Born in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia (formerly Yugoslavia), Dr. Kozelj earned a B.Sc. in 1972 from the University of Ljubljana. He then attended the School of Medicine there, graduating in 1978 with an M.D. He earned an M.Sc. in 1981 from the University of Zagreb and Ljubljana, and an M.D. in 1979 and 1983 from the U.S. VQE-ECFMG exam certification. During his post-graduate years, he trained at the Institute of Josef Stefan in the Department of Theoretical Physics from 1972 to 1974. In 1974, he served at the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. From 1983-1984, he trained in the Department of Experimental Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and, in 1984, served at the Texas Heart Institute. From 1989-1991, he was at the University Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia and from 1991-1992, he served at the Department of Public Health at New York University. He took refresher surgical training for Board Certification in General Surgery at the University Clinical Center in Ljubljana in 1993. From 1995-1996, he served in the Department of Radiology, Contrast Media Laboratory and Experimental Surgery, at the University of San Francisco.

Dr. Kozelj trained in the Yugoslavia Armed Forces from 1974-1975 and at the Officer’s School of Slovenian Armed Forces from 1997-1998. He was the Surgeon General of the Slovenian Armed Forces from 1998 to 2001 and has served as a Delegate of Slovenia in the International Committee of Military Medicine between 1998 and 2001 and in the Joint Medical Committee from 2008. He also served as a Senior Medical Examiner, Chief of the Military and Civilian Aviation Medical Center, and Chief Flight Surgeon and Colonel with the Slovenian Armed Forces. 

Dr. Kozelj was a past President of the Slovenian Aerospace Medical Association, and a member of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, the Slovenian Medical Association, the Yugoslav and Slovenian Society of Biophysics, and the International Academy of Medicine, and was a Fellow of AsMA. Within AsMA, he was a member of the Aerospace Human Factors Association, the U.S. Army Aviation Medicine Association, the Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons, the Society of U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeons, and the International Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots, and served on the International Activities and Education and Training Committees. His awards included the Medal of Recognition for his contribution in the establishing of the Slovenian Air Force, recognition for his creative contribution promoting the successful work of the Slovenian Air Force Command, AsMA’s President’s Citation in 2003 and Won Chuel Kay Award in 2009, and the Silver Medal of Military Health Service.