554 Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
@publisher.id: 3018
@primary-language: sl, en
@discipline-en: Microbiology and immunology, stomatology, neurobiology, oncology, Human reproduction, Cardiovascular system, 
Metabolic and hormonal disorders, Public health (occupational medicine), psychiatry
@discipline-sl: Mikrobiologija in imunologija, Stomatologija, Nevrobiologija, Onkologija, Reprodukcija človeka, Srce in ožilje, 
Metabolne in hormonske motnje, Javno zdravstvo (varstvo pri delu), psihiatrija
@article-type-en: editorial, original scientific article, Review article, short scientific article, professional article
@article-type-sl: Uvodnik, Izvirni znanstveni članek, Pregledni znanstveni članek, Klinični primer, Strokovni članek
@running-header: 100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana
@reference-sl: Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
@reference-en: Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Volume 88
institute of History of 
Medicine, Faculty of 
medicine, university 
of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 
slovenia
Korespondenca/
Correspondence:
Zvonka Zupanič Slavec, 
e: zvonka.zupanic-slavec@
mf.uni-lj.si
Ključne besede:
Medicinska fakulteta 
univerza Ljubljana; 100. 
obletnica; zgodovina 
medicine; študij medicine; 
študij stomatologije/
dentalne medicine; 
pedagoško delo; 
znanstveno-raziskovalno 
delo
Key words:
Faculty of Medicine 
university of Ljubljana; 
100th anniversary; history 
of medicine; curriculum 
of medicine; curriculum of 
dental medicine; teaching; 
scientific research work
prispelo: 5. 12. 2019 
sprejeto: 8. 12. 2019
100 years – Faculty of Medicine, University of 
Ljubljana
100 let Medicinske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani (1919–2019)
Zvonka Zupanič Slavec
Izvleček
Slovenska medicina ima svoje zgodnje predhodnike v prosvetljenski Akademiji delovnih (1693–
1725) z njeno medicinsko sekcijo in z dr. Markom Gerbcem, četudi je že Jezuitski kolegij leta 1619 
v Ljubljani vpeljal visoko šolstvo. Leta 1782 ustanovljeni Mediko-kirurški učni zavod v Ljubljani 
je izobraževal srednje zdravstvene kadre, v času Ilirskih provinc (1809–1813) pa je napredoval 
na raven medicinske fakultete, ki pa zaradi restavracije avstrijske oblasti ni uspela izobraziti niti 
prve generacije diplomantov. Leta 1848 smo na Slovenskem ostali celo brez prej imenovane me -
dicinske srednje šole, ker so jo oblasti zaprle, ohranile so se le babiške šole.
Šele razpad avstro-ogrske monarhije je leta 1919 omogočil nastanek prve slovenske Univerze 
in znotraj nje nepopolne Medicinske fakultete s štirimi predkliničnimi semestri. Leta 1940 je fa-
kulteta po napornih prizadevanjih pridobila še 5. in 6. semester. Povojni elan je pripeljal v juliju 
1945 do ustanovitve popolne Medicinske fakultete z 10. semestri. Na pionirski način je skromna 
kadrovska zasedba uspela vpeljati redni študij. V študijskem letu 1949/1950 se je Medicinska fa-
kulteta odcepila od Univerze in kot Medicinska visoka šola vzgojila le eno generacijo zdravnikov, 
leta 1954 pa se je morala ponovno priključiti k Univerzi. V času odcepa so jeseni 1949 ustanovili 
Stomatološko fakulteto, ki se je kmalu povezala s fakulteto, kjer sta nastala odseka za splošno 
medicino in stomatologijo. Leta 1968/1969 je fakulteta vpeljala magistrski študij in leta 1995 eno-
viti doktorski študij, v študijskem letu 1989/1990 pa je študij podaljšala na 12 semestrov.
Leta 1975 je fakulteta z izgradnjo nove stavbe Kliničnega centra v Ljubljani pridobila potrebne 
predavalnice, seminarske prostore in prostore za klinične vaje. Desetletje za tem, leta 1987, so se 
osrednji predklinični inštituti preselili v novo fakultetno stavbo na Korytkovi ulici v kompleksu 
ljubljanskih bolnišnic, študenti pa so končno pridobili sodobne vajalnice, študijske prostore in 
drugo. Leta 2015 je fakulteta južni trakt Šentpetrske kasarne nadomestila z novo stavbo predkli-
ničnih inštitutov za biokemijo in biologijo celice. Študij se je vsa leta spreminjal in posodabljal, 
leta 2009/2010 je stekel po bolonjski reformi.
Odkar je Medicinska fakulteta popolna, je vzgojila okoli 9000 zdravnikov in 2000 zobozdravnikov 
ter izšolala na podiplomskem študiju nad 1700 doktorjev znanosti in nad 1000 magistrov zna-
nosti ter številne diplomante na podiplomskih kliničnih izobraževanjih. Medicinska fakulteta je 
usmerjena v prihodnost, k čvrstemu povezovanju teorije s prakso, interdisciplinarnemu in med-
narodnemu sodelovanju, predvsem pa v vzgojo kakovostnih novih zdravniških kadrov.
Abstract
The early beginnings of Slovenian medical education take root in the Enlightenment-era with 
Academia operosorum (1693–1725) and its medical section with the physician Marko Gerbec, 
although the Jesuit College introduced higher education in Ljubljana already in 1619. In 1782, a 
Medico-Surgical Academy was established in Ljubljana, the first to provide a secondary level of 
medical education. Later on, when a part of present Slovenian lands was included in the Illyri-

