Name: Elena Balasescu

Lecturer
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

What is your role at your work?

I am a lecturer in the Pathophysiology II Department at "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.

I’m an internal medicine doctor. I work in an outpatient clinic, where I manage patients with chronic diseases, perform regular check-ups, and coordinate care with other specialists. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity are highly prevalent; among chronic pathologies, one of the most accessible health conditions to monitor is hypertension, a pathology that provides a crucial opportunity for early intervention and long-term health protection.

How did you get interested in your career path?

My interest in health and diseases started in childhood, when I was fascinated by a story about eternal youth and life without death—it made me wonder about health and longevity. Later, my father’s illness and passing during my doctoral studies pushed me to focus on cell death in chronic diseases and the difference between what we can and cannot prevent. And along the way, I had wonderful teachers who encouraged my curiosity and taught me to keep searching for answers. Altogether, those experiences shaped my path toward medicine.

What are you most proud of in your career or otherwise?

I am very proud of my family. I am very proud of my son who is the greatest achievement of my life.

I’m proud of being shaped by great mentors, and of carrying forward that spirit.

Moments that gave meaning to my efforts were those when some medical students said that I inspired them to stay curious and continue to search for answers. That made me realize I can already begin to pass on what I’ve learned. I am proud of my students; I’m proud of every thesis I have supervised under the coordination of my mentors - and there have been 37 so far.

I am proud that together with my colleagues and the head of the Pathophysiology II Discipline, we proposed (in 2022) and are currently running a SCORE Research Exchange Project, “Evaluation and investigation of health status in elderly patients”, under the auspices of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations.

I cherish the moments when patients or families tell me I’ve helped them feel understood and supported. Even small gestures of empathy can make a big difference, and those are the moments that remind me why I chose this path.

What important career challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?

The hardest challenge was realizing that, while I was prepared how to treat patients, there was no cure for my own father. I doubted myself and even thought about giving up medicine. The need for the rest of my family to care for them, the support of my mentor and colleagues, the daily work with medical students, and the chance to be accepted to study palliative care filled the void left by my father's death. I had the chance to learn principles of palliative care from the best in the field: Professor Daniela Mosoiu and her team. I also had the chance to listen to Professor Sheila Payne and Professor Frank D. Ferris in several masterclasses. That period taught me resilience, acceptance, and gave me a deeper sense of purpose in medicine.

What advice would you give your younger self?

To be patient, to trust the process of learning, and not to be afraid of making mistakes—as long as each mistake becomes a lesson. Medicine is not only about knowledge, but also about resilience and kindness, both toward patients and toward yourself.

Highlight your most significant research contributions and publications (3-5) - if relevant to
you.

Frailty and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Narrative Review.Gheorghe AC, Bălășescu E, Hulea I, Turcu G, Amariei MI, Covaciu AV, Apostol CA, Asan M, Badea AC, Angelușiu AC, Mihailescu-Marin MM, Ion DA, Nedelcu RI. Geriatrics (Basel). 2024 Sep 13;9(5):119. doi: 10.3390/geriatrics9050119. PMID: 39311244; PMCID: PMC11417754
Endothelial Dysfunction as a Key Link between Cardiovascular Disease and Frailty: A Systematic Review.Calila H, Bălășescu E, Nedelcu RI, Ion DA. J Clin Med. 2024 May 2;13(9):2686. doi: 10.3390/jcm13092686. PMID: 38731215; PMCID: PMC11084631

Vascular Changes in Hypertension: Is There Cell Death Involved? – A Narrative review,Dusa, AM (Dusa, Andreea M.) ; Balasescu, E (Balasescu, Elena) ; Busnatu, SS (Busnatu, Stefan S.) ; Andronic, O (Andronic, Octavian), May 2023, Romanian Journal Of Military Medicine, Volume 126, Issue 2, Page 136-143, doi:10.55453/rjmm.2023.126.2.2

Aging and Vascular Compliance in Hypertensive Patients Mirrored in Routine Investigations.,Balan R, Ferdoschi C, Bălăşescu E, Ion DA., Curr Health Sci J. 2021 Jul-Sep;47(3):367-376. doi: 10.12865/CHSJ.47.03.06. Epub 2021 Sep 30., PMID: 35003768Free PMC article.

Inflammation and Arterial Hypertension-Pathophysiological Links and Clinical Aspects.,Balan R, BĂlĂŞescu E, Ion DA., Curr Health Sci J. 2020 Oct-Dec;46(4):383-389. doi: 10.12865/CHSJ.46.04.09. Epub 2020 Dec 31.PMID: 33717513Free PMC article.

Immunohistochemical Aspects of Cell Death in Diabetic Nephropathy.,Bălăşescu E, Cioplea M, Brînzea A, Nedelcu R, Zurac S, Ion DA., Rom J Intern Med. 2016 Jan-Mar;54(1):54-62. doi: 10.1515/rjim-2016-0006., PMID: 27141571

Caspases, Cell Death and Diabetic Nephropathy.,Bălăşescu E, Ion DA, Cioplea M, Zurac S., Rom J Intern Med. 2015 Oct-Dec;53(4):296-303. doi: 10.1515/rjim-2015-0038., PMID: 26939205

Have you had any significant career mentors?

The most decisive influence was my dissertation coordinator, the Head of Pathophysiology department, Prof Daniela Adriana Ion. When my father became ill, she supported me in slightly shifting my research topic so I could better understand some aspects of his disease (and I focused on cell death). That moment showed me how a teacher can shape a destiny. She wasn’t only a brilliant mentor but also a wonderful person who encouraged me to study with purpose, not just curiosity. She became a model for me—and one day, I hope to guide and inspire younger colleagues in the same way.

How can we support the next generation of women scientists?

The next generation of women scientists can be supported by mentorship, role models, inclusive opportunities, and environments that value their ideas and contributions.

Together with students coming through the SCOPE-SCORE project (2022, 2024).