Robert J. Vadovic

'13 Doctorate of Nursing Practice
College of Nursing Alumnus of the Year

In his dual role as medical director for Intermountain Healthcare and director for the company’s advanced practice providers (APPs), Robert Vadovic’s time is understandably stretched thin. This is particularly true now, as the medical community continues to grapple with a global pandemic. 

So Vadovic surely would be forgiven for cutting back on — if not outright eliminating — the various philanthropic endeavors that usurp his minimal free time. Except that’s just not how he’s wired. Having long ago decided to devote his life to bettering the lives of others, Vadovic always will find time to lend an empathetic hand whenever such a hand is needed.

UNLV’s nursing students know this all too well, as they have benefitted directly from Vadovic’s benevolence. For instance, he has helped rally philanthropic donations to ensure that all students have access to much-needed medical supplies (such as stethoscopes) as they progress through the program. When not securing financial support, Vadovic has volunteered countless hours providing students insight into the profession and coordinating mentorships for graduates as they transition to practice (among other impactful efforts).

More broadly, Vadovic is a passionate advocate for the nursing industry, especially within his community. To wit: He helped spearhead a 12-month APP fellowship program for newly graduated nurse practitioners and physician assistants. 

It’s all part of Vadovic’s overarching goal of ensuring that everyone — including those who live in economically depressed areas of the Las Vegas Valley — have equal access to quality medical care.

Vadovic’s dedication is rooted in his long-held philosophy about his chosen profession.

“The essence of being a nurse is service to others. I have never forgotten that and live each day by that belief,” Vadovic says. “Nursing is a commitment — not a job, but a passion and a career. It is lifelong. And it means not only taking care of our patients, but taking care of and supporting each other, our fellow nurses.” 

How did you develop an interest in nursing?

As a teenager, I would hang out at the home of my best friend, whose mother was a volunteer on the community ambulance corps. She would tell us stories of how she helped people, and it inspired me. At the age of 16, I started teaching CPR and first aid, then joined the ambulance corps when I was eligible at 18. 

Through that work, I thought I would end up going to medical school so I could continue helping people. Then I got a job as a secretary in the local emergency room. That’s when I learned that it wasn’t the physicians who took care of the patients, it was the nurses — they spent all the time with the patients, advocated for them, comforted them, and answered their calls when they needed something.

At that point, I knew that nursing was the career for me. Then after starting my career, I realized that I could do more — that I could practice like a physician but still bring the compassion and empathy of a nurse. That’s what ultimately led me to enroll at UNLV to become a nurse practitioner. I have not regretted that decision for a single minute. 

When did you know for sure that you made the right choice to become a Rebel?

While exploring my options for a doctoral program, I knew I wanted one that would fit my needs academically but also be adaptable to the life I had at that time. From the moment I applied to UNLV, I felt like I was part of a family, even though I lived in New Jersey and studied virtually.

I was in the second DNP [Doctor of Nursing Practice] cohort the school ever had. One particularly fond memory was how the faculty and staff constantly communicated with students, sought our opinions, and were willing to adapt. In fact, I was part of a committee that provided input that eventually was put into practice. Almost 10 years later, I feel like some of the contributions I made are why the program is thriving today.

One of UNLV’s core missions is to help students cultivate a sense of self-determination. Describe a moment when you had to rely on self-determination to successfully achieve a goal.

It relates to my current role as medical director at Intermountain Healthcare. Medicine is very physician-driven, and [nurse practitioners and physicians assistants] are often thought of as second-class citizens. That’s why medical directors are always physicians — look at any job posting for a medical director, and you will see that each requires a medical degree (M.D. or D.O.). It is unheard of for a medical director to be a nurse practitioner.

So getting to where I am took a lot of self-determination. It required me to constantly advocate for my patients and for myself. What I found is that as you go through your career, as long as you always have the best interest of the patient in mind, you will never be wrong. It’s a philosophy I’ve lived by and one that has pushed me forward.

How did your experiences as a Rebel — both in an out of the classroom — help you “make it happen” in your career?

Being a Rebel is about bucking the norms. It’s about never accepting the status quo, but always challenging the current situation and trying to innovate and come up with better or different ways of doing things. 

I have spent my entire career asking the question, “What else can we do?” The worst thing someone can say to me is, “This is the way we do it because it’s what we’ve always done.” We must constantly think outside the box and challenge others to do the same.