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 555
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
an Provinces (1809–1813) as a part of Napoleon’s French Empire, with Ljubljana as capital, the 
school advanced to the level of a medical faculty (École Centrale). The subsequent restoration 
of Austrian sovereignty prevented the school from completing even the first class of graduates’ 
training. In 1848, Medico-Surgical Academy was dissolved and only midwifery schools remained.
It was only after disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, as a consequence of the 
World War I, that in 1919 the first Slovenian University was established in Ljubljana, and within 
it a incomplete medical faculty was offering four preclinical semesters. In 1940, fifth and sixth 
semesters were added to the Faculty. The liberation impetus led in July 1945 to the establi-
shment of a complete medical faculty including five years course divided in ten semesters. In 
the 1949/1950 academic year, the Faculty of Medicine was separated from the University and 
trained one generation of physicians as a medical college; in 1954, it was reintegrated into the 
University. During that period, in autumn 1949, the Faculty of Stomatology was established, 
which soon joined with the Faculty of Medicine, whereupon two departments were established: 
one for general medicine and one for stomatology (dental medicine). In the 1968/1969 academic 
year, the Faculty of Medicine introduced a master’s programme, and in 1995 a uniform doctoral 
programme; in the academic year 1989/1990 the programmes of medicine and dental medicine 
were extended to twelve semesters.
In 1975, the new Ljubljana Medical Centre building was finished and the Faculty thus obtained 
the necessary lecture halls, classrooms, and rooms for clinical practice. In the next decade, in 
1987, the main preclinical institutes moved to the new building of the Faculty and students fi-
nally received state-of-the-art lab classrooms, facilities, and other infrastructure. In 2015, the Fa-
culty also constructed a new building for preclinical institutes for biochemistry and cell biology. 
Throughout the years the programme has continued to improve and stay up to date, and the 
Bologna system of education was introduced in the academic year 2009/2010.
Ever since the Faculty is complete it has trained approximately 9,000 physicians and 2,000 den-
tists, and awarded more than 1,700 doctors of science degrees and more than 1,000 master of 
science degrees in the postgraduate programme for physicians and dentists; it has also trained 
many students in graduate clinical training programmes. The Faculty of Medicine is oriented 
towards the future, a strong connection between theory and practice, interdisciplinary and in-
ternational cooperation, and especially training new high-quality medical professionals.
Citirajte kot/Cite as: Zupanič Slavec Z. 100 years –Faculty of Medicine, University of ljubljana. Zdrav v estn. 
2019;88(11–12):554–75.
DOI: 10.6016/ZdravVestn.3018
1 Medicine in Slovenia before the foundation of the Faculty 
of Medicine
The first scientific advancements 
in medicine in the Duchy of Carniola 
were made by the Medical Section of 
the Academia Operosorum, which was 
founded in 1693. Its most prominent 
member was the physician and scientist 
Marko Gerbec (1658–1718), who ranks 
among the most important Slovenian 
physicians and former students of the 
University of Padova (1). A few excellent 
physicians from Ljubljana who were also 
members of the Academia Operosorum 
set the foundations for scientific work 
in medicine among Slovenes Education 
in Ljubljana marks a longer tradition, as 
the Jesuit Collegium was formed back in 
1597, and in 1619 – exactly 400 years ago 
– it began providing some college-level 
programmes. Among the first teaching 
medical activities in the territory that is 
now Slovenia the following bear men-
tioning: surgeon and professor at the 

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Caesarian Hospital Filip Jakob Brecelj 
organized anatomy classes and lectures 
(Collegium publicum) in the mid-18th 
century in Ljubljana (2). In 1753 the 
Midwifery School was founded, which 
counts the start of the Ljubljana medical 
school, where Fran Klopstein (second 
half of the 18th century) and Balthasar 
Hacquet (1739–1815) taught, with the for -
mer holding training classes for surge-
ons, and the latter providing significant 
research, both advancing general medi-
cine (3). In 1780 the Master of Anatomy, 
Surgery and Obstetrics Anton Makovic 
(1750–1803) began teaching in Slovenian. 
Makovic translated the German midwi-
fery textbook and published it as a first 
medical book in Slovenian under the 
title “Prašanja inu odgovori čez uše-
garstvu” (Questions and Answers on 
Midwifery), performing also pioneering 
work in Slovenian obstetrical termino-
logy (4).
In 1782 the lyceums in Ljubljana and 
Klagenfurt upgraded their curricula of 
philosophy and theology with medicine 
and surgery studies. The Medico-Surgical 
Academy in Ljubljana was housed in 
the Lyceum building at present-day 
Vodnikov Square. It became the precur-
sor to the first Slovenian faculty of me-
dicine. Its lecturers included the likes of 
the Europe-renowned scientist Balthasar 
Hacquet (1739–1815), who taught bo-
tany, chemistry, anatomy, surgery, and 
obstetrics. Another renowned lecturer 
of anatomy, obstetrics and surgery was 
Vincenc Kern (1760–1829), who took up 
his teaching post at the Vienna Military 
Medical Academy in 1805. Between 1787 
and 1808 the students of the Medico-
Surgical Academy held their practice at 
the Ljubljana hospital at Ajdovščina (5). 
During the period of Illyrian Provinces 
(1809–1813), the Lyceum was transfor -
med to École Centrale (Central School) 
which had seven departments, including 
medicine. Studies were supposed to last 
5 years. During the first 3 years of the 
course the medical and surgical studies 
were equal, while in the last two years 
the medical studies focused on patho-
logy and clinical work, whereas in the 
surgical course more emphasis was put 
on practical work in anatomy, surgery, 
obstetrics, and forensic medicine. The 
end of Napoleon’s Illyria in 1813 also me-
ant the closure of this school, and with 
it of the predecessor of the Ljubljana 
medical faculty. After the restoration 
of Austrian Empire the Central School 
was degraded to the level of a secon-
dary school. The school reform of 1810 
expanded the secondary school curri-
culum, attaching some new professors 
to the Medico-Surgical Academy (Die 
Medicochirurgische Lehranstalt). The 
Academy’s professors were always keen-
ly aware that a medical faculty should be 
founded as soon as possible (6). They re -
ceived moral support from the members 
of the Commission for Medical Study 
Reforms and the lyceum’s chancellor 
the physician Jurij Matija Šporer (1795–
1884). The curriculum changed over 
time, the conditions for enrolment con-
tinued to become more demanding, as 
medical-surgical studies adapted to the 
growing demands, and after the educati-
onal reform of 1833 the conditions were 
set to transform the school into a faculty. 
The Ljubljana Medico-Surgical Academy 
successfully completed its educational 
reforms, but nonetheless, and in spite 
of the demands for establishing a full 
university in Ljubljana, a part of which 
would also be the medical, the authoriti-
es decided to close the Ljubljana school 
during the political unrest of 1848 (7). 
The Medico-Surgical Academy was dis-
solved only in Ljubljana, while similar 
schools in Graz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck 
remained and advanced into Faculties of 
Medicine. During the Spring of Nations 

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 557
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
of 1848 the advancement of medicine 
in Slovenia was stifled. After that there 
was no longer much talk of a medical fa-
culty in Slovenia. Medical doctors orga-
nized into the Medical Reading Society 
in 1861, in the Medical Association of 
Carniola in 1863 (8), in the Association 
of Physicians in Styria in 1876. Until the 
end of World War I, Slovenian doctors 
of medicine did not repeat their deman-
ds for a medical faculty (9). In 1919 the 
Medical Association of Carniola was re-
named Slovenian Medical Association.
2 The development of 
a incomplete Faculty of 
Medicine
After the disintegration of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire, the Subcommittee 
for Faculty of Medicine at the University 
Committee was founded in Ljubljana 
in 1918. In February 1919 the resolution 
with the request for immediate foundati-
on of a medical faculty at the University 
of Ljubljana was adopted nearly unani-
mously at the annual general meeting 
of the Slovenian Medical Association. 
The Subcommittee for the Faculty of 
Medicine, which was composed of the 
physicians Lojz Kraigher (1877–1959), 
Ivan Oražen (1869–1921) and Alojz 
Zalokar (1887–1944), drafted a report in 
which it recommended the classes for 
the first year starting in the autumn of 
1919, announced the preparations for 
the curriculum for the higher classes, 
and submitted a plan for the faculty’s 
departments as well as a draft curri-
culum (10). ( Figure 1 ) The faculty’s in-
stitutes were to receive facilities at what 
was then brand new military barracks 
on Poljanska Road, and the new Institute 
of Anatomy was to be constructed as 
one of the University’s first new buildin-
gs on the plot on Zaloška Road near the 
Ljubljanica River. The plans were drawn 
up in the academic year 1919/20, and 
construction was set to be completed by 
autumn 1921; Ivan Vurnik, the founder of 
Figure 1: The manuscript of Lojz Kraigher on the potential of Slovenian 
physicians to establish their own medical faculty after World War I. 
Source: Photo archive of Institute of History of Medicine MF UL.
Figure 2: The first building of the incomplete Faculty of Medicine on 
Zaloška Road 4 in Ljubljana, the work of the architect Ivan Vurnik. Source: 
The National Museum of Contemporary History Ljubljana.

