Dr. Amela Blekic completed her medical training in Bosnia and Herzegovina and worked as a general practitioner during the Bosnian war. In 1997 Dr. Blekic immigrated to the United States and was originally employed by the American Red Cross.

She joined Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Psychiatry, in August 1999, helping to establish the Bosnian clinic for Mental Health while working as a Bosnian counselor with refugees from former Yugoslavia. After completing the United States Medical Licensing Examination, she completed Psychiatry Residency at OHSU in 2009 and transitioned from the Chief Resident role into an OHSU faculty role that same year.

Since 2009 Dr. Blekic has held a number of roles within OHSU Department of Psychiatry. Directing OHSU and Unity inpatient psychiatric units, OHSU psychiatry consult liaison service, serving as a psychiatrist for OHSU Student Health Service and Oregon State Hospital are some of Dr. Blekic’s previous roles. Currently she is a Professor of Psychiatry, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, Director of Adult Psychiatry Inpatient and Emergency Consultation Services and staff psychiatrist at OHSU Intercultural Psychiatric Program.

Dr. Blekic is a naturalized US citizen and is board certified in psychiatry. The areas of interest include cultural psychiatry and competence in health care, health equity, chronic mental illness, intersections between psychiatry and medical surgical specialties, and education, training, and mentoring of new generations of teachers and healers.