School Student
What's surgery like?
Miss Sanja Bersarovic
Consultant - Paediatric Surgery
I was born and grew up in Sarajevo, in the former Yugoslavia. My primary medical qualification was from the University of Sarajevo (MD) in 1978. Following house jobs in Sarajevo, I completed clinical and academic training in general surgery at Belgrade, and passed the general and war surgery exams in 1987. I trained in paediatric surgery for four years and passed my exam in paediatric surgery at the University of Belgrade 1991. Having qualified, I worked as a paediatric surgeon and as Head of the Neonatal Unit at the Clinic of Paediatric Surgery Sarajevo.
At the outbreak of the war in April 1992 until November 1993 I worked at the Traumatology Clinic and the Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Sarajevo. I left Sarajevo aboard a United Nations military aircraft in November 1993 and arrived in London shortly afterwards, where I was granted the status of political refugee. Higher specialist training continued in the UK – in London, Bristol, and Birmingham. I am a specially trained physician with extensive experience and expertise in treating infants and children of all ages (from birth to adolescence) with surgical disorders.
Since 1999 I have been working as a consultant paediatric surgeon in Hull Royal Infirmary with special interest in gastroenterology, neonatal surgery and trauma.
From an early age my ambition was to become a surgeon. My father was a neurosurgeon, and I have inherited his curiosity, his intellectual rigour, and his flair for surgery. He taught me a lot - both knowledge and skills.
On a personal level, I’m very enthusiastic about classical music, swimming and travelling.