558 Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
the Faculty of Architecture and a student 
of Vienna professor Otto Wagner, was 
selected as the architect (11). ( Figure 2 )
The Faculty of Medicine was esta-
blished upon the foundation of the 
University of Ljubljana on 23rd of July 
1919; however, to the great disappo-
intment of those involved, it offered only 
the first two years of studies. Classes 
started in November 1919, with 66 stu-
dents enrolling. By the end of 1938 the 
first finals were completed by 543 candi-
dates, who then continued their studies 
in Zagreb, Belgrade or abroad, mostly in 
Prague. The curriculum leaned on that 
from the Zagreb Faculty of Medicine, 
which was founded in 1917 (12). The 
Official Gazette of the Kingdom of 
SHS published the required legislation 
on 23 August 1919. On the final day of 
August of that year the first professors 
were appointed: most of anatomy clas-
ses were taken over by the physician 
Janez Plečnik (1875–1940), anatomy and 
physiology of the nervous system by the 
physician Alfred Šerko (1879–1938), and 
anatomy and histology of the eye by the 
physician Albert Botteri, who departed 
for Zagreb the next year; Ljubljana sub-
sequently struggled in finding professors 
for this field and for physiology (13). This 
was the start of the Ljubljana Faculty of 
Medicine’s (MF) quarter-century long 
and rocky road. Classes in anatomy and 
forensic medicine (for law students) 
were conducted in the classroom that 
was a lecture hall in the morning, then 
transformed into an autopsy room in 
the afternoon, while the lecture hall for 
the Institute of Anatomy was being bu-
ilt at a snail’s pace. (Figure 3 , Figure 4 ) 
Between 1919 and 1939 the incomple-
te MF and all of its institutes were ho-
used in the building of the Institute of 
Anatomy on Zaloška Road 4. The tight 
quarters brought together the profes-
sors and the students in their constant 
struggle to improve working conditions 
and obtain a full faculty, and at the end 
of World War II in 1945 the foundations 
were laid for a full medical faculty. These 
difficulties with a lack of premises were 
partially eased by the exceptional gift of 
Ivan Oražen (1869–1921), who in his will 
in 1921 endowed the Faculty of Medicine 
and its students with two houses on 
Wolfova Street and on Dolenjska Road 
Figure 3: Practical work at the Faculty of Medicine's Institute of Anatomy 
durign the interwar period. Source: Private archive of Živa Držaj Bonač.
Figure 4: Laboratory practical work in chemistry. Source: Private archive 
of Breda Stucin.

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 559
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
in Ljubljana, which were then refitted as 
the Oražen Student Housing. Since 1925 
and until today over 1000 students of the 
University of Ljubljana lived there free 
of charge, mostly medical students after 
the full faculty of medicine was establi-
shed (14).
Just before World War II the deman-
ds for a new hospital in Ljubljana and a 
complete faculty of medicine became so 
loud and ubiquitous in the public media 
that they could no longer be stifled (15). 
In 1940 the government in Belgrade fi-
nally approved the addition of the 5th 
and 6th semesters to the Faculty. The 
curriculum now included three new 
classes: pathology, surgery, and inter-
nal medicine. The faculty also got three 
new full-time professors: Franc Hribar 
(1895–1967) for pathology, Božidar 
Lavrič (1899–1961) for surgery, and Karl 
Lušicky (1892–1958) for internal medici-
ne. The ice was broken and there was no 
lack of enthusiasm. Both were opened 
in the summer of 1941. During the war 
the faculty was more or less running on 
fumes. Classes continued, as did the pra-
ctical exercises, but an increasing num-
ber of professors, assistants, and students 
were working with the resistance move-
ment, joined the partisans, or were jailed, 
interred, or taken off to forced labour. 
Because of the war, classes were halted in 
June 1943 (16). During the war a total of 
100 doctors and medical students were 
killed, which represented 10 % of the to-
tal number of doctors and students at 
the time (17). 38 medical students were 
killed, and 19 died in camps or were shot 
as hostages (18,19).
3 The establishment of the 
full Faculty of Medicine
The full Faculty of Medicine in 
Ljubljana, offering a full 10 semesters of 
studies, was established by a governmen-
tal decree in 31 July 1945 (20). The faculty 
took over the medical institutions of the 
Ljubljana General Hospital to house its 
divisions and institutes there. The admi-
nistration of the MF , the Central Medical 
Library, and some preclinical institutes 
were granted makeshift premises in the 
old and weathered building of the army 
barracks of St. Peter in 1945, and some 
have remained there to this very day. 
(Figure 5 ) The firm commitment and the 
resolute will of the Faculty’ s employees at 
the time made it possible for the Faculty 
to commence with lectures and practice 
in the winter semester of 1945/1946 for 
all the grades, despite a severe lack of any 
equipment, and especially textbooks. The 
faculty had 27 professors and 566 stu-
dents, of which 302 were attending first 
year (165 men and 137 women), facing 
10 semesters of studies. The first profe-
ssors at the full MF included Božidar 
Lavrič, Igor Tavčar, Pavel Lunaček, 
Janez Milčinski, Bogdan Brecelj, Franc 
Derganc, Jože Rant, Valentina Kobe, 
Milica Petrović Valentinčič, and others. 
(Figure 6 )
Figure 5: After World War 2 St. Peter's Barracks in Ljubljana became the 
seat of the full Faculty of Medicine. Source: Photo archive of Institute of 
History of Medicine MF UL.

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JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
Another new addition was the establi-
shment of the Division of Stomatology, 
the learning base for the stomatology 
class. This class was elective at first, 
but soon became compulsory. The first 
full professor for dental medicine and 
the chancellor of the Dental Medicine 
Division was Jože Rant (1896–1972).
The next few years MF faced the 
fastest growth in its history. During the 
year 1950/1951 the number of students 
was the highest at 817, with 32 professors. 
Since its foundation in 1945 the comp-
lete MF was an integral part of medical 
services, just like the other two Yugoslav 
Faculties of Medicine in Belgrade and 
Zagreb. When the faculty took over the 
Ljubljana hospitals it also became re-
sponsible for all hospital treatment. The 
connection with the university was ma-
intained through pedagogical work.
4 The Medical College and 
the Faculty of Stomatology
The 1949–1954 period was a special 
era in the development of the Faculty 
of Medicine, when it was excluded 
from the University. It became the in-
dependent Medical College with all the 
Figure 6: The first professors of the full Faculty of Medicine in 1945. Sitting (from left): Bogdan Brecelj, Milica Valentinčič 
Petrović, Božidar Lavrič, Marjan Ahčin (Minister of heath), Bogdan Derč, Janez Milčinski; standing (from left): Dušan Stucin, 
Martin Benedik, Mirko Derganc, Josip Hebein, Igor Tavčar, Hubert Pehani, Sabina Praprotnik, Branko Volavšek, Valentina 
Kobe, Milan Žumer, Albin Seliškar, Leopold Ješe, Ivan Marinčič, Jože Rant. Missing from this photography: Franc Hribar, 
Pavel Lunaček, Ivan Marinčič, Jernej Demšar, Ivan Pintar. Source: Photo archive of Institute of History of Medicine MF UL.

