UofL News: Describe what life was like for you during the Bosnian war.

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: Sarajevo is in a valley with mountains all around. The city was under siege, the enemy and snipers were everywhere. You really could not leave your house in the beginning, but when something like this lasts for years, you adjust and go on. At first, we stopped our lives but then we had to pick up and learn a new way of living.

I was in my second year of dental school when the war started. There was no electricity, and I studied by candlelight. Focusing on school was my escape, it is what kept me going. You have to connect to something to keep your sanity.

We were growing food in our park and food was deficient, there was sparse humanitarian aid, but we all shared what we had. We also didn’t have running water, but they were drilling pumps and you knew where to go to pump water. Containers at intersections were our cover from snipers, and it was a leap of faith to get the water because you never know if a grenade would strike. I prayed if it is my time to go, I would go quickly.

UofL News: How did you escape the city?

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: My parents and I agreed that if I had a chance to leave, then I should leave. It was a very thought-out decision because when you left, you knew you couldn’t go back while the war was going on. The city was closed, but a tunnel had been dug under the Sarajevo airport that led to a small house on the other side. I had to bend myself to go through the 800-meter tunnel, and when you went through it, you were free. I left in September 1995, before an agreement was signed to end the war later that same year.

UofL News: What was the process of getting to the United States?

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: I applied for a resettlement program in Croatia, and went through a very long process that involved interviews, paperwork and medical exams. After four months, I was able to get a visa to come to the United States. My cousin was a medical doctor working in research at the Brown Cancer Center and I stayed with her a few months before landing a job as a dental assistant at Pierce and Mitchell located in south Louisville. They trained me on the job.

UofL News: Talk about how you came to dental school at UofL.

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: I went for a visit at the dental school and ran into faculty members Wood E. Currens and Anne Wells who encouraged me to apply for UofL’s DMD program. I was accepted, and during school I continued my relationship with Pierce and Mitchell, joining the practice as an associate after graduation in 2002.

UofL News: What made you come back to UofL as a faculty member?

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: When I came to Louisville everyone accepted me and it was the same with the university – it mimics our city. In 2008, I was offered a faculty position. I really loved UofL and found a passion for teaching.

UofL News: Now you are leading the school’s Student Affairs Office. What is that like for you?

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: I think of my life as having experienced a lot of luck that I could not have planned. In 2020, Dianne Foster retired from this position and Dean (Gerard) Bradley offered me the job. It feels as though I have come full circle. I was a student here, a clinical team leader and a member of the admissions committee both as a student and as a faculty member. The clinic is the heart of the school and because I understand how the clinic breathes, I am able to answer many questions of prospective and current students. As an administrator, I still work a half day each week in clinic, which gives me credibility with students and provides opportunity to keep teaching.

UofL News: You’ve faced a lot of adversity in your life, how has that affected you?

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: I never thought of my life as difficult. I would not change anything in my life because it made me who I am. I think if things were different, I would regret it. The fact that I was able to finish my dental education and have had a great career – I would not change a thing.

UofL News: Talk about your impact on students.

Ljaljevic-Tucakovic: I love mentoring students. When I was a team leader, I got the sense when someone needed help – it was like being a clinical parent. Now as an administrator, I still try to connect. I love this office because we all have different perspectives. Our job is to help students succeed, and I am here to do just that. If they need me, I hope they know I am here for them.

Basenge was born in Rwanda, but her parents fled to South Africa during the Rwandan genocide. They lived in South Africa under asylum and she came to the United States as a refugee in 2014.Ìę

When Basenge enrolled at UofL, she became heavily involved in the Louisville community.Ìę

“The University of Louisville gave me a place to belong,” Basenge said. “I’ve never felt like I’ve really belonged anywhere until I started school at the University of Louisville.”

Check out Basenge’s story in her own words below: 

“Some of these kids are three or four, so if we intervene at this level we will be able to save their vision. Otherwise they would have gotten picked up in their teenage years or adulthood, and at that point we can’t do anything,” said Aparna Ramasubramanian, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology.

Of the children screened, 73 were recommended for more comprehensive eye exams. The physicians are following up with their families to ensure they get the needed exams.

More than 20 medical residents, faculty members and medical students helped with the screenings.

“We have such an enthusiastic group of residents that are dedicated to community service. That’s why we are here to help out the community and help the kids in need,” said Sidharth Puri, MD, an ophthalmology resident at UofL.

