Prof. Dr. Ilirijana Haxhibeqiri-Karabdic

Prof. Dr. Ilirijana Haxhibeqiri – Karabdić is a Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology – Sarajevo Medical School, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Head of the Department for Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Clinical Center in Sarajevo. She is a member of the Association of Surgeons of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Internal Medicine Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Association for Assist Device, Ronald Hetzer International Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Society (RHICS), European Association for Cardiac – Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), and the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). She is a mentor and co-mentor for specializations and fellowships from Cardiovascular Surgery assigned by the Ministry of Health of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Prof. Dr. Haxhibeqiri-Karabdić is a member of the Commitee for Development and Improvement of Cardiac Surgery at the level of state in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She was President of the Ethical Commitee of the University Clinical Center in Sarajevo from 2016 to 2020. She participated in various workshops, congresses, education and seminars all over the world (Paris, London, Berlin, Bruxelles, Barcelona, Houston etc.). She was a Visiting Professor at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas, USA in 2019.

Prof. Dr. Haxhibeqiri-Karabdić graduated from the Medical Faculty of University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994. She concluded her internship at John Radcliffe Hospital in London, United Kingdom, from 1995 to 1996. Moreover, in 1997 she began working at the University Clinical Center in Sarajevo. She completed her specialization in Cardiovascular Surgery in 2004 in Deutsche Herzzentrum Berlin in Berlin, Germany, under the mentorship of Prof.Dr. Ronald Hetzer, Prof.Dr. Miralem Pašić, and Prof.Dr. Charles Yankah. While working in Berlin, she was a member of a team for heart transplants and Mechanical Circulatory Support. She became the first person in Bosnia and Herzegovina who achieved obtaining a specialization in Cardiovascular Surgery. Prof. Dr. Haxhibeqiri-Karabdić became a Master of Medical Sciences – Cardiac Surgery in 2008. She received her PhD in 2014. Additionally, in 2014 she became an Assistant Professor. In 2018, she became a Professor of Cardiac Surgery. She is the author of many scientific articles, and also an author and co-author of several books. Moreover, in 2018, she received an Award for the development, outstanding achievement, and improvement of health in Bosnia and Herzegovina.