Xamk has awarded naprapath Milos Dobras as the Alum of the Year.

After completing his naprapathy degree, Milos went on to study medicine and now gives lectures on medical topics to Xamk’s naprapathy students.

Milos has also promoted the naprapathy degree through his work with the Finnish national basketball team (Susijengi) and the junior national teams, serving as a naprapath in physical training and player care.

Dobras graduated as a naprapath from the Kotka campus in 2014. At that time, the institution was Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences, which later merged with Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences to form Xamk.

Currently, Dobras works as a doctor at the Hamina health center and is planning to specialize in surgery.

“This honorary mention was truly a surprise for me; I didn’t know I had been nominated. I must say, it feels really good to receive such recognition. I moved to Finland from Croatia at the age of 13, and the path to this point has not been easy or self-evident.

Naprapathy was chosen basically by the accident

I ended up in naprapathy somewhat by accident, through a series of fortunate events. I played basketball as a child and youth, in the Finnish league and for a year also in Serbia. There were injuries, and a herniated disc was perhaps the worst. Through that, I became familiar with naprapathy as a treatment method. Petteri Koski was involved in my treatments and got me interested in naprapathy studies. At that time, the application period at Kyamk had just ended, and the next opportunity would have been two years later. However, Petteri Koski and Jaska Hiltunen managed to arrange a place for me through pathway studies. I had to show that I was interested and could manage the studies, so that I could later apply for a degree student place.

The studies immediately felt right, and all my classmates were athletes or former athletes, so we had a good spirit among the students. After earning enough credits in the pathway studies, I applied for the degree program and was accepted.

I graduated in 2014 and then worked as a naprapath for the junior section of the Finnish national basketball team. In the summer of 2015, I applied to study medicine in Serbia and was accepted. Alongside my medical studies, I continued working as a naprapath with basketball players, and then Petteri Koski asked me to lecture for naprapathy students. I couldn’t refuse that honor, and I have continued to do so. Even this year, I will again lecture to future naprapaths.

The work of a naprapath is important because people’s lack of physical activity has increased musculoskeletal disorders, and with naprapathy, we aim to alleviate this. I want to help develop naprapathy studies so I can give back at least a little of what I have received myself. I am grateful to Petteri Koski, who saw something in me that I didn’t see myself and inspired me to the field.

My own story can be an example that if you work hard, anything is possible.

The Alumnus of the Year is an honorary mention awarded annually to one graduate from Xamk or its predecessors Mamk and Kyamk, who has continued to collaborate with Xamk in a commendable way after graduation.

Anyone can nominate a candidate, and the decision is made by the CEO, president, Heikki Saastamoinen.

“His example of career development and willingness to mentor students is extremely valuable and will surely yield good results. Milos is still often seen on campus, always greeting both staff and students,” commented the person who nominated Dobras for Alumnus of the Year.

The honorary mention was awarded at Xamk’s graduation ceremony at the Savonlinna campus on Thursday, December 18th.

Dobras gave a speech about his feelings regarding being chosen as Alumnus of the Year and also shared career and life advice for the new graduates.