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 561
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
authority that the University held before. 
This most likely significantly shortened 
the time needed for the creation of the 
Faculty of Stomatology – established 
on 25 October 1949 as a successor of 
the Division of Stomatology (Figure 7). 
Besides Prof Rant, who was now also 
lecturing orthodontics alongside den-
tal medicine, the faculty also employed 
a few more lecturers and assistants. The 
situation with the general lack of space 
available to the Faculty of Stomatology 
improved in 1954, when the Faculty 
of Stomatology was relocated to the 
new building of the Department of 
Stomatology. During the time of the 
Medical College, in the academic year of 
1952/1953 the six-year study was imple-
mented, however, it did not last for even 
a whole generation; from 1957 onward it 
was once again limited to five years. The 
Faculties of Medicine and Stomatology 
changed their curricula to accommoda-
te this. In 1952 the divisions were remo-
ved from the authority of the Medical 
College, and given the status of medical 
institutes. The University Act of 1954 
brought an end to the Medical College. 
The Faculty for General Medicine and 
Stomatology was once again consoli-
dated into the University. In 1960 the 
shortage of dentists spurred changes 
in dental medicine studies. This led to 
the introduction of the levelled studies, 
however, it only lasted one generation. In 
1960 the construction of the Division of 
Stomatology continued, and the extensi-
on along the Lipičeva Street was comple-
ted in 1963 (21).
The new social saying also made its 
way into the medical domain. From 1963 
the graduates of MF were no longer cal-
Figure 7: The first professors of dental medicine in the 1950s. From left: Branko Palčič, Vladimir 
Volavšek, Valter Krušič, Vera Lenart, Dušana Lavrič, Jože Rant, Lojze Brenčič, Franc Čelešnik, 
Anton Logar, Milan Perušek, dentist Vekoslav Šmid. Source: Photo archive of Institute of History 
of Medicine MF UL.

562 Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
led doctors of medicine or doctors of sto-
matology, as these terms were replaced 
with physician and dentist (22), and only 
after a lot of struggle of the Slovenian 
Medical Association and mostly its pre-
sident Prof Anton Dolenc (1930–2013) 
these titles again were conferred upon 
graduates in 1986. During this nearly 25-
year period, MF graduates mostly did 
not pick up their diplomas, only certi-
ficates of the completion of their studi-
es (9). Private medical practise was also 
discontinued, and the Slovenian Medical 
Association could no longer continue 
operating under this name, so medical 
doctors convened in the scope of the 
Medical Science Section of the Unified 
Union, and the Zdravniški vestnik 
(Journal of Medicine) was renamed as 
Zdravstveni vestnik (Medical Journal).
The period after 1960 brought the 
fastest growth of MF: in 1961 the Faculty 
had 17 institutes, 19 divisions and 3 in-
dependent institutes. During the next 15 
years the curriculum was often on the 
agenda of the Faculty Council. The fa-
culty’s main concern was to strengthen 
its ranks and provide healthcare services 
with enough doctors, especially practi-
tioners of general medicine and den-
tists, as there was a shortage all across 
Slovenia. The curriculum was adapting 
to local and global developments in me-
dicine, so that the number of courses do-
ubled between 1945 and 1960. A proper 
reform of the curriculum was required, 
with work on this beginning in 1960 
and continuing in the following years. 
The reform’s core emphasised practical 
work and individual studies. It was de-
sired that MF graduates have a foundati-
on in general medicine that would allow 
them to take up any medical activity af-
ter they completed their studies. It was 
Figure 8: Lectures – a basic part of the study of medicine: the internal medicine professor Igor 
Tavčar in the lecture hall of the Division of Internal Medicine of the Clinical Hospitals in Ljubljana 
in 1952 (today the C building of the Institute of Oncology). Source: Photo archive of Institute of 
History of Medicine UL MF.

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 563
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
the faculty’s duty to make sure that the 
students received in-depth knowledge 
across all the professions. For students 
these classes were elective. The condi-
tion for comprehensive study was for a 
candidate to first complete their basics 
obligations, and there was a contest for 
students to join the in-depth studies. 
Each institution opened a certain num-
ber of positions every year and every 
profession had to prepare a curriculum 
for in-depth studies. The faculty took the 
same initiative to introduce the one-year 
residency (23). ( Figure 8 )
The desire to stabilize the conditions 
reached its height in 1965 at the adoption 
of Yugoslav norms for study at faculties 
of medicine. The faculty had to focus on 
consolidating student conditions, make 
its classes more effective, and draft new 
curricula. MF also had to address its lack 
of available facilities. Practical work took 
place in numerous groups, regularly la-
sting until late in the evening, and the 
explosion of global medical knowledge 
demanded further extensions of the cur-
riculum, the education of new experts, 
the opening of new positions, and con-
sequently for even bigger premises. The 
construction of preclinical institutes 
was inevitable, and was supported not 
only by MF and its students, but also the 
Slovenian Medical Association, with Prof 
Anton Dolenc at its head. Construction 
was also required at the Ljubljana 
Medical Centre, as it lacked its own me-
dical examiner’s office, and the one at the 
faculty has long since not sufficed mo-
dern needs and requirements. It was the 
faculty’s idea to build the new facilities 
in two phases, as it lacked the funds. The 
construction of the first building star-
ted in 1973 and was mostly completed in 
1984, with the staff occupying it by 1987. 
It was designed by the architect Vladimir 
Ažman. The new MF building was lo-
cated at Korytkova street as part of the 
Ljubljana hospital complex to sensibly 
connect with the main hospital where 
students had clinical practice (24). The 
construction of the new MF building has 
yet to take place; however, a substitute 
building was erected at the south wing of 
the Barracks of St. Peter and handed over 
to MF in 2015. It houses the Institutes for 
Biochemistry (partly) and Cell Biology, 
while the Institute for Biophysics rema-
ined in the northern wing of the Barracks 
of St. Peter. Construction for a substitute 
of the eastern wing of the Barracks of St. 
Peter is planned. It will house some other 
preclinical institutes of MF that still ope-
rate in unsuitable premises.
The construction of the new buil-
ding of the Ljubljana University Medical 
Centre (UKC) was of exceptional impor-
tance for the advancement of Slovenian 
undergraduate and graduate medical 
studies. After 1975 it gave MF new lecture 
halls, facilities for practical exercise and 
uninterrupted clinical part of their stu-
dies. This was one of the major milesto-
nes in the development of Slovenian me-
dical research and education. (Figure 9 )
In 1985 MF had 17 institutes and 
24 chairs, and was collaborating with 
Figure 9: The long-awated new building of the Faculy of Medicine on 
Korytkova Street, completed in 1987. Source: Photo archive of Institute 
of History of Medicine UL MF.