The event also served as a learning opportunity for the medical residents.

“It’s trying to pick up when they need to do a full exam and when not, which they can’t learn in a clinic,” said Ramasubramanian. “It’s very important for the residents to learn that.”

See a video from the event below.Ìę

Thousands of cap-and-gown-clad graduates converged at the KFC Yum! Center to pose for family pictures, congratulate classmates, get in line for the processional and, finally, to savor that sweet moment as they crossed the stage and heard their name called.

“Graduates, this is your day,” said Interim President Greg Postel in his commencement speech. “This semester, 3,156 students are receiving proof of hard-earned success: a college diploma from the University of Louisville.”

Although not all graduates take part in commencement, there were more than 2,000 at this semester’s celebration, making it one of the largest in university history.

Here’s a snapshot of a few of the spring 2017 graduates:

Never, ever give up

CEHD sport administration graduate Ryan Dant was diagnosed with a rare disorder at age three. His parents, Mark and Jeanne Dant, were told it was unlikely he would survive beyond age 10. The Dants fought back hard. With persistence and grit — plus medical breakthroughs and community support — Ryan not only survived but thrived.

The 29-year-old, who has referred to UofL as his “dream school,” said some of his fondest memories include working as an equipment manager for the men’s football team.

“It’s a lot of fun to be part of a great athletic program,” said Dant who came to UofL on a scholarship and graduated with a grade point average of 3.5. “I live by the quote ‘never, ever give up.’” said Dant. His incredible story was recounted in detail in  It was also reported locally in the .Ìę

Victorious Victoria

Victoria Sledge’s collegiate journey was so beset with obstacles that most people would have simply given up.

The Memphis, Tennessee, native’s unplanned pregnancy in 2011 caused her life to unravel.ÌęBeset with extreme morning sickness, she dropped out of college, was evicted from her home and, later, came to Louisville to be near family. She had no place to call home and worried that her rootless life would impact her newborn daughter.

In 2012 Sledge learned about , a UofL partner that provides housing for low income, single parents.ÌęSledge started classes, made the dean’s list and was a homecoming queen candidate. Her daughter, Levi, thrived in the UofL early childhood education program.

Sledge, a sociology major in the College of Arts and Sciences, has already accepted a position in Chicago’s school system and will start soon.

“I hope others will see my example and know that they can do it too,” said Sledge.ÌęShe is the first in her family to get a college degree.

A fine arts first

There’s a certain magic to being first and three UofL scholars had that honor as the of the Hite’s Master of Fine Arts program. Miranda Becht, Tom LeGoff and Marie-Elena Ottman are the program’s first graduates. The three MFA graduates were hooded by their mentors at the UofL hooding ceremony May 12.

Their art can be seen in that runs through May 27 at the Cressman Center for Visual Art.

From refugee to medical doctor

At the School of Medicine’s 4:30 p.m. convocation on May 13 received her degree. The Bosnian refugee came to the U.S. when she was eight years old and later settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

She developed a passion for medicine while serving as a translator for her aging grandfather during hospital visits.

“I was the oldest of my siblings and the oldest of the grandchildren. I found myself riding in an ambulance with my grandfather on a frequent basis. I became his interpreter for every emergency room visit and hospital stay. As his condition unfortunately worsened, my curiosity and passion for medicine grew,” she said.Ìę “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

With a medical degree in hand, Hrustanovic-Kadic will continue to be a familiar face at the Health Sciences Campus. She plans to stay at UofL to complete her internal medicine residency.

Photos from the morning commencement ceremony are available and .Ìę

Photos from the afternoon commencement ceremony are available and .Ìę

Photos from the doctoral ceremony and hoodings are available and .Ìę

When she was eight years old, Meliha Hrustanovic-Kadic and her family fled war-torn Bosnia as refugees. They settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, adapting as quickly as they could to the new language and culture.

Soon afterward, her grandfather arrived in the United States as well, but his health quickly deteriorated.

“I was the oldest of my siblings and the oldest of the grandchildren. I found myself riding in an ambulance with my grandfather on a frequent basis. I became his interpreter for every emergency room visit and hospital stay. As his condition unfortunately worsened, my curiosity and passion for medicine grew,” she said.

Early in her college career, she made it official — declaring pre-med as her major during her sophomore year at Western Kentucky University.

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” she said.

Hrustanovic-Kadic considered other medical schools, but knew she wanted to be at UofL.

