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.
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.