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JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
29 divisions, the Institute of Radiology, 
Institute for Blood Transfusion, Institute 
of Oncology and other. MF is also for-
mally an integral part of the medical 
system and Slovenian healthcare, as its 
central task is to educate a sufficient 
number of medical doctors and dentists 
to treat the population (25).
5 Changes to the study 
programmes at the graduate 
level
Studies of medicine and dental me-
dicine on MF are in two different de-
partments, the Department of Medicine 
and the Department of Stomatology, 
later renamed into the Department of 
Dental Medicine. Both hold classes at 
the same preclinical and clinical medical 
chairs, while dental medicine classes are 
conducted at all the chairs of the Dental 
Medicine Division. After completed uni-
versity studies in Medicine (since 2010 
this is the uniform master’s second-level 
study programme of Medicine) students 
obtain the title doctor of medicine, and af-
ter completed university studies in Dental 
Medicine (since 2010 this is the uniform 
masters second level study programme of 
Dental Medicine) they obtain the title of 
doctor of dental medicine (Figure 10 ).
In the study year 1989/1990, MF intro-
duced the six-year study of medicine and 
dental medicine, with classes taught in 
blocks. The preclinical part of the curri-
culum has not changed much since. The 
number of hours of study also has not ri-
sen significantly, as the previous medical 
programme had 4725 hours, with 945 on 
average per year, and in 1994 this became 
5190 hours and in 1999 5500 hours, and 
in 2018 it stood at 5371 hours. Students 
of medicine and dental medicine have 
30 weeks of study obligations per year, 
of which approximately 30 % are spent 
on lectures, 60 % on practical exercises, 
and 10 % on elective classes (6 to 60 cre-
dit points) (26). During the full study 
curriculum they attend 40 or 48 classes. 
In the 2009/2010 academic year MF la-
unched the overhauled programme in 
line with the Bologna process. This uni-
fied a significant share of the content in 
the spirit of the European guidelines, 
also allowing students to more easily 
move between different medical faculti-
es. Students are also more frequently ta-
ught basic medical practice, where they 
learn the day-to-day work of a practising 
medical doctor. This option is provided 
by family medicine, with doctors acting 
as mentors in class, taking students into 
their outpatient clinics under the super-
vision of the Chair for Family Medicine. 
(Figure 11)
6 Bologna process
In the past two decades new, integra-
ted teaching methods have cropped up, 
aimed at motivating students for inde-
pendent work and contributing to faster 
and more effective studying. Integrated 
Figure 10: An important part of the study of medicine is clinical practical 
work on patients. Source: Photo archive of Institute of History of 
Medicine UL MF (1999, photo: Jelka Simončič).

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 565
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
coursework means establishing con-
nections between clinical cases and 
preclinical theoretical knowledge (ver-
tical connectivity) and vice-versa. This 
introduces clinical cases already in the 
first year of studies. The second appro-
ach is problem-based learning (PBL), 
which focuses on students’ knowledge of 
the most frequent clinical signs that lead 
a patient to see a doctor. The essence of 
this approach is that students meet their 
professor in smaller groups, come to class 
with a certain knowledge they obtained 
from books, and professors then present 
clinical cases. This method of learning 
is much more strenuous for both profe-
ssors and students than the traditional 
formats, but brings better results in the 
long-term memorization of professional 
knowledge and in connecting it to cases. 
Modern trends of medical teaching also 
include an early contact with patients, as 
this allows students to learn about medi-
cal ethics sooner, establish a better quality 
relationship with a patient and commu-
nicate with them. In practice this means 
that when a student first approaches a 
patient (for example during introduction 
to internal medicine) they also know the 
basis of communicating with a patient, 
etc. Nowadays MF is facing an additio-
nal issue in teaching clinical medicine: 
patients are increasingly aware of their 
rights, and it is not rare that they decli-
ne an examination by a student. For this 
reason special learning models are being 
introduced, so-called skill labs, where 
students can learn on dummies and vo-
lunteers; MF has established a simulation 
centre that focuses on this approach.
The Bologna process does not fully 
apply to regulated professions such as 
medicine and dental medicine, as most 
countries opt for a uniform six-year 
study. The Ljubljana MF has revamped 
both of its study programmes, which 
will facilitate better student exchange 
and bring the programme in line with 
those of other top medical faculties 
across Europe. The guidelines state: “The 
objective of the study of medicine is to 
educate graduates who are able to inte-
grate themselves into the further process 
of independent and guided education 
in medicine in any medical specialisa-
tion, and their core basic knowledge are 
the foundation on which they can build 
through scientific and research work.” 
The new study programme provides: a 
high level of connections between clas-
ses, an increased scope of elective co-
urses, active student roles in teaching, 
contact with the actual medical profe-
ssion and patients from the first year of 
studies, and the ability to move between 
different faculties and European countri-
es, in line with the Bologna Declaration. 
The course list of the university study 
programme includes the following types 
of classes: preclinical, clinical, public he-
althcare, and elective. The credit system 
is based on a student’s 40-hour week. 
Changes to the curriculum with regard 
to the previous programme are mainly in 
that clinical studies and patient contact 
Figure 11: Practical work of dental medicine students. Source: Photo 
archive of Institute of History of Medicine UL MF (1999, photo: Jelka 
Simončič).

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JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
are moved to earlier years, while special 
areas of preclinical or theoretical subjects 
are moved to clinical blocks in higher 
years. These are organized into organic 
systems (classwork is interdisciplina-
ry), and in the sixth year, which is focu-
sed on integrating the knowledge and a 
comprehensive overview of the patient, 
paediatric studies are also included (27).
7 Post-graduate education
MF also had a leading role in the deve-
lopment of post-graduate programmes 
at the Ljubljana University. It was among 
the first at the University of Ljubljana to 
introduce master’s study in the academic 
year 1968/1969; it lasted 5 semesters un-
til 1978/1979, and was then shortened to 
four. Between 1976 and 1980 it organized 
academic specialization studies which 
lasted four semesters and were comple-
ted by 67 candidates. In the 1990s, MF 
also developed one and two-semester 
post-graduate education in various cli-
nical professions, which was completed 
by 2000 Slovenian medical doctors and 
dentists, and numerous shorter post-
-graduate educations for practitioners of 
general medicine.
In 1989, MF attempted to connect its 
studies with some other university post-
-graduate programmes (the post-gradu-
ate programme of Prof Janez Peklenik). 
Even though these connections died 
down after a year, the experiment yiel-
ded some new starting points that acce-
lerated later mergers of post-graduate 
studies at the University of Ljubljana. 
A large number of post-graduate stu-
dents and collaborating faculty profes-
sors, especially those at MF, demanded 
formally organized individual research 
work. In 1989, MF formalized the studi-
es, assigning credit scores to courses. It 
introduced individual research subjects 
and public presentations of proposed 
master’s thesis, which are still a core ele-
ment of doctoral programmes (10).
In 1995, MF introduced uniform 
master’ s and doctoral studies, in line with 
the legislation, and a credit system that 
allowed for direct transition to the do-
ctoral studies. This system was adapted 
to the European credit system for post-
-graduate programmes. The same year 
MF teamed up with the Biotechnical 
Faculty, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and 
the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical 
Technology, and in cooperation with the 
Jožef Stefan Institute and the National 
Institute of Chemistry, to design the 
interdisciplinary study programme of 
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 
coordinated by MF, with students being 
able to enrol at any of the participating 
faculties. The programme allowed the 
students to obtain a doctorate witho-
ut first completing a master’s course, 
if they submitted a published article in 
their field in a publication with a Science 
Citation Index (SCI). A similar approa-
ch was taken by the interdepartmental 
study of Microbiology, which was co-
ordinated by MF and the Biotechnical 
Faculty in alternating two-year terms. 
In 1999 all three programmes joined the 
four-year university post-graduate study 
of Biomedicine, which developed into 
the three-year doctoral programme.
Modern post-graduate studies at 
MF are integrated in the scope of the 
university research study of biomedi-
cine, with cooperation in studies of en-
vironmental protection and statistics. 
MF conducts post-graduate studies in 
scientific areas that include medical to-
pics, dental medicine, biochemistry and 
molecular biology, microbiology, envi-
ronmental protection, and statistics; the-
se courses provide credits towards obta-
ining a doctorate. In collaboration with 
the Medical Chamber of Slovenia and 
the Ministry of Health MF also holds 

