Croatian Medical & Biological Engineering SocietyGeneral Assembly and Awards Ceremony in November 2003The General Assembly of the Croatian Medical and Biological Engineering Society (CROMBES) was held on November 20, 2003 at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb. More than 40 delegates and guests participated at the meeting. The Assembly was followed by the Awards Ceremony and a small wine and cheese party. Scientific and Professional Activities
Prof. Stanko Tonkovic, CROMBES President, reported on numerous activities of the Society in the
period from the Assembly in 2002 to the date. The Society organised or co-organised several
workshops, amoung them: The Society also endorced the organisation of three Modules within the program of the 6th International Conference Health - Insurance - Transition "Biotechnology and Public Health" held in Cavtat (near Dubrovnik), from 9 to 13 October 2003:
Relations with the Minstry of Health The Croatian Ministry of Health and WHO initiated a project "Establishing a National Centre for Health Technology Assessment".The project leader is mr.sc. Petar Milicic, a member of CROMBES. The Ministry of Health also established a Committe for Standardisation of Data and Processes within the Health System. In the negotiations with the Ministry regarding the status of engineering staff (clinical engineers and medical physicists), there was an achivement worth mentioning, i.e. the saleries were increased 8% to non-medical workers who participate in the process of diagnostics and patient treatment, and additionally up to 20% for working conditions. Unfortunately, we could not achieve the recognition of the status of "medical worker" for clinical engineers and medical physicists. However, what is encouraging, is that the University of Zagreb certified the specialistic postgraduate program in Medical Physics, starting in the academic year 2004/05. Elections The General Assembly has also elected a new member of the CROMBES Administrative Council, Prof. Bojan Ivancevic from the University of Zagreb. Prof. Ivancevic is an expert in biomedical applications of ultrasound. He replaced Prof. Janko Hancevic who has decided to retire from all public duties after his retirement from the University. International Activities Prof. Ratko Magjarevic reported on the development and formal inauguration of the European Alliance for Medical and Biological Engineering and Science (EAMBES) in June 2003. The Assembly endorsed the activities and entrusted the AC to apply for EAMBES membership. Magjarevic also reported on the activities of the General Assembly of the IFMBE and of the IUPESM. He also shortly introduced the new officers of the Federation. Activities of the Divisions Clinical Engineering Division was working on establishing the quality control measures and protocols in clinical and medical centres. Medical Physics division decided to apply for IOMP membership and to apply for organisation of the Austrian, Italian, Slovenian and Croatian Medical Physics Meeting in 2005. Divison for Biomechanics organised a meeting in Osijek and succeeded in winning some new members. Activities for 2004
Most of the activities are ongoing, among them the presentation of biomedical engineering in
public and scientific circuits. Scientific events, like workshops co-organised annually with
Zagreb Fair during the Medical Technology Show in May is one such activity where the society
brings together engineering and medical experts and professionals. In 2004, the 2nd Summer School
on Applications of ICT in Biomedicine will be co-organised with IEEE EMBS in Dubrovnik, in late
June - to beginn in July. Award Ceremony The start of the ceremonious part of the Assembly was dedicated to the work of a great scientist and friend of many members of the Croatian society, Prof. Lojze Vodovnik. His colleagues from the University of Ljubljana published a book of his collected works. The book was presented to the audience by Prof. Tonkovic.
In the second part of the Cermony, the Annual awards for the best university diploma thesis in
the field of biomedical engineering were presented. The winner of the first prize was
Igor Blazek,
from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, for his
diploma thesis "Accuracy and reproducibility of measurements of impedance of skeletal muscles".
The winner of the second prize was Branimir Lukic from the Faculty of
Science in Zagreb for
his thesis "Determination of the limits of mechanical stress in microtubules". After the
presentation of the prizes, the President of CROMBES, Prof. Tonkovic, appreciated the
sponsorship of five companies which supported the competition and enabled the prizes:
b4b, BioElektronika, Kardian, Philips-Croatia and Polimedika. The highlight of the everning was the delivery of the IEEE EMBS "Career Achivement Award" to Prof. emer. dr.sc. Ante Santic, Honorary President of CROMBES. Firstly, Prof. Bosko Barac, one of the honorary members of CROMBES, spoke of Santic's work and life. Santic was the doyen of biomedical electronics in Croatia, but his work was recognised much wider too. On behalf of the IEEE EMBS, Prof. Ron Summers, IEEE EMBS Vice President for Conferences, handed the plaque to Prof. Santic and expressed the gratitude of biomedical community for his contribution to biomedical engineering. In conclusion, Santic spoke on development of biomedical engineering in Croatia, his personal experience and a need to enable young people open doors to this magnificent field of science. (Read more on EMBS awardees in November 2003 Issue of the IFMBE News). After adjurnment of the Assembly, the guests and delegates enjoyed gathering during the wine and cheese party.
Prof. dr. Stanko Tonkovic
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