Meet The Doctors
Dr. Barry Deirmenjian
As a general dentist, Dr. Deirmenjian is devoted to providing quality, rewarding, and compassionate care to every patient that visits him. Serving as the founder and CEO of B. Deirmenjian and Affiliates, he serves patients at many multi-specialty facilities in California, including Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and has just added three new locations in the San Diego area.
With nineteen locations in California, B. Deirmenjian and Affiliates serve patients of all ages, from all backgrounds, and from every walk of life. The team of specialists, general dentists, assistants, and benefit coordinators offer a number of services, including: cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, endodontics, family dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and periodontics. They are dedicated to making dental care rewarding, so that individuals have a reason to share their smile.
Before entering private practice, Dr. Deirmenjian served as Dental Director at Guards Dental, where he demonstrated strong leadership skills in operating over 40 locations. Subsequently, he established his own family dental private practices, Smiles West, Desert Dental Group, and Ponderosa Dental Group.
To prepare for his career, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Irvine, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1988. Furthering his studies, he went on to obtain his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 1999.
Remaining abreast of the latest dental developments, Dr. Deirmenjian is an active member of the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association. He is also a peer-review member at MetLife Insurance and Liberty Dental, sits on the advisory committee of Henry Schein Dental, is a UCLA adjunct professor, and is board-certified by the Dental Board of California.
Revered for his extensive 30+ year leadership background, Dr. Deirmenjian has been voted #100 on the Inc.5000 Series list of the Fastest-Growing Companies in California and #1528 of the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies nationally. He was also named one of LA Business of the Year, Best Office by Insurance Companies, and one of the Emerging Dental Groups to Watch 2020 by Group Dentistry Now.
Dentistry, also known as Dental and Oral Medicine, is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity. Dentists diagnose and treat dental issues and help patients develop better oral hygiene regimens. They clean teeth, correct bite issues, perform surgeries and extractions, and perform other duties to ensure that the teeth and mouth are healthy.
An active member of his community, Dr. Deirmenjian truly enjoys helping the less fortunate and volunteering when he can with food drives and community outreach initiatives. Previously, he has participated in pro bono work for human trafficking victims in the Los Angeles area. He was also involved in a health fair head-start program, senior citizens program, and maintained an affiliation with Veteran Affairs.
In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors. He is fluent in English, Armenian, Spanish, and French.
Dr. Lisa Beckley
Dr. Lisa Beckley was born at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. Being the daughter of an enlistee in the United States Air Force, she traveled throughout her life—living in places such as Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Germany, North Carolina, Turkey, Hawaii, and ultimately California. Upon graduating from high school, Dr. Beckley received her bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of California, Riverside before earning her doctorate of dental surgery from the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Beckley enjoys working as a dental professional, as the field has allowed her to have the flexibility of being a wife and mother for over 21 years. She has provided comprehensive dental care to many families while coaching middle school basketball and leading girl scouts when her daughters were younger. She has also loved the technicality of dentistry and the different materials that are used to achieve beautiful results.
Another reason Dr. Beckley loves working in dentistry is interacting with patients; in fact, meeting new people is her favorite part of the job! She loves easing their dental fears and preconceived notions about dentist appointments. Overall, she enjoys creating beautiful smiles for patients and enhancing their self-esteem.
In private practice for 17 years, Dr. Beckley finally made the decision to sell her practice and join our team. As a long-time member of the community, she knows all the families and their children who have grown up here. Her daughters went to elementary and middle school here, and her church is just up the street. Overall, working at Elite Dental Associates has given her the ability to change roles but continue to serve the community she has been committed to here in Redlands for over 20 years.
Her family includes her husband, Michael, her three daughters, and their dog—Peanut. Outside the office, Dr. Beckley enjoys riding her Peloton and walking around Redlands. She loves attending concerts with her teenage daughters and watching college football with her husband. She also enjoys completing DIY projects for her house. And of course, another favorite activity is snuggling with her dog and taking him on long morning walks.
Dr. Cara Hodgson
Dr. Cara Hodgson is a dedicated, charismatic, and highly skilled orthodontist, currently practicing in California since 2019. Born in Hong Kong, Dr. Hodgson moved to the Valley in Calabasas, CA, at the age of 11, where she developed her love for helping others.
She started her academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California in Berkeley, where she graduated with honors. Her passion for dentistry led her to UCLA, where she obtained her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree under the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship. Eager to specialize in orthodontics, she pursued a master’s in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics from Loma Linda University.
Dr. Hodgson is a lifelong learner, continuously seeking to refine and enhance her skills in her field. This drive for knowledge brought her to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she took a course on ‘Mastering the Business of Orthodontics’, giving her a better understanding of the business aspect of her profession.
Recognizing the importance of professional affiliations, Dr. Hodgson is an active member of several esteemed organizations. These include the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, the Mount Baldy Study Club, the California Dental Association, and the American Association of Women Dentists.
Her love for the dental profession is evident in her practice. She appreciates the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with her patients and their families. Being trilingual, she enjoys treating patients from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and relishes the exchange of stories that create strong bonds with them.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Hodgson maintains a vibrant and active lifestyle. Her hobbies span from outdoor activities such as surfing, scuba diving, pilates, yoga, hiking, and paddleboarding, to more artistic pursuits like playing the piano and content creation. She often shares her love for orthodontics and fun moments with her patients through TikTok. Additionally, as a dedicated vegan, she enjoys baking vegan goodies and sharing them with friends and family.
Her love for teaching and mentoring future healthcare professionals also shines through in her work as a visiting professor at Loma Linda University. When she is not teaching or practicing, she spends time with her two rescue pups, Kona, a pit bull mix, and Lei Lei, a terrier mix.
Dr. Hodgson’s journey so far is a testament to her commitment to her profession, her love for continuous learning, and her desire to positively impact the lives of her patients.
