As part of the program “Transfer of knowledge of experts from emigration to Bosnia and Herzegovina”, implemented by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Azra Sadiković led a team of doctors from the United States during their stay in Sarajevo. A native of Travnik by birth, Dr. Sadiković is the current vice-president of BHAAAS (Bosnia-Herzegovina-American Academy of Arts and Sciences) and one of the leading experts in minimally invasive gynecological surgery. She is building her professional career at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where she is the head of the Department of Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery.
Together with colleagues from the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš” and the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics of KCUS, she performed several advanced gynecological and urogynecological laparoscopic procedures, while sharing modern approaches and protocols in the field of endoscopic surgery.
For Dr. Azra Sadiković, this engagement was not only a professional obligation, but also a deeply personal mission, strongly supported through the work of BHAAAS. As an organization, BHAAAS, through various programs and activities, continuously makes efforts to actively involve its members in the transfer of knowledge and experience, encouraging them to share contemporary practices and professional achievements with their colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is through such initiatives that space is created for a concrete contribution to the health system and strengthening of professional capacities in the country.
Although surgery often leaves little free time, Dr. Sadiković, as she points out, takes special pleasure in activities that enable her to return and work in his homeland.
“My homeland is my root and my anchor. Returning knowledge to the community from which I originate and contributing to the improvement of patient treatment in Bosnia and Herzegovina are for me one of the most beautiful parts of my professional journey. The strength of BHAAAS lies in building lasting bridges, institutional connections, mentoring and partnerships. It is not about one-time visits, but about continuous cooperation that leaves measurable results,” she points out.
During the November 2025 visit, the focus of her work was extremely practical. In the operating rooms, side by side with local colleagues, she worked on procedures that were not routinely performed before.
“In surgery, real success is the moment when colleagues continue to perform procedures independently. That’s when you know that the knowledge has been truly transferred,” says Dr. Sadiković, stressing that the results of this visit exceeded expectations.
The openness and motivation of the local medical teams made a special impression on her.
“There is a strong theoretical basis, operational skills and a desire for further training. With systemic support and continuous education, the potential is huge – he adds.
Unlike classical lectures, Dr. Sadiković strongly advocates direct clinical work as the most effective form of education.
“In the operating room, knowledge becomes skill. This is where they learn nuances that do not exist in textbooks, and which often make the difference between good and superior surgery,” she added.
Although today she is building an international career, the connection with his native Travnik has remained strong. During this visit, the return to the city of childhood was filled with emotions.
“Travnik is part of my identity. There are family, friends and the roots of my first ambitions. I fell in love with medicine there, partly thanks to my father, who was a gynecologist,” she says.
Looking ahead is already directed towards the 17th Days of BHAAAS, which will be held in Sarajevo from June 4 to 7 this year. dr. Sadiković sees this event as a regional center of knowledge, innovation and cooperation, with planned symposia, panels and practical workshops in the field of gynecology, as well as numerous other disciplines.
In the end, her message to young doctors in Bosnia and Herzegovina is simple and strong: “Be curious, persistent and patient. Look for mentors, learning opportunities and believe in your own abilities. Knowledge is universal, and limits only exist if we accept them ourselves.”
