Janez Fettich (1921 -2004 )
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Janez Fettich MD, PhD, the prominent Slovenian derma-tovenereolo-gist and member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts passed away on August 26, 2004. He dominated the field of dermato-venereology in Slovenia from 1964 to 1987.
Born October 9, 1921 in Ljubljana, he attended primary and high schools before graduating from the medical Faculty in 1948. In 1953 he took the specialty board examination in dermatology; in 1960 was elected assistant professor, in 1967 associate and in 1970 full professor of dermatovenereology. In 1974 he was elected to extraordinary membership, and in 1979 to full membership of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts.
From 1949 up to 1993 he was engaged in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology as dermatologist, teacher and administrator, and from 1964 to 1987 he held the position of Chairman. He was also Chairman of the Medical Board of Ljubljana Clinical Center, and a member of various committees. From 1964 to 1991 he was head of the Chair for Dermatovenereology of the Medical Faculty in Ljubljana, and from 1967 to 1969 he was also Dean of the Medical faculty.
His main fields of interest included allergic contact dermatitis (CAD) and sexually transmitted infections. In the sixties he made some valuable experiments with guinea pigs, and demonstrated that it was possible to trigger CAD in sensitized animals even when contact to the central nervous system had been interrupted. He pioneered the study professional of contact dermatitis in Slovenia. He organized and lead the reporting service for STIs, which had been mandatory in Slovenia since 1955, and at the same time took charge of the
Central Antivenereal Dispensary for Slovenia. In addition to collecting data he studied the epidemiological, social and economic aspects of STIs. As an experienced dermatologist he was interested in clinical dermatology as well. He has published around 100 papers, of which around 20 were published in foreign journals
He was president of the Association of Yugoslav Dermatovenereologists from 1975 to 1979, and an honorary member from 1987 onwards. He organized the Congress of the Association in Portoro^ in 1979. He was also an honorary member of the Polish Dermatological Society and the Croatian Medical Academy and the member of many other national dermatological Societies.
Together with A. Kansky and the late S. Bunta they founded the dermatological journal Acta dermato-venerologica Iugoslavica in 1973 and he was the Chief Editor until 1983. Since 1992 he was member of the Editorial Board of the of the Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica. Together with M. Betetto he prepared a short but excellent dermatology textbook with black and white and color photos. For many years it was the standard textbook for medical students and general practitioners and was reissued twice. He was also Editor or Coeditor of a number of anthologies comprising materials prepared for professional meetings. He delivered guest lectures at the universities of Graz, Padova, Sophia, Warsaw, Riga, Moscow and St. Petersburg. He was an excellent lecturer and educated several generations of medical and dental students as well as dermatovenereologists. For 20 years the Dermatovenerological department in Ljubljana was held in great esteem.
His graduate and postgraduate students will remember him as a highly educated teacher who took a keen interest in their professional development and personal well-being. He is sorely missed.
Marko Poto~nik