Dr. Maja Bozinovska, a neurologist fighting strokes and building hope by workshops in Ohrid, North Macedonia is truly shining a light on this mental condition with her dedication and passionate heart to help and care for people.
Her unwavering commitment to improving neurological care in Ohrid shines through every word she shares here in this article, and through every project she made, from pioneering new diagnostic tools to advocating for better health resources.
She is patient-centered, emphasizing individualized care and emotional support, recognizing the human aspect of illness beyond medical diagnosis.
The European Union provides assistance to this association through the European Stroke Organization (ESO) and the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE).
Introduction
We had an interview with Dr. Maja Bozinovska, and here we will share with you all her background and both her personal and professional life.
This article is not just a tale of medical expertise, but a testament to the resilience, empathy, and hope that redefine the boundaries of care.
The Interview
Can you tell me about your education and professional training as a neurologist? Where did you study, for how many years?
I finished medical school and specialization in neurology in Skopje. The training consists of four years of neurology specialty after six years of medical school.
I gained further experience in the field of neurophysiology at Ljubljana, Slovenia.
What led you to choose neurology as your career? How long have you been in the field?
I have been working as a specialist neurologist for almost 13 years, now.
I became aware of how appealing this career is to me, when I made the decision to pursue it because of its intricacy and complexity as well as the chance to help people, which now holds a new significance for me.
What is it like to be a neurologist in S. Macedonia, specifically in the city of Ohrid?
Being a neurologist in Ohrid is both rewarding and challenging.
The city’s unique healthcare environment presents opportunities for a variety of cases, and the tight-knit community allows for more personalized patient care.
I was especially inspired to upgrade my studies after returning from specialization because of the unique circumstances in Ohrid, where there was no comprehensive neurological activity at the time, including the development of a neuropsychology and neurophysiology clinic, which we eventually established.
How does a typical day in Macedonia for a neurologist look like?
A typical day consists of a combination of working with other healthcare professionals, doing diagnostic procedures, and consulting with patients.
It’s also essential to keep up of developments in neuroscience.
It often indicates that eight hours of labor is insufficient.
What aspects of your work do you find particularly beautiful?
The beauty in neurology, as in any medical branch, lies in providing solutions to improve the quality of life of patients. The testimonials of positive results and recovery are really pleasing.
What positive aspects of your job as a neurologist do you find every day?
Satisfaction comes from making a positive impact on patients’ lives, whether it’s through accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, or simply talking with them and showing them my care.
Given that a neurologist helps patients on a regular basis, how can he maintain his psycho-emotional well-being?
Maintaining psycho-emotional health is vital. Regular breaks, support from colleagues and engaging in hobbies are essential.
Thinking about the patient’s positive outcomes helps maintain balance in the face of emotional loss.
How do you deal with certain situations on a mental and emotional level, given the fact that your profession is one of the most difficult, especially when there are patients who experience strokes? And in that context, what advice would you provide to the younger generations?
Dealing with challenging cases, especially those involving strokes, requires a strong support system.
Regular re-education in order to be confident in every step when working with difficult cases and leave nothing to chance, informing, consulting with colleagues and advocating for the improvement of conditions in hospitals help to maintain resilience.
How do you balance your work as a neurologist with your own self-care and well-being?
Balancing work with self-care involves setting boundaries, prioritizing personal time, which in our healthcare is still a taboo subject, partially due to the nature of the profession, but also due to the lack of logistics and healthcare personnel.
As doctors, we need to encourage a healthy work-life balance for ourselves.
Unfortunately, I have not achieved that, and just as we advise patients, we should also try to contribute to our own well-being through regular physical exercises, relaxation techniques and hobbies.
Do you know how to take a moment from time to time to reflect on your life and career as a neuroscientist?
Periodic reflection and retrospection of myself as a neurologist helps me to grow both personally and professionally.
I try to learn from experiences and continuously strive for improvement; not to think about barriers as a problem but to look for a solution.
Do you have ways in which you relax and set aside time for rest?
The most important thing is to find time for relaxation and rest.
