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin, Chief Clinical Officer of Affordable Care, inspires those who dare to defy expectations and carve their own paths with courage and conviction. Raised in Nigeria by a family that valued a strong work ethic and academic excellence, Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin’s journey has been anything but conventional. While her brother was encouraged to become a doctor, her father initially encouraged her to pursue a career in accounting, believing that it could serve multiple desires, namely to be a mother and find career success. But Jumoke was drawn to the sciences, with biology first capturing her attention. So, her divergence from familiar expectations began, marking the start of a unique path characterized by a focused pursuit of her passions.
Jumoke also had an interest in the arts and pursued her creativity, which complemented her fervor for the sciences. In dentistry, she found the perfect intersection of both worlds. The dental profession combined scientific expertise with artistic flair, allowing her to express multifaceted talents while making a tangible impact on people’s lives.
As soon as Jumoke got into dentistry, she knew it was for her. But it almost did not happen. Financial obstacles nearly forced her to drop out during her first year of dental school. After securing an internship at the CDC, her dedication and academic excellence caught the attention of the director, who advocated for her and helped her obtain a full scholarship to Howard University.
“Several pivotal moments have shaped my journey that have often arisen when I least expected them and when they weren’t part of my plan. They reinforce my belief that maintaining curiosity and resilience can create opportunities beyond our wildest dreams.”
A full ride to Howard was Jumoke’s first pivotal moment. After graduating as Valedictorian of her class, she was recruited by Affordable Dentures & Implants to work as an associate at one of their practices in Covington, Georgia. A few years later, she went on to open her own practice, but this work was not as purposeful as she had hoped.
Serendipitously, Affordable tracked her down again. This time, they wanted her to be a partner and a practice owner of the new location
in Cartersville, Georgia. She weighed the pros and cons. It would be a calculated risk as Jumoke was still relatively early in her career with a young family at home.
“I always say that if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it well. Joining Affordable was a pivotal moment and the biggest risk of my career. I closed a very successful private practice, but I was unhappy because it wasn’t fulfilling work,” says Jumoke.
A desire for greater fulfillment drove this leap of faith. Always in pursuit of the next right thing, Jumoke has become fearless in her dedication to pursue excellence with purpose.
Jumoke built her practice with creativity and intentionality. She took the time to get to know her patients first as people and then as patients needing her dental expertise. “Most of my patients deeply fear the dentist and have put off their appointment many times. To be able to create an environment where they feel safe as soon as they walk in the door has been instrumental in my practice’s growth. I chose to break down this barrier by finding a genuine connection first,” Jumoke shares.
Jumoke loved her new role as Practice Owner. The care she provided to patients was fulfilling, and the leadership she offered to her team was equally as fulfilling. But something was not settled inside of her. From the outside, Jumoke had it all: a successful practice, a cherished vocation, and a loving family. But she often felt overwhelmed and stretched thin, grappling with feelings of imposter syndrome and questioning herself.
The Fight for Work-Life Harmony
While in private practice, she recalls how she would tell everyone how fabulous her life was, only to find herself at home feeling like a fraud and overwhelmed. The lack of guidance and information available to Jumoke at the time made it difficult to name what she was experiencing, let alone to know there was another way to manage it all.
Determined to have a fulfilling career and a happy family life, Jumoke embraced her stubbornness and sought solutions. She recognized the need for a different approach, a realization that led her to seek professional support through coaching, extensive reading, journaling, and finding mentors along the way. In this process of self-reflection, Jumoke realized that the idea of work-life balance is misleading and more of a myth than a reality.
Jumoke has also learned to set boundaries, a particularly challenging concept given her Nigerian upbringing, where saying no was often considered rude. Balancing the cultural expectations of her Nigerian heritage with the demands of her American lifestyle added another layer of complexity to her inner work. This has been important as she navigates commitments to giving back. With a similar thoughtfulness, Jumoke prioritizes alignment with her overarching goals and values. It helps her to ensure her contributions are meaningful and purposeful. Jumoke is intentional in how she offers her time, resources, and advocacy. It sometimes means saying no to opportunities that do not align, but her self-care practices help her to embrace these choices.
“The world has an addiction to stress – we have been brainwashed to believe that stress equals success. But we need to unlearn that notion. You simply cannot pour out of an empty cup.”
To this day, Jumoke practices creative self-care routines that she has honed over the years. This includes journaling, goal setting, self-reflection, and maintaining healthy boundaries to ensure she stays grounded and focused. She also finds ways to express herself creatively outside of correcting and perfecting smiles for her patients to exercise different parts of her brain, which Jumoke believes ultimately helps her become a better dentist. She loves decorating her home, and her husband often jokes that she would undoubtedly be an interior designer if she were not a dentist. Jumoke also loves fashion and delights in curating ensembles that reflect her mood
and personality. It’s a means of self-expression. Finding harmony through creative self-care rituals challenges the status quo as Jumoke gracefully navigates her career.
“Once you start on the journey of self-discovery, you can’t un-know what you know. I’m always reflecting. It is probably one of the ingredients of my life’s success – non-judgmental reflection,” she shares.
During this time when everyone thought she was leading the perfect life, Dr. Jumoke’s self-reflection led to another lightbulb moment. Following her sense that something was still missing, she realized how satisfying it was to empower others to reach for more. This marked the beginning of her influence beyond the confines of her practice’s four walls. Jumoke began mentoring fellow females in the industry. She did not know it then, but this was the start of her now being a sought-after speaker in the implant dentistry space.
Blazing Trails
Jumoke comes full circle with her recent appointment as Chief Clinical Officer of Affordable Care, marking a historic milestone as the first black female member of the C-Suite leadership team. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to making a meaningful impact in dentistry, Jumoke has not only transformed her career but has also shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for greater diversity and representation in leadership roles. Jumoke brings a wealth of experience and expertise along with a new, unique perspective to the table. Like her patient approach, Jumoke continues breaking down barriers in this new role. In doing so, she empowers engagement and connections between the DSO support center and Affordable Dentures & Implants doctors.
“I can speak a language they can both understand. And they both trust me,” Jumoke reflects.
Jumoke acknowledges this new role’s profound significance in inspiring others who can see themselves in her. At the same time, she grapples with the stark reality that she is by herself in a predominantly white and male landscape.
“I refuse to stand alone. The burden of singularity is too heavy to bear. There is ample space for all of us to thrive.”
This resolute stance is core to Jumoke. She is unwavering in her dedication to excellence and firm in her beliefs. This determination drives Jumoke to push boundaries and consistently challenge the status quo.
“I want my legacy to be that it was possible. I want to encourage or challenge every person, regardless of race, gender, or occupation, and help every person who sees themselves as disadvantaged. I want others to know that you can break through any label or time period in your life. But you need to show up. Dreaming is the first step. Dreaming allows your mind to imagine what is possible beyond the confines of your world. Once you dream, then you do,” says Jumoke.
Her career is a testament to showing up and putting in the hard work.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people stay dreaming. But then nothing happens. Instead, you must dream, and then you go after it. It’s the effort that changes your story. And if I think about legacy, that’s it. I want people to know it’s achievable if you do the work.”
