How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because, someday in your life you will have been all of these.

      - George Washington Carver

It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.

      - Harvey S. Firestone

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

      - Romans 12:2

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity." (Titus 2:7)

I hold MD PhD degree from the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb. I believe that the greatest learning experiences come from working with different group of people as to achieve academic, professional, and spiritual growth.  I have been involved in biomedical, translational, and clinical medical science (research), and completed post-doctoral fellowships at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (1993-1996) and Cleveland Clinic (1999-2002).

Between 1999 and 2011, I was employed at the Cleveland Clinic; first as a post-doctoral fellow at the Cerebrovascular Research Center, Neurosurgery, and upon receiving an AHA grant was promoted to project staff (Research Assistant Professor), working in both bio-medical and translational medical research & clinical trials.

Prior to joining King faculty team in 2014, I have served as Associate Professor and Chair of Health Services Administration Program at Chancellor University, Cleveland, OH. While there, I was instrumental in creating a program in Health Informatics & Information Management (HIIM) at the baccalaureate degree.

As of January 2014, I serve as Lead Faculty and Program Coordinator for Health Informatics at King University. I have been using my skill set to serve our new program and our students.

What are my interests? Professionally, I am passionate about Medical science & research; Education; Program development; Leadership. In my private life, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love art and music. I have a wonderful family who has been supportive of my work and education. In return, I enjoy serving and leading others to achieve their full potential.

With self-knowledge comes a greater awareness of who we are, what our true goals in life are, and what direction we want to set for our life.  This, in a nutshell, is the gift of maturity. I see myself as a service-oriented professional who thrives on socially meaningful work.

"There are two avenues from the little passions and the drear calamities of earth; both lead to the heaven and away from hell—Art and Science. But art is more godlike than science; science discovers, art creates." — Earl Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Mathew 6:21)

Cleveland Clinic - Cerebrovascular Research Center, Neurosurgery Department – Cleveland (OH)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 1999 - 2002

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - Transplantation Biology Department – Seattle (WA)

Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1993 – 1996

School of Medicine, University of Zagreb

Doctor in Medical Sciences, Medicine, 1988 – 1992

University of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, University of Zagreb

Master of Science (MSc), Biomedicine & Molecular Biology, 1986 – 1988

School of Medicine, University of Zagreb

Doctor of Medicine (MD) - Accelerated Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine (B.S/M.D.) program, 1980-1985. Graduated with Summa cum Laude

In my career I have held several teaching appointments and am a member of numerous professional societies; published 27 peer-reviewed manuscripts, several book chapters/reviews, and presented over 50 abstracts at scientific meetings; authored / co-authored 5 grants (1 AHA and 4 NIH); received awards and honors from major research institutions including the Alien of Extraordinary Ability & Outstanding Researcher Green Card Approval, US Immigration & Naturalization Service; Oncology Research Faculty Development Program (NCI); and the American Heart Scientist Development grant.