I enjoy every moment spent with my family, and fortunately in Ohrid there are countless opportunities for relaxation, whether it is a walk on Galichica or by the lake, the beach or sledding.
Although my children’s interests are now my pastime, I would like to have my own too.
What aspect of your job as a neurologist do you find most enjoyable?
The variety of cases and continuous learning in neurology make my work enjoyable and every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth.
However, there are also a lot of challenges. What makes me proud is the perseverance with which, at least in Ohrid, we were able to establish a comprehensive neurological diagnosis, obtain more tools, and enhance the local environment by working on numerous projects.
We were also able to advance our professional development and pick up new techniques with the aid of grants, which opened up a lot of opportunities.
Additionally, I am pleased of our accomplishments in increasing public awareness of the most prevalent illness, stroke.
What major problems do you believe the discipline of neurology is now experiencing, and how do you plan to address them in your practice?
The field faces numerous challenges that are specific to our country, such as an influx of patients, unfortunately with low health education, especially for preventive measures, in hospitals with limited resources, especially weak therapeutic possibilities, lack of treatments as well as lack of scientific research activity.
Neurological disorders that are complex in themselves require specialized care.
The development of innovative diagnostic and treatment techniques, research, patient advocacy, patient education, and multidisciplinary collaboration are all crucial to addressing these issues.
What would you recommend to the younger generations who have decided to start the path in neurology following the same path as yours?
Put your all into pursuing your love of neuroscience. Continue to be inquisitive, welcome difficulties, look for mentoring, and use patient care and research to advance the discipline.
The Stroke Association:
As the founder and active leader of the Stroke Association, which has been in operation since 2014, you are a neurologist who has made a significant impact on this nation.
The European Union provides assistance to this association through the European Stroke Organization (ESO) and the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE).
Could you elaborate on your treatment and care philosophy, particularly for stroke patients?
As a physician and as a president of a stroke support association, my philosophy is based on evidence-based medicine but also on a patient-centered approach.
Timely intervention and treatment, comprehensive patient assessment and personalized care plans are equally important.
Multidisciplinary care and holistic support are given for patients and their families.
Do you participate in any studies or publications that raise national awareness of strokes?
Engaging in research and publications is vital to advancing stroke awareness and treatment.
For the past 10 years, we have worked intensively on publications aimed at the public and on educating specific groups.
We are part of various projects of European organizations aimed at public education, promotion of prevention, familiarization with symptoms, quick reaction, etc.
Active participation in studies and in various conferences contributes to the spread of knowledge and improves stroke care practices in our country.
Our association had the opportunity to work on a large project that was aimed at epidemiological data related to stroke in the southwestern region of Macedonia, but also to be logistics in significant European research related to stroke.
Has neurology advanced in our nation, particularly in terms of improving patient living circumstances to stop the rise in strokes among patients in a timely way?
Advances in neurology are essential to the prevention and treatment of strokes; sadly, the state of affairs in our nation is not as ideal as physicians would want.
As physicians, we should always be learning new things, attempting to put everything we have learned into practice, and actively participating in public health campaigns, community education programs, and access to preventative measures.
Equally crucial is resisting political pressure that impedes health; however how unachievable it may seem, we should work to influence health policy.
Is psychotherapy also present in your treatment with patients, and how do you convey your care to them?
A crucial component of stroke treatment is psychotherapy.
Taking care of a stroke victim’s psychological and emotional consequences is crucial to their general health.
Patients can better understand care when there is open communication, empathy, and support.
Could you elaborate on strokes? What is a stroke and what varieties exist? How to recognize a stroke in time – symptoms and signs?
A disruption in blood supply to the brain causes brain cell damage and death, which is what happens during a stroke.
There are two primary forms of stroke: hemorrhagic stroke, which results from bleeding in the brain, and ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot blocking a blood artery.
Early detection of stroke symptoms is key.
Common signs include abrupt numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden disorientation, difficulty speaking or understanding others; sudden issues with one or both eyes’ vision; and unexpected, excruciating headaches.
