HISTORY
The Croatian Society of Surgery has a long history as one of the oldest societies of the Croatian Medical Association, although under various names and types of organization. After many historical changes, during the Croatian Patriotic War, the Surgical Section brought a decision about the foundation of the Croatian Society of Surgery, which led to the Founding Assembly on January 29th, 1994.
The 1st Croatian Surgical Congress was held in Split in 1994 and included a session of the Directive Committee which set the guidelines for future activities of the Society. It was agreed that national congresses would be held every four years, including election assemblies. Also, the launch of Acta Chirurgica Croatica as the official jounal of the Society was agreed upon. The first issue of the journal was published in 2004 at the University Hospital Centre Split. Since 2008, the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital Centre Zagreb is the publisher of the journal.
The period between the congresses marks the organization of continuous scientific meetings and strengthening of international collaboration.
The 2nd Croatian Surgical Congress, with international participation, was held in Zagreb in 1998. The congress established the Golden Medal, a special acknowledgement to surgeons who had devoted their lives to surgery, as well as an acknowledgement and thanks for their work and contribution.
The Society became even more active after the two congresses, including work concerning the Croatian Medical Association and the creation and affirmation of the guidelines of the Croatian health care system.
The 3rd Croatian Surgical Congress was held in 2002 in Pula. It was now a well established and respected national congress with international participation. One of the novelties was the election of the best paper written by an intern, as a part of the effort to encourage and support young experts.
The first issue of Acta Chirurgica Croatica was published in 2004 and was formally promoted in 2005 at the Croatian Medical Association with due thanks to Professor Ante Petričević, PhD, and his colleagues in Split.
The Society of Surgery tries to expand its activities outside Croatia and this is why it joined the Central European Society of Surgery, thus becoming coorganizer of congresses hosted every year by one of the member societies. This offered the members the opportunity to publish their papers in European Surgery, the official journal of the mentioned society.
The 4th Croatian Surgical Congress was held in 2006 in Zadar. For the first time, it included all surgical societies. At the election assembly, Acta Chirurgica Croatica was pronounced the official national journal and European Surgery the official international journal of the Society.
The 5th Croatian Surgical Congress was held in Dubrovnik in 2010 together with the 3rd Central European Congress of Surgery which offered a high-quality programme with strong international cooperation.
FORMER MANAGEMENT
2006-2010
President: Prof. Božidar Župančić, MD, PhD
Vice presidents: Prof. Mate Majerović, MD, PhD, Ante Zvonimir Golem, MD
Secretaries: Tomo Kovač, MD, Stjepan Višnjić, MD, PhD
Treasurer: Goran Augustin, MD, PhD
2002-2006
President: Prof. Božidar Župančić, MD, PhD
Vice presidents: Prof. Ante Petričević, MD, PhD, Prof. Duje Vukas, MD, PhD
Secretaries: Prim. Davorin Pikot, MD, Ante Zvonimir Golem, MD
Treasurer: Tomo Kovač, MD
1998-2002
President: Prim. Frane Vinko Golem, MD, PhD
Vice presidents: Prof. Božidar Župančić, MD, PhD, Prim. Damir Kovačić, MD, PhD
Secretaries: Prim. Dubravko Smuđ, MD, PhD, Ante Zvonimir Golem, MD
Treasurer: Tomo Kovač, MD
1994-1998
President: Prim. Frane Vinko Golem, MD, PhD
Vice president: Prof. Ante Petričević, MD, PhD, Prof. Ivo Drešćik, MD, PhD
Secretaries: Prof. Božidar Župančić, MD, PhD, Prof. Zdenko Stanec, MD, PhD
Treasurer: Prim. Dubravko Smuđ, MD, PhD