Empowering Communities Through Health: The Journey of REF Alumna Dr. Salija Ljatif Petrushovska
Skopje, North Macedonia – Dr. Salija Ljatif Petrushovska, an outstanding alumna of the Roma Education Fund’s scholarship programs, stands as a powerful example of how education can unlock potential and drive meaningful change in public health.
Salija grew up in Skopje, North Macedonia, in a family of medical professionals and developed an early passion for science and healthcare. A top-performing student, she pursued her studies in Dentistry at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius, where she graduated on time in 2012. During both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, Dr. Salija was a recipient of two REF-supported programs: the Roma Health Scholarship Program (RHSP) and the Roma Memorial University Scholarship Program (RMUSP), co-funded by the Roma Education Fund and the Open Society Foundations.
Since 2015, Dr. Salija has worked in public healthcare, currently serving as a dentist at the PHI Health Center – Skopje, specializing in pediatric and preventive dentistry. Her leadership in the healthcare system has been equally impactful. Between 2017 and 2024, she served as the Director of the PHI Specialized Hospital for Geriatric and Palliative Medicine “13 November – Skopje”, where she successfully led the transformation of the institution into a Specialized Hospital and later into a teaching base for the UKIM Faculty of Medicine.
Her contributions were formally recognized in 2018, when the hospital she led received the “13 November” award from the city of Skopje for excellence in health management.
Most recently, Dr. Salija earned her Master’s degree in Public Health, defending a thesis titled:
“Increased Body Weight as a Risk Factor in Roma Women in the Reproductive Period in Šuto Orizari.”
Her research focused on identifying lifestyle-related health risks and acute outcomes among Roma women, with a special emphasis on overweight and obesity. The study confirmed a strong link between increased body weight and systemic health complications, highlighting the urgent need for state-led prevention strategies, health education, and early detection initiatives targeting Romani women.
Dr. Salija Ljatif Petrushovska’s journey—from scholarship recipient to public health leader—is a powerful reminder of how education, representation, and perseverance can shape not only careers, but entire communities.
We celebrate her achievements and remain committed to supporting future generations of Roma professionals in medicine, public health, and beyond.
