100 YEARS OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY

The history of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zagreb has written its first century classifying it among newer European medical universities. The struggle for its foundation, on the other hand, can be traced back to the Middle Ages as it bears witness to the long pursuit of the Croatian people to create awareness of themselves and of their place in the European unit. The fall of the Austria-Hungary Empire marked the beginning of the aspiration to found the Faculty of Medicine. This aspiration culminated at the session held at the Parliament of the Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia that took place on January 25th, 1917 where Milan Rojc, a representative, suggested to the government to open the Faculty of Medicine for the 1917/1918 school year. His proposal spurred activities that reached a peak on November 12th of the same year when the Ban approved the opening of the Faculty. Pursuant to Article 82 of the University Act, Miroslav Čačković, Dragutin Mašek and Teodor Wickerhauser were assigned the tasks of forming the Faculty, selecting the dean and approving the proposed professorship candidates. The first lesson plan was drafted in December and on January 12th, 1918, the academic year began for 63 candidates with the initial lecture by Drago Perović entitled The Direction of Academics and Scientific Works in the Field of Anatomy. Miroslav Čačković was named the first dean in May of 1918. Intensive works on the reconstruction of buildings on Šalata ensued for the needs of basic courses and for staffing professorship positions with own teachers. During its century long development, the Faculty of Medicine has evolved into a central medical university in a country that brings together the greatest components of professional and scientific medicine. Its research programs are based on cooperation and are directed towards innovations. They connect scientists in the fields of fundamental, public health and clinical sciences. Since its inception, the Faculty has been creating an intellectually stimulating environment, promoting scientific and humanitarian aspects of the medical practice and implementing scientific research resulting in science advancements and its application in the academic processes and healthcare improvement. Associate Professor Stella Fatović-Ferenčić, MD Head of the Division for the History of Medical Sciences at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts