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Bosnian visit confirms special relationship with MUSC by Cindy Abole Public Relations Physically, their worlds may be more than 5,000 miles apart. But for Bosnian neurosurgeon Vladimir Simunovic and MUSC neonatologist Carol Wagner their ideas and cultures are bridged through the common bonds of medicine and exchange. Drs. Simunovic, Starmer and Wagner surf the Mostar-Bosnia Exchange Web site. Last week, Simunovic, who is vice dean of science and international affairs at Mostar University visited MUSC. He met with Wagner, associate provost of Information Technology C. Frank Starmer, Ph.D., and other key faculty as part of an outreach program linking countries and health care specialists via the Internet, specialized training and support programs. “We are very happy about our special relationship with Charleston and MUSC,” said Simunovic, about the  four-year program that has already brought small teams of pediatric and OB/GYN specialists to the United States for three-week exchanges. “I hope that my visit will help promote our interests and capabilities that will lead people to understand and discuss our current economic situation at Mostar. We’re also hoping that our cooperation and efforts will continue.” Ravaged by Serbian forces since 1993, the country continues to struggle in its rebuilding and recovery of a once intact healthcare system. According to Simunovic, physicians are very well trained but struggle to provide optimum care because of limited equipment, out-dated textbooks and low resources. Simunovic hopes to identify and build information infrastructures through the Internet that will support medical staffs and provide resources to improve patient outcomes. While at MUSC, Simunovic met with MUSC faculty and clinical specialists in the area of radiology, neurosurgery, medicine, neonatology, library science, internal medicine and the provost’s office for educational programs. Simunovic and Mostar Medical University are creating a global medical educational system linking Bosnia with MUSC and major institutions in Europe and Canada.  “Clearly, all of us are enriched by this whole experience,” said Wagner, who traveled with Starmer last year to visit the war-torn city. “The essence of what we do as physicians is true no matter where we live, be it in Mostar or Charleston. We are privileged that we have such a developed educational system that hasn't been destroyed by war. We have used our imaginations to help one another with resources.” For information about the MUSC and Mostar-Bosnia exchange, visit the website at <http://www.musc.edu/~starmerf/Mostar/Mostar.htm>.