Medical Faculty marked 46 years of work

A solemn academy on the occasion of 46 years of successful work of the Medical Faculty at the University of Banja Luka (UNIBL), promoting graduated medical doctors, doctors of dental medicine, masters of pharmacy and graduates of health sciences, who completed their studies over the past year, was held on 15 November 2024 in Cultural Center „Banski Dvor“.

Rector of Banja Luka University, prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said that the Medical Faculty is a leader in scientific excellence.

„The Medical Faculty participates with 30 to 40 per cent of total scientific publications in referential scientific magazines. The second thing the Medical Faculty excels in is the presence and service providing in the market.“, said Gajanin.

The Minister of Scientific-Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, docent Željko Budimir, PhD, said that 46 years of work of the Medical Faculty shows that higher education in the Republic of Srpska has serious tradition.

He stressed that the Medical Faculty is of particular interest to the Ministry of Higher Education in the Republic of Srpska, as, through its research activity, it aids to better ranking in referential international magazines.

Budimir said that providing studies in English for foreign students at the Medical Faculty was very important and that study programs of this institution demand larger housing capacities and better laboratories.

„I believe that in the coming years we will have an opportunity to realize the project of a Medical Campus on Paprikovac location, through certain loans“, said Budimir.

The Minister of Health and Social Care, Alen Šeranić, said that the Medical Faculty is very important since many initiatives for the improvement of health care system come from there.

The Dean of the Medical Faculty at UNIBL, prof. Ranko Skrbic, PhD, said that this faculty educates health workers of all profiles, and they are the most important resource of the health system.

„In recent times we are intensely preparing for the self-evaluation of the international accreditation that we applied for to the Agency of Higher Education in Hungary, which is competent for this part of Europe. We want to get an accreditation star in the coming months, so we can continue to work and be recognized in Europe and the world“, said Škrbić.

He added that the Medical Faculty, in its Center for Biomedical Research, employs the best students and experts, and provides the highest standards of scientific-research activity.

Recognition for the best students

The best student of the generation, Zlatko Pavlović, who graduated with an average mark of 9.96, said he planned to continue his education at the faculty.

“If you have strong ambition, anything is possible. I plan to proceed towards the clinical direction. I am interested in several fields, and the Faculty already engaged me as an Associate at Anatomy cathedra”, said Pavlović.

Along with the student of generation, also rewarded were the best students in all nine Study Programs for their academic achievements. Among them were: Violeta Krnetić (Dental medicine), Andreja Jotanović (Pharmacy), Tijana Vinčić (Radiology), Dragana Pejović (Physical therapy), Sanja Berić (Medical laboratory diagnostics), Ksenija Marinković and Bojana Miljanović (Sanitary engineering), Anja Malbašić and Jelena Mitrić (Obstetrics) and Violeta Veljančić (Nursery).

Rewards for scientific work

During the event, rewards were awarded to professors and assistants for exceptional scientific-research work. Rewards for publications in magazines with the highest impact factor were given to: prof. Peđa Kovačević, PhD, doc. Anđelka Račić, PhD, prof. Vladan Mirjanić, PhD and M.Sc. Nina Okuka. Docent Milkica Grabež, PhD, doc. Relja Suručić, PhD and doc. Saša Marin, PhD, were rewarded for the highest number of citations as the first authors.

The solemn academy was attended by the vice-rectors of the University, prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, prof. Kristina Pantelić Babić, PhD, prof. Aleksandar Ostojić, PhD, Secretary General of the UNIBL, M.Sc. Đorđe Markez, and other guests.

Photo: D. Desnica