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 567
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
specializations in medical examination, 
pathology, and microbiology with im-
munology.
The biomedicine doctoral study pro-
gramme lasts three years, requires 180 
credit points, and is a third-cycle study 
programme according to the Bologna 
qualifications framework. An emphasis 
of doctoral study is on research work, 
interdisciplinary approaches and on co-
operation among internationally esta-
blished local and foreign experts. The 
doctoral programme leads to the title of 
doctor of science in numerous scientific 
areas: clinical medicine, basic medicine, 
social medicine, microbiology, bioche-
mistry and molecular biology, pharma-
cy, genetics, clinical biochemistry and 
laboratory biomedicine, toxicology, and 
veterinary medicine. In the 2008/2009 
academic year 338 students were enrol -
led in post-graduate studies.
MF awarded its first doctor of scien-
ce title even before post-graduate studi-
es were formally introduced in 1957 (to 
Dr Ivo Raišp). From then until the end 
of 2018, MF promoted 1079 masters of 
science and 1724 doctors of science (28).
8 Students, alumni, and 
employees at the Faculty of 
Medicine
Between 1920 and 1930 about 100 stu -
dents enrolled in both years of medical 
studies, while between 1930 and 1940 this 
number was 200, and after 1940 it conti -
nued growing with about 300–400 stu -
dents attending all three years. At the full 
MF after 1949 there were between 600 
and 1000 students attending. The enro -
lment of freshmen kept growing betwe-
en 1945 and 1962 (400+ new students 
per year), until it was limited with en-
trance exams (24). From then about 150 
freshmen enrolled to general medicine 
study, and about 50 to dental medicine. 
In spite of numerous contacts between 
MF and government officials to increase 
enrolment in line with assessments fo-
recasting a shortage of physicians after 
the baby boomer generation began reti-
ring, MF only received approval for the 
increase in 2002. Between 2002 and 2012 
this enrolment grew to 200 students of 
general medicine, and between 2007 and 
2012 to 60 students of dental medicine. 
After that period, enrolment was rolled 
back to 150 freshmen of general medi -
cine and 50 student of dental medicine. 
The larger number of students put stress 
on MF due to the lack of facilities and 
understaffing, and classes during this 
period went on from early morning to 
late at night. The establishment of the 
Maribor MF in 2004 partially unburde -
ned the Ljubljana MF , as 100 students go 
there each year.
The faculty’s student gender demo-
graphics changed over time. When MF 
was founded only 9 % of enrolled stu-
dents were female; by 1940 this grew to 
a third, between 1960 and 1970 it was at 
an even half, and by the 1989/1990 year 
the percentage of female students sto-
od at 63 %. In 2018 a full 68 % of general 
medicine students were female, and 72 % 
of dental medicine students. The femini-
zation of medical practice has become a 
fact of life, as women are more adapta-
ble and ready to carry the heavy burdens 
and demands of this profession. The ave-
rage time of study is seven to eight years. 
During this time studies are successfully 
completed by about 90 % of those who 
enrol.
Between 1946 and end of April 
2019 studies at MF were completed by 
8809 graduates of medicine, 2269 gradu-
ates of dental medicine, 1079 masters of 
science, and 1724 doctors of science. In 
the 2018/2019 year the uniform master’s 
study had 1577 students, of which 1082 

568 Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
were women and 495 were men, with 
1206 studying medicine and 371 den-
tal medicine. In the same year, the do-
ctoral study had 371 students. In 2018 
the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine had 
261 physicians graduating (180 women 
and 81 men), as well as 56 dentists (45 
women and 11 men) (28).
According to data from the Dean’s 
Office, MF had 644 employees in 1992, 
which included 240 faculty profes -
sors and colleagues. In 2019 the faculty 
employed 935 people, of which 251 were 
professors and 87 assistants. (Figure 12 ) 
In the same jubilee year, 1544 medical and 
dental students with enrollment were 
studying at the Faculty of Medicine, and 
389 students enrolled in the Doctoral 
Program in Biomedicine.
Since the foundation of MF some 
preclinical institutes – microbiology, 
pathology, and medical examination – 
had professional medical activities pro-
viding services for the needs of the he-
althcare services, especially the Ljubljana 
University Medical Centre.
The Computer and Information Centre 
(RIS) administers the central part of 
MF’ s network (MF’ s communication and 
information networks), central services 
and applications, and provides support 
to the coordinators of local (29).
9 Research
The Faculty of Medicine has been 
developing scientific research work 
throughout its history. A detailed focus 
would far surpass the purpose of this 
text. Today it cooperates in numerous 
international and European projects, 
including Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and 
Figure 12: A part of the professorial staff of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 2019 (photo: Špela Gobec).

