Anniversary of the death of the founder of the School of Public Health
Today marks the anniversary of the death of Professor Andrija Štampar, the founder of the School of Public Health and the Croatian public health system, who passed away on June 26, 1958, in Zagreb.
Andrija Štampar (born in Brodski Drenovac, September 1, 1888 – died in Zagreb, June 26, 1958) was a Croatian physician, specialist in hygiene and social medicine, and one of the founding members of the World Health Organization. He was a strong advocate for public health and social justice.
He founded the School of Public Health, which today bears his name, was a professor at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, served two terms as its dean, and was also the rector of the University of Zagreb. He made an immeasurable contribution to Croatian medicine and permanently placed our nation on the global public health map.
Following his vision, the definition “Health for All” became a recognizable motto of the World Health Organization, which he chaired at its first Assembly held on April 7, 1948—a date that has since been celebrated as World Health Day.