“I felt a welcoming atmosphere from the start and loved how diverse it was. I wanted to attend a medical school that excelled in patient care, research, teaching and was involved in the community. UofL has surpassed all of my expectations,” she said.Ìę

Hrustanovic-Kadic appreciates the school’s commitment to students’ well-being, with wellness initiatives, mental health counseling, an active LGBT program and diversity events. As a medical student at UofL, she has served as a representative on the diversity committee and volunteers for Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

“So many individuals, from instructors and attendings to fellow medical students to the medical student affairs staff, have become like family over the years,” she said.Ìę

Wartime displacement prevented her parents from completing higher education, which, combined with learning a new language, put the best jobs out of reach. Ultimately, they reached for the American Dream, opening their own transportation company.

“I was 15 at the time and have helped them manage it ever since,” Hrustanovic-Kadic said. She has continued to support the family business even during medical school. “We function as a team and everyone tries to pitch in to help when they can. Don’t ask me how I’ve balanced everything because I don’t even know – perhaps a mix of good time management and organization, along with a ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’ attitude.”

Her family has supported her during her medical education as well, with frequent visits to Louisville and even preparing her favorite Bosnian foods – krofne, pita, hurmasice and others – during exam weeks.

“You name a way and I can assure you they’ve done it – emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially,” Hrustanovic-Kadic said. “I cannot even begin to describe just how important a supportive family is, especially through medical school.”

She will receive her diploma at the UofL School of Medicine Convocation on Saturday, but her days at UofL are not over. Hrustanovic-Kadic will remain at UofL to pursue residency in internal medicine.

“I enjoy taking care of patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings and there are so many interesting routes one can take with a career in internal medicine,” she said. “I am looking forward to the experiences I will gain during residency.” 

“One of the common things is how a microwave works because microwaves are freaky,” said Bethany Hodge, MD, MPH, assistant professor and director of the Global łÉÈËֱȄ Office of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. “If you are coming from a place where you didn’t have electricity, let alone microwaves where you put something in a box and push a button and it’s flaming hot and you burn yourself because you don’t see it coming, it can be frightening.”

Students in the School of Medicine were recently introduced to the struggles of resettling refugees and the agencies that assist them in Kentucky at “Refugees and Our Competencies,” a Compassion Rounds presentation hosted by the UofL chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). Hodge and Rahel Bosson, MD, assistant professor in the UofL School of Medicine and director of the Refugee Health Program, familiarized the students with some of the health concerns of these individuals and issues confounding their introduction to the U.S. health care system.

Refugees may have health problems related to trauma or injury experienced in their home countries, as well as health conditions that have been neglected during their transition from a life in peril to resettlement in the United States. Hodge coached the students on how to navigate these issues sensitively in conducting a health history and physical. To complicate matters further, the patients may have different naming or date customs, and missing or fragmented medical records.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the international body governing refugee status, refugees are individuals who have been forced to flee their home country because of persecution, war or violence. Typically, they leave their home countries for refugee camps in neighboring nations. Fewer than 1 percent of refugees who apply to UNHCR are resettled in a third country such as the United States, Canada or a European country. Most of the approximately 2,500 refugees arriving in Kentucky annually in recent years have come from Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Iraq. Refugee resettlement in Kentucky is coordinated by Catholic Charities’ .

Through the UofL Refugee Health Program, part of the UofL Global Health Initiative of the Department of Medicine, individuals are provided health assessments, immunizations, school physicals and other services. Bosson said the program addresses health and other needs to enable refugees to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.

“Refugee health is complex, and health is really more than just the absence of disease. We address the varied components of a person’s health through partnerships in community health, education, social services and economic empowerment,” Bosson said. “The idea is to help these refugees move from a mode of survival to a platform where they can thrive and succeed.”

MeNore Lake, a fourth-year medical student and co-chair of the UofL GHHS chapter, also founded the Kentucky Refugee Outreach Program in which medical students collaborate with the Refugee Health Program, UofL School of Nursing and Kentucky Office for Refugees to reach the newly arrived refugees in Louisville. The group is designing a standardized orientation plan for familiarizing newly arrived refugees with the U.S. health-care system.

“We are working on a process for telling them: What can you expect the first time you go to see the doctor here in the U.S.? What are the levels of care that we have? What happens if you call 911? What are other options?” Lake said. “These are things we may take for granted because we have grown up in this country, but something that helps them transition to life here in Louisville and America.”