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 569
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
COST. In 2018 the faculty had 20 rese-
arch projects, 49 research ARRS pro-
grammes and projects, and two infra-
structure programmes, and employed 41 
young researchers. To show the scope of 
the most successful publications in 2018, 
some raw data should suffice: 279 origi-
nal scientific articles (29 with an impact 
factor of 5–10, 10 with a factor above 10), 
62 review scientific articles, 8 applicati -
ons for patents, and 19 scientific publica-
tions (28).
10 International 
collaboration
The Faculty of Medicine has esta-
blished an extensive network of par-
tnership agreements, the majority of 
them under Erasmus Programme. It 
also actively participates in the asso-
ciation of European medical faculties 
European Credit Transfer System – 
Medicine Association (ECTS-MA) and 
the the Network of Primary Health Care 
(NPHC). During the past two decades 
the faculty has been intensively parti-
cipating in the Erasmus+ programme, 
where it cooperated with 108 medical 
faculties and universities in the EU and 
the European Economic Area just in 
2019. Foreign teachers and experts come 
to work at the faculty, while experts from 
Ljubljana go abroad (28). In September 
2008 the faculty worked together with 
the student organizations for medici-
ne and dental medicine to establish the 
system of student tutorship for visiting 
Erasmus+ students. The heads of cha-
irs, the student office of the MF, student 
organizations and the Central Medical 
Library all actively participated in or-
ganizing studies for future Erasmus stu-
dents.
Student exchanges according to the 
Erasmus programme continued expan-
ding from year to year, and in 2018 
approximately 800 foreign students 
came to Slovenia, while about 700 of our 
students went abroad. In the 2018/2019 
academic year 50 students of the Faculty 
of Medicine went abroad through the 
Erasmus+ programme, 74 attended 
practical training, while 60 attended 
programmes set up through bilateral 
agreements with the US and Brazil. 113 
Erasmus students from abroad atten-
ded the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine in 
exchange programmes, 42 came for pra-
ctical training, and 11 through University 
agreements, and 31 through the CEEPUS 
programme. MF also introduced the stu-
dent and professor system of tutorship 
for visiting students (28).
11 Publishing
In its hundred years MF has publi-
shed many textbooks and course mate-
rials in Slovenian. Back when other so-
urces were not easily available, this was 
often the only printed study literature. 
Today both professionals and students 
have access to a plethora of books in va-
rious languages and expert resources on-
line. The Faculty of Medicine continues 
to believe that publishing its own textbo-
oks is important, as local experts can add 
professional aspects that are related to 
national practice and the medical idio-
syncrasies of the local population. This 
also enriches Slovenian technical lan-
guage and strengthens its use, which is 
especially important when medical staff 
talk to patients.
MF has been publishing the journal 
Medicinski razgledi since 1962. It was 
founded by a group of students of me-
dicine and stomatology. Editorial board 
members are all students of medicine 
and dental medicine, who work on a vo-
luntary basis. The initial objective was to 
publish review articles that could then 
be used as supplemental course mate-

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JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
rial. During its nearly half a century of 
existence the journal grew into a peer-
-reviewed journal that publishes review, 
expert, and research articles on biomedi-
cine and case studies from clinical pra-
ctice. The authors are mostly physicians, 
mainly faculty professors. Every year 
four issues are published. The journal 
also includes a supplement with other 
content.
12 Available premises
In 1987 phase one was completed in 
the construction of five preclinical in-
stitutes that were the bottleneck of the 
medical educational process: anatomy, 
histology with embryology, pathology, 
pharmacology and forensic medici-
ne. The department of immunology of 
the Institute of Microbiology also mo-
ved into the new Ažman building on 
Korytkova Street 2 in Ljubljana.
These institutes were given the pre-
mises for teaching, expert, and resear-
ch work, and they also complement the 
Ljubljana University Medical Centre. 
The question surrounding the constru-
ction of phase two of the new Faculty of 
Medicine remains open, with plans for 
the remaining 12 institutes, the Central 
Medical Library, the Dean’s Office and 
the premises for students. MF’s Science 
and Pedagogy Council supported the 
preparation of the plan for phase two 
along the new building already in 1970. 
The request for the plan to go through 
was repeated in 1993, when the Ministry 
of Health took on a feasibility study on 
the most sensible refit of the former mi-
litary hospital along Zaloška Road, and 
undertook to arrange the whole com-
plex of the University Medical Centre 
where the faculty’s institutes are located. 
In 2015 MF managed to construct a rep-
lacement building for the south wing of 
the Dean’s Office (former St. Peter’s mi-
litary barracks) where the Institute for 
Biochemistry (partly) and Cell Biology 
were moved. Solutions for some more of 
MF’s preclinical units are in preparation 
as either renovations or new buildings: a 
campus on Vrazov Square and a campus 
on Korytkova Street and along Zaloška 
Road.
13 Professional tradition
The Faculty of Medicine promotes 
the professional tradition. The chairs 
and institutes of MF have material co-
llections of anatomical, pathological, 
forensic preparations, microscopes, and 
the national medical collection, with a 
rich library of old professional books 
and others. The faculty aims to retain 
the fresh memory of its predecessors 
and professors, of professional visio-
naries, and of those championing pro-
gressive ideas during particular periods. 
At its centenary on 16 October 2019 in 
front of the building of the Faculty of 
Medicine on Korytkova Street, the bust 
of the faculty’s long-time dean Prof 
Alfred Šerko was unveiled, as he was the 
individual who strove hardest during 
the time between the 2 World Wars that 
the incomplete faculty was not disban-
ded. At this event the faculty also deci-
ded to commemorate major Slovenian 
physicians by naming its lecture halls 
by them. At professional events that are 
hosted by faculty chairs and institutes in 
collaboration with divisions and other 
associations (e.g. the Slovenian Medical 
Association and the Medical Chamber 
of Slovenia) physicians of different 
medical specialities come together to 
upgrade their knowledge. These events 
are often named after famous Slovenian 
physicians. Pathologists, anatomists and 
histologists have the Plečnik’s Memorial, 
the doctors of internal and general me-
dicine have Tavčar’s Days, paediatri-

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 571
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
cians have Derč’s Days, while the der-
matovenerologist have Kogoj’s Days, 
infectologists hold Bedjančič’s Days, 
orthodontists have Rant’s Days, maxil-
lofacial surgeons have Čelešnik’s Days, 
medical historians have Pintar’s Days, 
and clinical psychologists have Begant’s 
Days Forensic doctors come together at 
memorials dedicated to Janez Milčinski. 
There are also other professional associ-
ations. Most of them have international 
participation, and their content is publi-
shed in journals.
Some chairs and institutes of MF also 
have editorial boards of expert journals. 
Numerous professors are peer reviewers 
for national and international expert jo-
urnals. Numerous doctors who studied 
at the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine are 
successful and renowned across the glo-
be. Collaboration of individual MF units 
with other Slovenian scientific instituti-
ons is also significant: with the University 
Medical Centre in Ljubljana and 
Maribor, with the Institute of Oncology 
Ljubljana, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the 
National Institute of Chemistry, with the 
Biotechnical Faculty and the Faculty for 
Science and Technology, and from the 
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, with 
the pharmaceutical industry, and others. 
Interdisciplinary work across numero-
us areas shows that this enriches new 
findings and uses them for the good of 
mankind (30).
14 Conclusion
The Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine has 
proven its mettle during its 100-year jo-
urney from incomplete faculty in 1919 to 
full medical faculty in 1945 and beyond, 
showing firmness, teaching prowess, su-
ccess in research, and carving out a proud 
reputation. It has provided 11,078 physi-
cians and dentists for Slovenia’s medi-
cal needs, as they heal patients, provide 
preventive and curative therapies for all 
segments of the population, offer profe-
ssional support in general and speciali-
sed outpatient clinics, spas, and rehabi-
litation centres, and provide all required 
medical services at the primary, secon-
dary and tertiary level. Through its post-
-graduate studies the Ljubljana Faculty 
of Medicine has ensured a supply of its 
own researchers, as with numerous do-
ctors of science (1724 by mid-2019, with 
1079 master’s post-graduates) it continu-
es its successful research work in precli-
nical and clinical areas. The faculty can 
also habilitate its teachers and assistants. 
In spite of all of its shortages in space, 
material assets, and human resources, 
MF always sought the best path towards 
raising and educating new physicians 
and dentists. Patients’ satisfaction with 
their work is the biggest commendation 
in this institution.
In 2004 the University of Maribor 
founded its own Faculty of Medicine, 
which has already trained approximately 
600 doctors until 2018.
Milestones of medical education in Ljubljana 
1597, 1619
The Jesuit College in Ljubljana was founded in 1597 and in 1619 introduced 
the first higher education studies.

