A doctor and medical executive with more than 20 years of experience in his field, Roman Hitchev currently divides his time between managerial activities at the European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB) and Osteotech, Inc. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Roman Hitchev received his M.D. with distinction from the Medical University of Varna and soon began work toward a Master of Public Health degree at the National Academy of Health Sciences in Sofia. In 1994, Roman Hitchev graduated with an M.P.H. and moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he enrolled at the U.S. Defense Language Institute (DLI). During his time at the DLI, Roman Hitchev took part in the Foreign Language Center and studied military communications, earning a Distinguished Graduate Diploma in 1995. From the DLI, Roman Hitchev transitioned to the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S) at Fort Sam Houston. From 1995 to 1996, Roman Hitchev studied military medicine at AMEDDC&S and received a Graduate Diploma from the Medical Corps Command Advanced Officer Program. Roman Hitchev then became a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) through the American Board for Transplant Certification and received an M.B.A. in Medical Services Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 2002, Roman Hitchev has served as Vice President International at Osteotech, where he oversees a wide range of organ and tissue procurement functions. In addition, Roman Hitchev is President of Osteocentre Bulgaria and was recently elected President of the EATB. At present, Roman Hitchev lives and works in Montgomery Village, Maryland.