Dr. Stefanovic's interests are related to mechanisms involved in development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), which is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. More specifically, she has been focusing on the role of immune system, both innate and adaptive, in transitioning from simple liver steatosis (fatty liver) to liver inflammation (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH). Results of experiments performed in animal models of obesity showed that one of immune cell type, called dendritic cells, plays a particularly important role in liver inflammation. The most intriguing question related to this finding is whether manipulation of dendritic cells could reduce inflammation in liver and other tissues in obesity, leading to a reduced risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes.
As a general endocrinologist, Dr. Stefanovic treats a variety of endocrinologic conditions, with a special interest in diabetes and lipid disorders.
Dr. Stefanovic is involved in education of medical students, Internal Medicine residents and Endocrinology fellows.
- MD, University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Serbia, 1989
- PhD, University of Pittsburgh, 1996
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Orthopaedic Res., University of Pittsburgh, 1998
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2001
- Fellowship, Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2004
- Fellowship, Endocrinology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2004
