Mentors

I first learned about STLBAC through Dr. Alagic last year while I was the president of the Bosnian Club at SLU. She explained to me the purpose of the organization and I quickly realized it was a brilliant idea that would help so many Balkan-Americans, including myself. I had always felt at a disadvantage like many other first-generation college students, but especially those that are the children of immigrants or immigrants themselves. Prior to STLBAC, I was a pre-med student who had done very little shadowing due to lack of connections with physicians nearby. I was able to go on the STLBAC Instagram and get into contact with doctors willing to help, like Dr. Esad Kiveric. I also met and learned about the field of Perfusion for the first time ever at a physician panel hosted by STLBAC during the summer. There I started a conversation with Amela Turnadzic, who is the Assistant Chief of Perfusion at BJC, and she was kind enough to let me shadow and I learned just how cool Perfusion actually is. After that, I applied to the Perfusion program at McGovern Medical School and have been invited to interview with them. I’m very grateful to STLBAC for how much they’ve already helped me, because without them, I would have never learned about perfusion. But even more broadly, they are an invaluable resource for students to turn to for mentors, as well as support in their careers from professionals in our community who want to help the next generation succeed. None of this would be possible without the mentors who are willing to dedicate their time with the goal of passing on their knowledge, making it so much easier for the students now than it was for them. And of course, a special thank you to the three women who started it all.

Entering a graduate-level medical program was not only daunting due to the difficulty of the program itself, but also the financial constraint that it puts on its students who are strongly advised against working while in the program. Without any source of income, we are expected to take out loans for tuition and living expenses (technology, books, housing, food, etc) for 3 years. With letters of recommendation from 2 mentors I met through STLBAC, I applied for a federally funded full tuition scholarship and received the news that I was accepted. Out of thousands of applicants in the United States, less than 100 were chosen and I recognize and am grateful for the advantage that these mentors provided me in this pursuit. This scholarship allows me to focus on my studies with no financial burden, as it provides me with a full ride and monthly educational stipend.

My passion for medicine started at a young age. While I was in high school, my dad was in a near fatal accident and I quickly learned about and managed his medical care. This personal experience initiated my interest in medicine, but the only path I was aware of was medical school. Through a post on STLBAC, I found Asmir Selimovic, an anesthesiologist assistant in St. Louis. I reached out to him, shadowed, and spent time learning about the profession. I am now in my first year of AA school and am extremely grateful for the opportunity STLBAC granted me to find my dream career!