Author: Jasminka Criley, MD

Dr. Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley MD, FACP, FHM is a multiple award-winning physician, hospitalist, healthcare & education innovator & Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA. She is a career mentor & advisor to undergraduate, graduate & postgraduate students & faculty across medicine, science & education. As Founder & CEO of Indelible Learning, Dr. Criley leads a systems-based approach to learning grounded in the belief that we grow geniuses by making complex systems visible, before real-world decisions carry irreversible consequences. Her research focuses on designing evidence-driven digital games & simulations that help people see, question, & improve systems across health, civics, science & human behavior. Dr Criley is a sought-after speaker, a founding Board member of Physician’s Weekly & an advocate for learning experiences that build judgment, agency & healthier institutions. She can be reached on X at @criley_md and at www.linkedin.com/in/jasminka-criley-md

Inside the High School Science Fair: Judging Breakthrough STEM Projects

Volunteering at the 2023 High School Science Fair as an in-person, on-site judge, reminded me of my experience volunteering at the Science Fair in the 2021. At that time, with ongoing pandemic, Science Fair 2021 was, by necessity, organized as a virtual event. Even virtual experience did not diminish its meaning and significance. After more […]

Bringing Elections to Life: A Game-Based Approach for Gifted Learners

The final week of the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Electoral College Swing State Bingo course is over. We are happy to report that our students were amazing! Here are a few snippets of learning and engagement our course created in these classrooms. Our Course: “Electoral College Swing State Bingo” It was Election Year 2016. […]

How Science Fair 2023 Changed My Perspective in Unexpected Ways

These kids were sometimes too smart or too quirky, or extremely curious, or too quiet, or too loud, or too critical or too nice and polite. As I looked at their faces, I still could recognize that little person they once were, years ago.

The Emotional Side of Being a Doctor During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hospitalist Shift It was a Thursday evening: a day that was supposed to be one of those “regular” evening shifts. Then, at 6:15 p.m., my first page went off: “Bed 11, Mrs. R., Dr. H. needs to talk to you”. The page came from the COVID section of the emergency department. I immediately called back. […]

What Are Different Types Of Face Masks & Respirators?

By Richard Criley and Dr. Jasminka Criley During the past few months, I have received many questions about N95 respirators. Why are they called respirators, and not masks? Who are they for? Are they better than “regular” masks? Who should wear these respirators, and who benefits from wearing them? Which masks are appropriate for which […]

Activities of Daily Living: Ah, That Fall!

‘‘Maybe what life is trying to tell you is, ‘‘slow down.’’ In fact, it’s forcing you to do that’’. Now, having been a patient on crutches, I have a greater understanding of how limits to mobility impact daily living on my patients.