OGNJEN CHOOSES JOB IN SRBAC OVER PRESTIGIOUS POSITIONS

To become a skilled doctor, mastering general practice is essential for developing a solid approach to patient care and laying the foundation for future specialization. This is why Dr. Ognjen Krčmar (24) from Srbac believes he made the right choice by starting his career at the Srbac Health Center, a primary healthcare institution.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Ognjen, who graduated in April this year from the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Medicine as one of the top students with an average grade of 9.83, chose to begin his career in his hometown despite receiving numerous offers.

"Several professors advised me to apply for a position at their departments after graduation, and I also received an offer from the Director of the Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska to work in fields such as epidemiology, microbiology, hygiene with medical ecology, or social medicine. However, I feel more fulfilled having direct contact with patients in addressing clinical conditions, which is why I chose the Emergency Service in Srbac," Krčmar stated.

He mentioned that he had visited the Srbac Health Center several times to gain more experience and has been employed there on a permanent basis since August 1st.

"The Director of the Health Center, Mirko Stojić, invited me for a discussion about my future role. He explained how healthcare is organized in our municipality and what resources are available. I learned about the operations in emergency services and family medicine, became familiar with the technical and administrative procedures, and was warmly welcomed by the staff," Krčmar added.

Ognjen’s potential as a young medical professional is further evidenced by his scientific research, which has been recognized and awarded by the academic community in Serbia. Some of his work has been presented at international conferences and selected for publication in professional journals on topics such as diabetes, human papillomavirus, and public health.

For the past two years, he has been involved with the Anti-Doping Agency of Serbia as a doping control officer and anti-doping educator, and last year he completed training to become an international doping control officer.

"I will continue to be active in this field, but I will no longer make house visits to athletes. Instead, I will be involved only in major competitions, allowing me to schedule my time in advance and align it with my work at the Health Center," Krčmar said.

He received support from the “Dr. Milan Jelić” Fund and the Srbac municipality through scholarships, which made his studies easier. He was also awarded scholarships for exceptionally gifted students by the Ministry of Education of Serbia and the private clinic “Rea Medika.”

"I plan to continue my education, and I am interested in specializing in internal medicine, particularly in the endocrine system. After completing my doctoral studies, one option is to pursue a career in research and teaching at a university," Krčmar shared.

During his studies, Ognjen wrote several study guides that many students use as learning aids. Interestingly, he is best known for his pharmacology guides.

"I’ve even heard that medical students from Niš and Novi Sad use these guides as supplements to standard literature. What’s perhaps most amusing is that I named them 'Srbac Pharmacology,' and many people often think that 'Srbac' is actually my nickname," Ognjen noted.

Krčmar was named the Student of the Year at the Petar Kočić Center for Secondary Schools in Srbac, where he also served as the President of the Student Council. He was an active volunteer with the Red Cross for four years, engaged in the NGO sector, and pursued literary writing during elementary and high school. He also received the “Dr. Zorana Penezić” award from the Faculty of Medicine for his work in internal medicine and the Svetosavska Award in Srbac.