Two College of Health Sciences faculty are committed to helping expose students to global cultures, taking their classes abroad and hosting international scholars. Kelley Connor, interim divisional dean for the School of Nursing, and Leslie Kendrick, chair of the Department of Radiologic Sciences, teach AHS 400 Comparative Health Systems, a study abroad course that compares the U.S. healthcare system to that of another country.
In 2023, they focused on the Croatian healthcare system and the class traveled to Split, Croatia. Through the classroom and travel experiences, the students identified the positive attributes and limitations of each system while developing their own professional goals of becoming effective healthcare providers and patient advocates.
While in Croatia, Connor and Kendrick expanded their network and are now hosting two colleagues from Croatia on campus April 16-18.
Maja and Zoran Valić are faculty at the University of Split School of Medicine in Split, Croatia. Maja is a neuroscientist and Zoran is an integrative physiologist. Maja and Zoran earned their Doctor of Medicine degrees at University of Zagreb and their PhDs at the University of Split. Maja had a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1998-2001 and was awarded the Croatian Academy for Science and Art in 2017. Zoran also did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 1998-2001 and returned in 2005. He was awarded the Republic of Croatia Annual Award for Junior Researcher in 2004 and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Croatia in 2003 and 2006.
In addition to meeting faculty and participating in classes while at Boise State, the Valics will give two seminar presentations that are free and open to the public.
From 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 in The Incubator on the second floor of Albertsons Library, they will present “Socialism to Capitalism: A Personal Account.” They will share their insights on the transition from socialism to capitalism in the former Yugoslavia and present-day Croatia, offering a unique perspective on the social, economic and cultural shifts that shaped the region. Registration is requested as refreshments will be provided.
From 2-3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 18 in Norco Room 112, the Valićs will present their current research.
Zoran will present his research in oxygen deprivation in divers. Additional amount of inert gas, usually nitrogen, is dissolved in divers’ body tissues and fluids during diving. During the ascent phase of the dive, dissolved gas has to be eliminated slowly in order to prevent the formation of bubbles. This prevents decompression sickness from occurring. In his presentation, Zoran will share two distinct procedures which improve diving safety.
Maja will present her research on the neurological impacts of obstructive sleep apnea. Millions of people have obstructive sleep apnea, where they repeatedly stop breathing or take in low levels of oxygen while asleep. Intermittent hypoxia, repeated episodes of low oxygen levels, is linked to increased risk for multiple chronic diseases, including hypertension, neurologic disorders, cancer, reproductive disorders, COVID-19 and metabolic disorder, such as type two diabetes.