Serbian Doctor Finds Hospital Voluntary Work More Rewarding

But in his free time, he can be found doing chores without pay with his residency mentor at the public hospital, working with children and their parents, or assisting with research.

With the lack of jobs generally in Serbia, and with the threat of having to follow the brain drain abroad - which he says is a terrifying trend among his younger colleagues - Djurmaz has turned to working in the private sector. A sustainable salary may be guaranteed there, but it is not where he intends to stay.

Nemanja Saranovic, one of his co-workers and friends at the private hospital, says he understands why Djurmaz prefers the public sector. He feels the same pull himself.

"Ognjen would rather be working at the public hospital; everyone would, it's better there," he says.

This seems to be the consensus among Belgrade's private sector medics for many reasons. They range from the quality of the training to the public accessibility to the institution.

"But", Saranovic adds of Djurmaz, " he also loves to work with children and wants to specialize in pediatrics."

This conviction is founded on his own life - or rather near-death - experience.

When he was 13 years old, Djurmaz was taken to the University Children's Hospital for kidney surgery. That operation saved his life.

Ever since then, he has had a desire to give other children the excellent, indiscriminate care he received as a child, by becoming a pediatrician.

Saranovic says Djurmaz hopes to eventually get a job working at the public hospital but can't dedicate that much of his time to volunteer work.

The University Children's Hospital, Belgrade, where Djurmaz volunteers. Photo: Paul Rochford 

His schedule with the private hospital is demanding, requiring five...