Public Health in Zagreb

May 13th the Public Health students visited many schools and universities in Zagreb to learn about Public Health and Medical Schools in Zagreb. We visited the Academy of Science and Arts first to learn of Croatian Medical History, Andrija Stampar, and current issues in Croatia today. Public Health has many many roots in Croatia. X-rays, pharmecuticals, hygiene, prescriptions, sewage, and quarentine all have grassroot beginings here. For Croatia to be such a small country, they really have made important contributions to the field of medicine and Public Health.

Stampar, who was a man well ahead of his time, should be considered the Father of Health Education. His ideology and philosophy are all around preventative strategies and having the doctors come to the patients, rather than the patients having to search for healthcare. He held many notable positions during his time:

• Graduated from Vienna Medical School
  
• The Health Advisor of Croatian Commission for Social Welfare


• Head of Department of Public Health


• Founding member of Public Health School in Zagreb


• Dean of the Medical School in Zagreb


• Engaged in creation of the World Health Organization
  
• Chairman of Hygiene/ Social Medicine


• President of Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts


• Director of the School of Public Health

He was a reformer promoting public health and hygiene, while at the same time, had an input on international health. His view of Social Medicine consisted of 10 points:

1. Inform rather than conform laws


2. Understand the health problem (most importantly)


3. Improve health by working together


4. The physicial should be regarded as a social worker


5. Money should not be the issue in care; care of the patient should be the concern


6. There is no difference between rich and poor and having access to health care


7. The doctor should seek out the patient, not the other way around


8. Doctors should be the people's teacher


9. Health is of economic importance, not humanitarian- meaning that healthy people benefit a society more in terms of economics


10. Location of the doctor's activity should be in the community- people's homes, not in an office or lab

Stampar had a message that was clear and simple "health for all." This is where the name of our blog came from. We agree that health and healthy opportunities should be made available to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, standing in the community, or location of the people. Stampar recieved much criticism from many people around the world, especially in the United States. He visited many notable schools from one side of the county to the other and was not highly favored. Stampar accessed many Medical schools around the world and stated "They learn how to examine a body in detail, why don't they learn how to study a community?" Here is where the foundations of health education were laid. Prevention strategies and health promotion take root in Stampar's teachings.

Stampar's teachings still have an impact on Croatia today. Students studying medicine in Croatia will all have a Public Health background upon graduation. Students spend 6 years in med school, 1 year in an internship, 1 year in residency, and potentially 3-5 years in specialty training. Students can enroll in med school after high school graduation with no undergraduate degree required. The first 2-3 years are pre-clinical classes and the last 3 are clinical classes.

The University of Zagreb provides many different disciplines for medical students. There is a post graduate program for those wanting their PhD and continuing education classes offered as well.

This is one example of Public Health going on while we were on one of the tours. It is a free blood pressure screening set up in the city square.

- Rachel