Prof. dr. sci. Suzana Tkalčić rođena je u Samoboru, Hrvatska, a pohađala je Pedagoški Obrazovni Centar u Zagrebu i diplomirala na Veterinarskom Fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu 1995. Njeni rani studentski radovi su bili vezani za epidemiologiju golubova i anatomiju morskih lavova i srnjaka. Dr. Tkalčić je nastavila poslijediplomski studij u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama, na Veterinarskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Georgiji, Athens, gdje je doktorirala (2001.) i završila trogodišnji specijalistički trening u veterinarskoj patologiji pri Državnom Dijagnostičkom Laboratoriju (2003). Odonda njen interes i daljnji rad uključuju međunarodnu veterinarsku medicinu, javno zdravstvo, ulogu veterinarskih patologa u sigurnosti hrane, bio – i agroterorizam. Dr. Tkalčić je od 2003. godine docent (Assistant Professor) na Veterinarskom fakultetu Zapadnog Sveučilišta Medicinskih Znanosti gdje je stručnjak za veterinarsku patologiju u nastavi, a uz niz drugih dužnosti (molekularna i stanična biologija, histologija, klinička umijeća) bila je 2 godine i direktor kliničkih rotacija za zvijeri i divlje životinje. Istraživački je uključena u suradnju na projektima koji uključuju patologiju morskih sisavaca i ptica (tuljani, morski slonovi, pelikani, gnjurci, prerijske kokoši) preko Centra za rehabilitaciju morskih sisavaca u San Pedru, California, i Centra za spašavanje ptica zagađenih naftom, San Pedro, CA, a povremeno surađuje i s Američkim Kitološkim Društvom.
Dr. Tkalčić je aktivni pobornik suvremenih trendova u medicinskom obrazovanju, kao što je Problemski Zasnovano Obrazovanje (Problem Based Learning), pa je čest sudionik stručnih skupova iz te tematike u SAD i inozemstvu. Trenutno je član Savjetodavnog odbora za Zoološki Vrt Los Angelesa i “MAR3INE” – udruge za rehabilitaciju morskih sisavaca, član Međunarodne organizacije za medicinu vodenih/morskih životinja (IAAAM), Udruženja Medicinskih Učitelja Evrope (AMEE), Američkog kitološkog društva (ACS), te savjetnik za studentske klubove na razini fakulteta (Klub za divlje i vodene životinje /ZWEAC/ te Međunarodno udruženje studenta veterine /IVSA/). Dr. Tkalčić je predstavnik Veterinarskog fakulteta u Centru za lokalno i globalno zdravstvo (međunarodnu suradnju) na Sveučilištu. Česti je pozivni predavač na brojnim lokalnim i međunarodnim skupovima, a nedavno i dobitnik nagrade Dr. Ljudevit Jurak Hrvatskog Medicinskog Društva za poredbenu patologiju. U društvu vodećih stručnjaka iz javnog zdravstva i svih ogranaka medicine, nedavno je predavala na prvom svjetskom kongresu “Jednog Zdravlja” u Melbournu, Australia (2011). Ponosni je vlasnik trkaće kobile, 5-godišnji dobrovoljac u službi šerifa San Bernardino okruga, te muzički direktor Hrvatskog Kulturnog Centra za područje šireg Los Angelesa (San Pedro) i VA “Izvor”.
SUZANA TKALCIC, DVM, PhD, Veterinary Pathologist, Assistant Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, CA, USAA native of Croatia, Dr. Tkalcic has earned her DVM degree in 1995 from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Her early student research interest involved epidemiology and anatomy of pigeons and mountain lions/game deer respectively. Upon graduation, Dr. Tkalcic continued her graduate studies in the USA, and has completed her PhD (2001) and residency training in Veterinary Pathology (2003) at the Department of Veterinary Pathology and Athens Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Since that time her interest involved international veterinary medicine and the role of pathologists in food safety, public health, bio- and agroterrorism. She joined Western University of Health Sciences in the summer of 2003 as an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathology, and among other duties (contributing to Histology, Molecular and Cell biology, Foreign Animal Diseases and Clinical skills courses), she served a term as a Director for Zoo Animal and Wildlife Clinical Rotations and Rotation Administrator for 4th year clinical rotations. Since her appointment at WesternU she is involved in collaborative research and various pathology expert activities involving marine mammals and birds (Marine Mammal Care Center, International Oiled Bird Rescue, Attwater’s Prairie Chickens). She is involved in the activities around MMCC since 2004, had actively participated in several Seal Day events, performed postmortem examinations, and had brought many veterinary students along to the MMCC as volunteers and as participants in student summer research projects involving marine mammal diseases. Dr. Tkalcic is an active proponent of interprofessional collaboration, Interprofessional Education, Problem Based Learning in medical education, and a speaker/presenter at several local and international conferences in the field of medical education and marine mammal pathology. She is currently a member of the MAR3INE, IAAAM and AMEE, ACS, Medical advisory board for the Los Angeles Zoo, and advisor for 2 student clubs: ZWEACC (Zoo, Wildlife and Conservation Club) and IVSA (International Veterinary Student Association) at WesternU. She is also the CVM representative in the in the WesternU Center for Global and Community Health. Dr. Tkalcic is invited speaker to many national and international meetings, and has recently being awarded Dr. Ljudevit Jurak Award by the Croatian Medical Academy for Comparative Pathology, and a speaker for the 1st International Congress on “One Health” in Melbourne, Australia (2011). She is a proud owner of a Thoroughbred race track rescue horse, a 5-yr volunteer for San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, and Music director for the Croatian Cultural Center of Greater Los Angeles (VA “Izvor”).
