The centenary celebration brought together numerous guests, including former and present members of the faculty and students, their colleagues from other medical schools in the country and guests from Croatia and abroad. Also attending were prominent public and political figures.
The ceremony was addressed by University Rector Damir Boras, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Health Minister Milan Kujundzic, Science and Education Minister Blazenka Divjak, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, President of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Zvonko Kusic and Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandic, who all spoke of the excellence of the Zagreb School of Medicine.
Boras said that the Zagreb School of Medicine was the best scientific component of the University of Zagreb, while Grabar-Kitarovic spoke of the highest standards of training, emphasising that the success of the Zagreb School of Medicine as a teaching and research institution was a guarantor of the further development of the University of Zagreb and the City of Zagreb as a centre of excellence in the healthcare sector.
Grabar-Kitarovic said that "the Croatian society is a humane society largely thanks to the professional and ethical values of its doctors and nurses" and in order for the society to remain humane "it is necessary to financially consolidate the healthcare system as soon as possible. Everyone will need to make greater or lesser sacrifice and the government will have to make sure that this burden is fairly divided."
The president also noted that Croatia was investing vast sums of money in the education and training of medical professionals who are highly regarded in the global healthcare market but was losing these specialists to other countries. She said that conditions should be created to keep the doctors and nurses in Croatia.
Grabar-Kitarovic presented the Dean of the Zagreb School of Medicine, Marijan Klarica, with a state award for his outstanding contribution to the teaching, research and humanitarian aspects of the medical profession and the continued development and advancement of healthcare services.
Awards were also presented to students Ivan Banovac and Nikola Stokovic for graduating with top grades, to Dora Polsek, Kristina Balslov and Jelena Barbaric as the best candidates for a doctor's degree, and to Professor Hedvig Hricak and Professor Stevo Julijus for promoting international cooperation.