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JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
1693
Slovenian medicine’s early predecessors came from the enlightened Acade -
mia Operosorum (1693–1725) with its medical section, and the physician Marko 
Gerbec.
Approximately 1750
In mid-18th century Filip Jakob Brecelj organized anatomy classes and lectu-
res in the private anatomy institute Collegium publicum.
1753
In 1753 the Midwifery School was founded in Ljubljana, which counts as the 
beginning of the Ljubljana medical school.
1780, 1782
In 1780 the Master of Anatomy, Surgery and Obstetrics Anton Makovic began 
teaching in the Midwifery School in Slovenian. In 1782 Makovic also translated the 
first national medical book from German into Slovenian, the midwifery textbook 
“Prašanja inu odgovori čez ušegarstvu” (Questions and Answers on Midwifery), 
performing pioneering work in Slovenian obstetrical terminology.
1782, 1786
In 1782 the lyceum in Ljubljana and Klagenfurt added medical and surgery 
studies to their curricula of philosophy and theology, prompting the foundation 
of the Medico-Surgical Academy (Die Medicochirurgische Lehranstalt), a precur-
sor to the medical faculty in Slovenia. In 1786 Ljubljana got its first civil hospital, 
where the clinical practice work for the Medico-Surgical Academy was held.
1809–1919
During the period of Illyrian Provinces (1809–1813) the Medico-Surgical Aca-
demy became École Centrale and advanced to the level of a medical faculty, 
however, because of the restoration of Austrian sovereignty not even the first 
generation of graduates completed their studies. In 1848 Slovenians lost the 
medical lyceum, with only midwifery schools remaining. Since 1861 physicians 
organized into the Medical Reading Society, since 1863 in the Medical Associa-
tion of Carniola, since 1876 in the Association of Physicians in Styria, and after 
1919 in the renamed Slovenian Medical Association. In 1918 the Slovenian Medi-
cal Association established a subcommittee for the foundation of the Faculty of 
Medicine at the future University of Ljubljana. The subcommittee members were 
physicians: Lojz Kraigher, Ivan Oražen in Alojz Zalokar.

100 years –Faculty of Medicine, university of Ljubljana 573
PRegledNI ZNaNS tveNI člaNeK
1919–1943
In 1919 the incomplete Faculty of Medicine was founded with four preclinical 
semesters, and for most of the time until World War II it was headed with de-
dication by professors Alfred Šerko and Janez Plečnik as dean and vice dean, 
respectively. Studies began in November 1919, with 66 students enrolling, and 
after four semesters they continued with their studies at other medical faculti-
es, at first mostly in Prague, and later also in Austria (Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck), 
as well as in Zagreb and Belgrade. In 1921 Ivan Oražen in his will endowed the 
Faculty of Medicine and its students with two houses on Wolfova Street and on 
Dolenjska Road in Ljubljana. Between 1919 and 1939 the incomplete Faculty of 
Medicine and all of its institutes were housed in the building of the Institute of 
Anatomy on Zaloška Road 4, one of the first new buildings of the University of 
Ljubljana. The plans for the building were made by the architect Ivan Vurnik, 
and is a listed building nowadays. In 1940 the Government of the Kingdom of 
Yugoslavia approved the 5th and 6th semester programmes at the faculty, with 
the curriculum including three new classes: pathology, surgery, and internal 
medicine. The tight quarters brought together professors and students in their 
constant struggle to obtain a full Faculty of Medicine. In June 1943 studies at the 
faculty were stopped because of the war.
Under the leadership of the Rector of the University, Richard Zupančič (1920–
1921), the University Council decided to make the incomplete MF complete with 
10 semesters. Already during his successor, Gregor Gojmir Krek (1921–1922), the 
then authorities tried to abolishing the MF. During the reign of Karl Hiterlechner 
(1924–1925), the authorities tried to abolish the entire Slovenian university, and 
rector Milan Vidmar (1928–1929) addressed King Alexander Karadjordjevic to 
name the University after him, thus guaranteeing its' integrity. During the recto-
rial role of doctor Alfred Šerko (1930–1932), he also protected the Faculty of Me -
dicine in Ljubljana before its abolition. Subsequently, the University continued 
to develop (31).
1945
In July 1945 the complete Faculty of Medicine with a 10-semester study is esta-
blished. The faculty took over the medical institutions of the Ljubljana General 
Hospital to house its divisions and institutes there. With pioneering dedication 
the small staff managed to introduce complete medical studies. The faculty had 
27 professors and 566 students. Another new addition to the full Faculty of Medi-
cine was the establishment of the Division of Stomatology.
1949–1954
In the academic year 1949/1950 the Faculty of Medicine split from the Uni-
versity of Ljubljana, and educated one generation of physicians as School of 
Medicine (1949–1954), then reintegrated into the University in 1954. During its 
independence it founded Faculty of Stomatology. In 1954–1960 it was called the 
Faculty of General Medicine and Stomatology which in 1960 renamed into the 

574 Zdrav Vestn | november – december 2019 | Letnik 88
JaVno Zdra VstV o (VarstV o pri deL u)
Faculty of Medicine with two departments, the department of general medicine 
and the department of stomatology.
1962
A group of students of medicine and stomatology founded their own journal, 
Medicinski razgledi, which is still being published. It is published by an editorial 
board made up of students, with MF’s student researchers and professors con-
tributing articles.
1968–1987
In the academic year 1968/1969 the Faculty of Medicine introduced master’s 
studies and in 1995 the uniform doctoral studies. In 1989/1990 the studies were 
extended from ten to twelve semesters. In 1975 the construction of the new buil-
ding of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre brought the much needed lectu-
re halls, seminar rooms and clinical practice facilities to the Faculty of Medicine. 
A decade later, in 1987, the institutes of anatomy, histology, pathology, forensic 
medicine, microbiology and pharmacology were moved to the new Faculty of 
Medicine building on Korytkova Street, and students finally got modern lecture 
halls, studying spaces and other.
2009 –
In 2009/2010 the reformed study programme in line with European guideli-
nes (Bologna Declaration) was launched in the Faculty of Medicine. Every year 
more exchange students arrive and more Slovenian students depart abroad as 
part of mobility programmes, such as Erasmus+. In 2015 the Faculty of Medici-
ne built another new building for the preclinical institutes of biochemistry and 
cell biology on Vrazov Square. There are also plans for further improvements to 
premises and facilities. The Faculty of Medicine is developing extensively in the 
academic, science and research and professional fields.
By the end of April 2019, the following studies were completed at the Faculty 
of Medicine:
• 8809 - medical graduates,
• 2269 - dental graduates,
• 1079 - Masters of Science,
• 1724 - Ph.D.
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