FAST
Quickly call 194 if you notice that
The hand is weak
The word has changed
The cheek is distorted
is a useful mnemonic for recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms.
The F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym provides a memorable way of identifying the most common signs of a stroke and emphasizes the importance of acting quickly by calling 194.
Think and Act F.A.S.T. if you see any single one of these signs of a stroke:
– Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
– Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
– Speech – is their speech slurred?
– Time – even if you’re not sure, call 194.
When Stroke Strikes Act F.A.S.T. Call 194
Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a stranger, dialing 194 quickly and acting F.A.S.T saves lives and gives stroke patients their best chance to access emergency procedures and to have recovery which could reduce the long-term effects such as a disability.
The association’s website has information on stroke prevention, a stroke riskmeter that allows users to calculate their personal risk of having a stroke within the next ten years, and data from risk-related research, which is why I believe it is crucial to spread the word about it. The association’s team undertook a research with approximately 700 patients from 2018 to 2020 to determine the variables associated with stroke in Southwestern Macedonia.
What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)?
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): A “mini-stroke” is a common term for a TIA.
It includes a brief interruption of blood supply to the brain, which results in transient neurological symptoms.
Though symptoms could go away, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are alarm signals that require prompt evaluation.
What is Ischemic stroke?
Ischemic stroke:
This type of stroke occurs when a blood clot stops a blood vessel, causing less blood to reach the brain.
What is Hemorrhagic stroke?
Hemorrhagic stroke:
Hemorrhagic strokes are the result of bleeding in the brain, often due to a ruptured blood vessel.
What should be done if someone has a stroke? What are the interventions?
Stroke interventions is: Critical care is an emergency response that starts with a quick reaction in emergency medicine services and continues in neurology departments.
Depending on the kind and severity of the stroke, treatment options may include medication, less frequently other interventions, or neurosurgical procedures.
Can you tell us more about the stroke action plan Europe 2018-2030?
Europe’s Stroke Action Plan 2018–2030 is: Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation measures are the main focus of this approach.
By assisting developing nations, it seeks to lessen global inequality while simultaneously lowering the incidence of stroke and enhancing the quality of life for survivors.
We are actively involved in carrying out that strategy in Macedonia as experts and as representatives of the organization.
IMPORTANT: The organization carried out a significant initiative funded by the IPA program that lasted for two years. A medical team visited every rural region in southwest Macedonia and thoroughly assessed the people to identify and manage the risk of stroke.
Note: that speaking with local medical experts or stroke specialists is advised for precise and detailed information on stroke care and prevention in your nation.
What more can young people like us do to educate the public about strokes and how can the media help make this information available to all?
Getting involved in stroke awareness
Young people can play a vital role in raising stroke awareness.
Getting involved in community events, social media campaigns and collaborating with local media can help spread the word widely.
Volunteerism, on the other hand, can be useful for patients in the rehabilitation phase, especially social and occupational of those who have suffered a stroke.
Do you have any final thoughts, advice, or information that you believe is worth mentioning?
My final thoughts as a neurologist are these – Education and awareness are powerful tools in the fight against strokes.
Early detection and treatment can reduce long-term damage and save lives.
Comprehensive stroke care requires the cooperation of individuals, communities, and health professionals.
We are inviting everyone to the annual European Life After Stroke Forum, which is a great venue for education and for showcasing the individual studies and efforts of experts in the field. This year it’s in Dublin, Ireland. The website is: www.elasf.org
Let’s Wrap Up
Dr. Maja Bozinovska is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and compassion.
Her unwavering commitment to her patients, her pioneering spirit in improving neurological care, and her infectious enthusiasm for the field make her an inspiration for all who strive to make a positive impact on the world.
Dr. Maja Bozinovska is not just a neurologist; she’s a beacon of hope in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Driven by a passion for her intricate field and a deep empathy for her patients, she has dedicated her career to battling strokes and building a better future for those affected.
We support her and endorse her in her future achievements wishing her great success in bringing more stroke awareness in our country!
