DOCTOR JELENA PETKOVIĆ-DABIĆ WINS “MEDICAL OSCAR”

Dr. Jelena Petković-Dabić, a dermatologist from Banja Luka, has been awarded the prestigious International Medis Awards for medical research, presented today, March 12, in Ljubljana.

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Petković-Dabić won first prize in the field of dermatology after an expert panel reviewed a total of 243 scientific research papers from 11 countries, of which 196 met the eligibility criteria.

Following a detailed evaluation, the jury selected 18 finalists—two in each of the nine scientific fields for which awards were presented. Petković-Dabić’s work was the only one from Bosnia and Herzegovina among the finalists.

This prestigious international award is often referred to as the “Medical Oscar.”

Slovenian President Highlights Importance of Scientific Collaboration

The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, who emphasized the value of scientific research and international cooperation.

“Every scientific paper, every experiment, every study can be an important step on the long path to understanding. When these steps are connected, they create a pathway of learning and progress for society as a whole. We can be proud that the initiative for this important international recognition came from our region,” said Pirc Musar.

She added that scientific collaboration is one of the most important foundations for societal progress.

“Louis Pasteur wrote that science knows no borders, because knowledge belongs to humanity and serves as a torch that illuminates the world. Scientific cooperation is and must remain one of the strongest pillars of mutual understanding, trust, peace, and collective progress,” the president concluded.

A Great Honor and Greater Responsibility

Ahead of the award ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jelena Petković-Dabić said the recognition represents both a major achievement and an added responsibility.

“For me, this is a great success, but also a responsibility to continue improving and contributing even more to the development of dermatovenerology,” Petković-Dabić said.

Distinguished Career in Dermatology

Dr. Petković-Dabić is a specialist in dermatovenerology at the Clinic for Skin and Venereal Diseases of the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka.

She serves as the president of the CUTIS Association of Dermatology and Venereology Doctors and defended her doctoral dissertation on autoimmune diseases—specifically psoriasis—at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, where she now works as an assistant professor in the Department of Dermatovenerology.

Petković-Dabić coordinates two multicenter clinical studies focused on treating severe forms of atopic dermatitis in children and adults, as well as severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

Since 2017, she has also operated a private practice in anti-aging medicine and has presented at numerous domestic, regional, and international professional conferences.

She is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications in dermatovenerology and serves as a permanent court expert in dermatovenerology and aesthetic medicine.