School of Medicine | Dr. Snezana Petrovic

Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Dean’s Award for Excellence

Dr. Snezana Petrovic
Associate Professor
Physiology and Pathophysiology


Snezana Petrovic, MD, Ph.D., FASN, is a highly accomplished researcher and educator with an impressive academic background and a track record of excellence in physiology.

Dr. Petrovic received her MD from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine in 1986 and completed a medical residency in general medicine at the same institution from 1986 to 1988. She then earned her MS in Kidney Physiology from the University of Belgrade in 1993 and her Ph.D. in Effect of Oxidative Stress on Epithelial Transport in Kidney Proximal Tubule from the same institution in 1999.

Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Petrovic completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester in New York from 1997 to 2000, where she worked under the mentorship of George J. Schwartz, MD. Her research during this time focused on the adaptive response of epithelial transport in the kidney collecting duct to metaboli:; acidosis.

Before joining our team , Dr. Petrovic served as an Assistant Professor in the Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Internal Med:cine, Section on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Section on Nephrology, Hypertension, and Vascular Research from 2016 to 2020. She was also an Assistant Professor in the Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, and Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Nephrology from 2011 to 2015.

Before her time at Wake Forest, Dr. Petrovic served as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology from 2004 to 2011. She also worked as a Research Instructor and Sen:or Research Associate at the same institution from 2002 to 2004 and 2001 Dr. Petrovic has been an integral faculty member since joining our team. As an Associate Professor of Physiology, she has significantly contributed to our department’s research and teaching efforts. In addition, her expertise in kidney physiology and oxidative stress has led to numerous publications in prestigious scientific journals and invitations to present her work at national and international conferences.

In addition to her research accomplishments, Dr. Petrovic is a dedicated educator who has positively impacted countless students throughout her career. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and mentorship, receiving several teaching awards and mentoring many undergraduate and graduate students.

Representative student comments include:

  • Dr. Petrovic is very open to questions and takes in suggestions to make her lectures better for students. She actively tries to make adjustments based on her student feedback.
  • She definitely was interested in our success and mastery of the material. She was approachable and easy to talk to about the content overall.
  • Works hard to make lectures clear.
  • Dr. Petrovic did an excellentjob providing tangible and easily digestible examples of all topics. She was excellent in not reading straight from her slides, making the lecture truly enjoyable and interactive.

Dr. Petrovic’s contributions to the field of physiology have been outstanding. Her research has significantly impacted our understanding of the adaptive response of epithelial transport in the kidney collecting duct to metabolic acidosis. Furthermore, her work has been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of the role of oxidative stress in kidney function and disease. Her research findings have been published in top-tier journals and cited widely by other researchers in the field.

Dr. Petrovic’s dedication to teaching and mentorship is equally impressive. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching by receiving several teaching awards, and she has mentored many undergraduate and graduate students. Her commitment to education has inspired many students to pursue careers in physiology and has significantly contributed to developing the next generation of physicians.

Therefore, I believe that Dr. Petrovic’s contributions to our department and the field of physiology warrant recognition from the University. Her continued efforts will bring further distinction to our institution and inspire future generations of students and researchers.

Dr. Brian Kessler
Dean, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine