When Dr. Luis Acuña left Cali, Colombia, to begin a new professional life in Canada, he did so with unusual clarity of purpose: there was no Plan B.
Trained as a dentist at one of Colombia’s leading institutions, Acuña arrived in Canada in 2012 knowing exactly what he wanted — to practice his profession, serve his community, and build something lasting. He also knew the road would be long.
The Road to Relicensing
For internationally trained dental professionals in Canada, the path to licensure is demanding. It requires years of academic upgrading, clinical evaluation, and regulatory examinations — often while working unrelated jobs to survive financially.
Acuña committed fully to that process. Supported by mentors who believed in him, and driven by a vision he refused to abandon, he obtained his Canadian dental license in 2016 — four years after arriving.
Building More Than a Practice
In 2021, he opened his own dental clinic, the Clinique Dentaire Acuña, in the greater Montreal area. But beyond delivering quality dental care, Acuña has made community education a central part of his practice.
He actively guides his patients — many of them immigrants themselves — on how to access dental assistance programs, understand their rights within the Canadian health system, and navigate a healthcare landscape that can be confusing for newcomers.
His clinic is not just a place to get your teeth cleaned. It is a space where a familiar face, a familiar language, and a familiar set of values make healthcare feel accessible.