Tamriko bulia MD, PhD
Clinical Oncologist | Palliative Care Specialist Physician | PhD in Public Health
Tamriko Bulia, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Oncologist, Palliative Care Specialist Physician, and PhD graduate in Public Health from the University of Georgia (UG). She currently serves as Head of the Oncology Department at the First University Clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her professional, academic, and scientific career integrates clinical oncology, palliative medicine, medical education, international clinical research, and healthcare systems development.
Dr. Bulia has extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive management of patients with cancer and individuals requiring palliative care. Throughout her career, she has practiced in various healthcare institutions in Georgia, including the Israel-Georgian multidisciplinary clinic HEALTHYCORE. She currently leads the Oncology Department at the First University Clinic, where her work focuses on advancing high-quality, evidence-based oncology services, implementing international clinical guidelines, and strengthening multidisciplinary approaches to cancer care.
Palliative care represents one of the principal areas of her clinical expertise, academic teaching, and scientific research. Her professional experience encompasses the management of cancer-related and chronic pain, complex symptom control, assessment of patient and family needs, psychosocial aspects of care, and interventions aimed at improving quality of life among individuals with serious and life-limiting illnesses. Her clinical interests also include the early integration of palliative care into oncology practice, the development of patient-centered care models, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Bulia earned her PhD in Public Health from the University of Georgia. Her doctoral research focused on the epidemiological assessment of palliative care in Georgia, accessibility of services, healthcare system challenges, and the importance of multidisciplinary approaches. An important component of her research involved evaluating health-related quality of life among patients with cancer from the perspectives of patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. Her scientific work aims to strengthen the evidence base for improving palliative care delivery, developing evidence-based recommendations, and translating research findings into clinical practice and healthcare policy.
Alongside her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Bulia is actively engaged in undergraduate medical education. Her academic experience includes teaching appointments at Teaching University Geomedi and Georgian National University SEU. She teaches clinical oncology and palliative care, with particular emphasis on pain and symptom management, communication with patients and families, ethical considerations, clinical decision-making, and evidence-based medical practice. Her educational approach focuses on developing clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and patient-centered competencies among future healthcare professionals.
A significant component of her professional contribution is her involvement in continuing medical education (CME). Over the past five years, she has served as an author and lecturer of accredited educational programs for physicians in Georgia, covering the fundamental principles of palliative care, pain management, symptom control, and clinical communication. Through these activities, she contributes to the professional development of healthcare practitioners and the dissemination of contemporary, evidence-based medical knowledge.
In addition to her clinical and academic responsibilities, Dr. Bulia has been actively involved in international oncology clinical trials as a Sub-Investigator. Her research experience includes study protocol implementation, patient recruitment and monitoring, clinical data assessment, and evaluation of treatment safety and efficacy. Her research interests encompass systemic anticancer therapies, targeted treatments, immunotherapy, precision oncology, and clinical research methodology.
Dr. Bulia is the author and co-author of scientific publications addressing clinical oncology, palliative care, health-related quality of life, and healthcare systems development. Her research has been published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. She actively participates in international scientific conferences and professional forums, including as an invited speaker.
She is a member of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), reflecting her continued engagement with the international oncology and palliative care communities.
Her principal professional and academic priorities include advancing the quality and accessibility of oncology and palliative care services, strengthening the integration of clinical practice, scientific research, and medical education, promoting multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare, and contributing to the professional development of future generations of physicians.
