This native of Travni with an address in America dedicated herself to a career in gynecology and minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery assisted by robotic technology. Today, she works at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and with all her heart she wants to offer the acquired knowledge and skills to contribute to the advancement of medical sciences in her homeland. That gynecology is not only a profession but also a life mission that requires passion, dedication, and continuous learning is evidenced by Dr. Azra Sadiković, a gynecologist specializing in minimally invasive surgery who lives, works, and has lower success in the United States of America. "I have always been inspired by providing the best healthcare to women," she reveals in an interview with Gracija. Born and raised in Travnik, in a medical environment, and with a father who is a gynecologist, she was exposed to medicine from an early age. After finishing high school in Travnik, she entered the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo, but the war changed her path. "I couldn't even imagine life had other plans," recalls Dr. Sadiković. She continued her education in Croatia, after which she specialized in gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where she developed a special passion for gynecological surgery. Throughout her career, she has devoted herself to minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic-assisted surgery. Today, he works at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Minimally invasive surgery makes it possible to perform operations with smaller incisions, which is easier for patients to tolerate," she explains. These methods not only reduce recovery time and pain after surgery but also allow patients to return to normal activities more quickly. Wonderful moments when a new life is born When asked what attracted him to the field of gynecology, he explains: "Gynecology is a very diverse branch of medicine and is never monotonous. You have the opportunity to monitor pregnancies, perform births, minor surgical procedures in the doctor's office, all the way to various more complex procedures in the operating room. In gynecology, apart from difficult situations, you also encounter beautiful ones every day. It is wonderful to share emotional moments with families when a new life is born or with a patient after a successful treatment." Speaking about the main advantages of minimally invasive surgery in gynecology compared to traditional surgical methods, the doctor explains: "After a successful laparoscopic hysterectomy operation, the removal of the uterus, the patient has the opportunity to go home the same day after the operation, while after the traditional operation she stays in the hospital for several days.". She pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not lagging behind modern techniques because laparoscopic operations are successfully performed in larger medical centers as well as in smaller health institutions, and our excellent doctors can provide patients with all the advantages of minimally invasive surgery. Working with robotic technology A special advance in laparoscopic surgery is the use of the robotic DaVinci Surgical System. "It is an advanced technique of minimally invasive surgery in which the surgeon does not operate the instruments directly but from the 'console', a computerized station connected to the laparoscopic instruments," points out Dr. Sadiković, adding that, although extremely useful, no technology is a substitute for knowledge and skills. "The fact that there is still no DaVinci robotic surgery in our homeland and in the region should not be discouraging for our doctors. The most important thing is to know the principles of surgical procedures, and although advanced technologies make our work somewhat easier, they are not necessary, and once they become available in our area, they will be relatively easy to apply in practice." Minimally invasive surgery, in which our interlocutor specializes, plays a very important role in helping women with endometriosis because these operations reduce the risk of additional postoperative scars that could further worsen painful conditions, and robotic DaVinci technology enables better visualization of the operative field and a larger scope of movement. The same is the case with myomectomy (removal of fibroids), where blood loss and scar tissue in the abdomen are significantly reduced. This very dynamic time in the development of medicine brings rapid development of technology, and now artificial intelligence, so it is difficult to even guess where these directions will take us. Among the current challenges are certainly unequal access to health care for all, as well as issues related to women's reproductive rights, as gynecologists often face legislative restrictions. "All of us at BHAAAS are united by our devotion to our homeland." Dr. Sadiković has been a member of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) for more than five years to wholeheartedly offer all the acquired knowledge and try to contribute to the advancement of science and technology in our homeland. "It's nice to be part of a team that has multiple connections and a similar life path," he tells us and adds: "All of us at BHAAAS are united by our devotion to the homeland, as well as the challenges of life in the diaspora." In recent years, Dr. Sadiković is actively working on organizing a gynecological seminar and lectures as part of the annual BHAAAS Days conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the future, she would like to organize practical workshops as well. "It is wonderful that we get to know each other and exchange knowledge and experiences at a large annual conference such as the Days of BHAAAS in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together we are stronger!" said our interlocutor, drawing attention to the rich program that adorns this great scientific event every year, the 15th edition of which is scheduled for June 2024 in Sarajevo. "My family, friends, and most precious memories are still in Bosnia, and a part of me still belongs to the place where I came from," says Dr. Sadiković at the end.
Written by Mila Durić https://gracija.ba/
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