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Mirza Begovic

Prim. Mirza Begović, MD, MSc

Specialist in transfusion medicine

Prim. Mirza Begović, MD, MSc, specialist in transfusion medicine is the Head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at ASA Hospital.

Before his current position, he served for over 35 years as Head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Military Hospital Sarajevo, the General Hospital Sarajevo during the war, and finally at the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš.”

He has been a member of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters (MCB) since 1996, the Association of Basic Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1997, the Medical Chamber of the Sarajevo Canton since 2000, the European School of Transfusion Medicine (ESTM) since 2001, and the Association of Hematologists and Transfusion Specialists of the Federation of BiH/BiH since 2006.

He authored 14 professional articles (being the first author in 11 of them), 2 book chapters, and a book on clinical transfusiology “Treatment with Blood Components” (2000). His works have been cited in professional journals in the USA, United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Croatia, and others. Seven of his articles are indexed in the Medline database.

He was Assistant at the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo (1997–1999).

He was invited lecturer at the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, and at the Safar Center in Pittsburgh (1988). He has also been a lecturer and active participant at numerous congresses, seminars, and symposia, and President of the Organizing Committee of the symposium “Bloodless Treatment: Medical, Ethical and Legal Aspects” (Sarajevo, 2006).

He was a member of the Ministry of Health of the Federation of BiH Commission for the development of the “Safe Blood Strategy in the Federation of BiH” (2007), as well as representative of the Federation of BiH in the project “Safe Blood in Southeast European Countries” under the auspices of the WHO (2009). He also served as expert consultant at the Ministry of Health of the Federation of BiH in drafting the “Law on Blood and Blood Components” (2010).

In recognition of his professional and scientific achievements and contributions to the education of healthcare professionals of all profiles, he was awarded the honorary title “Primarius” (1995).

He has been mentor to residents in transfusion medicine and a member of examination committees before which 8 residents passed their exams and obtained the title of specialist in transfusion medicine.

He served as president and member of the management and/or supervisory boards of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of the Federation of BiH, the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš,” and the joint Management Board of the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of BiH and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of the Federation of BiH.

He was founder and long-term president of the Hospital Transfusion Committee, long-standing member of the Professional Council, and member of the Ethics Committee of the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš.” He is currently President of the Council for Transfusion Medicine of ASA Hospital (2024).

He was awarded the title “Ambassador for Peace” in Seoul, South Korea (2010).

His commitment to effective and safe transfusion treatment of our patients is demonstrated by ensuring, in addition to prescribed pretransfusion laboratory testing, the highest quality blood components in the required quantities and on time (when blood transfusion is most needed).

Education and Professional Training

  • Education of healthcare professionals in hospital transfusion institutions in the Federation of BiH, in the field of introducing quality systems in healthcare (2016)
  • Master of Medical Sciences: Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo (2001)
  • Internal Auditor: Slovenian Institute of Metrology and Quality SIQ – Quality System, ISO 9000 series of standards (1997)
  • Training: The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (1998)
  • Specialization in Transfusion Medicine: Military Medical Academy Belgrade (1987)
  • Faculty of Medicine: Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo (1978)