Internationally recognized expert in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies using cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC and PIPAC).
Dr. Bijelic started her professional career in Zagreb where she graduated from the School of Medicine and received a scholarship for exceptionally gifted students from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Croatia.
She went on to complete her residency in General Surgery in Washington DC, USA followed by a fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the Washington Cancer Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, a pioneer in the field and the leading worldwide expert in peritoneal surface malignancies surgery. Their close collaboration did not end with a fellowship but continued for eight years during which they shared not only clinical work but also many research projects resulting in numerous scientific articles.
Dr. Bijelic was than recruited to start the Program for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies at the Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, Virginia which she led for five years. Since 2021 she has assumed the role of Chief of the Center for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies in Barcelona, one of the busiest in Europe.
In addition to her clinical and scientific work, Dr. Bijelic is also a dedicated educator participating regularly in international courses and symposia for young surgeons and serves as the Academic Coordinator of the European School for Peritoneal Surface Oncology (ESPSO).
Dr. Bijelic is certified by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons as well as numerous other professional organisations such as the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).
