Robert J. Vadovic, University of Nevada's College of Nursing Alumnus of the Year, | UNLV Alumni Association/Twitter
Robert J. Vadovic, University of Nevada's College of Nursing Alumnus of the Year, | UNLV Alumni Association/Twitter
Robert J. Vadovic, University of Nevada's College of Nursing Alumnus of the Year, is committed to helping patients and mentoring nurses to be better healthcare practitioners.
According to a press release, Vadovic serves as Intermountain Healthcare's medical director and its director of advanced practice providers. Despite his double duties, which were exasperated as the medical industry continues to face a pandemic, he still somehow finds time to work towards improving the lives of others and various medical philanthropic ventures. For example, Vadovic was able to garner enough philanthropic donations so that medical students would have access to much-needed medical supplies. He also volunteers his time to guide aspiring medical students and coordinates mentorships for graduates as they transition to practice.
“The essence of being a nurse is service to others. I have never forgotten that and live each day by that belief,” Vadovic says, according to the press release. “Nursing is a commitment — not a job, but a passion and a career. It is lifelong. And it means not only taking care of our patients, but taking care of and supporting each other, our fellow nurses.”
Robert developed an interest in nursing when he was still very young and says that it was his mother, a volunteer in the community ambulance corps, who inspired him.
"She would tell us stories of how she helped people, and it inspired me. At the age of 16, I started teaching CPR and first aid, then joined the ambulance corps when I was eligible at 18," Vadovic said. "Through that work, I thought I would end up going to medical school so I could continue helping people. Then I got a job as a secretary in the local emergency room. That’s when I learned that it wasn’t the physicians who took care of the patients, it was the nurses — they spent all the time with the patients, advocated for them, comforted them, and answered their calls when they needed something."
"At that point, I knew that nursing was the career for me. Then after starting my career, I realized that I could do more — that I could practice like a physician but still bring the compassion and empathy of a nurse. That’s what ultimately led me to enroll at UNLV to become a nurse practitioner. I have not regretted that decision for a single minute."
Vadovic has also helped develop a 12-month APP fellowship program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants starting their careers.
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