On Occasion of Ten Years Anniversary of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2009-2019

Abstract

This year Academy of medical sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMNuBiH) celebrates Anniversary - ten years from founding in the year 2009. Goals of founding of AMNuBiH were: a) promotion of medical sciences, b) improvement of all biomedical disciplines, and c) affirmation of contribution of biomedical sciences in the development of sciences in Bosnia and Herzegovina generally and especially in medicine in the country and abroad. AMNuBiH activities are: organization of scientific and professional meetings and publishing their results of research and investigations which promote B&H medical sciences and improve the health care system of B&H. Also, publishing of AMNuBiH indexed journals: Medicinski arhiv (Medical Archives), Materia Socio-Medica and Acta Informatica Medica, and cooperation with institutions in the country and abroad which goals and activities are the same or similar as AMNuBiH activities. Currently. Academy has 33 members. Facts about AMNuBiH activities during past 10 years are described in the book “Ten years of Anniversary of AMNuBiH: 2009-2019) and deposited on official web site of Academy: www.amn.ba.

This year Academy of medical sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMNuBiH) celebrated Anniversary – ten years from founding in the year 2009 (October 20th, 2009). Academy has now 33 members. Celebration of the Anniversary was held in Hotel Holiday in Sarajevo on October 26th and 27th, 2019, during “Days of AMNuBiH 2019”. New elected academicians prof. Enisa Mešić, prof. Šefik Hasukić, prof. Senaid Trnačević, prof. Mirza Biščević, prof. Dončo Donev i prof. Slobodan Janković presented their inaugural lectures. Invited lecturer has been academicain Asim Kurjak about “How to discover scientific leaders”? In his Opening speech, Founder and President of Academy of medical Sciences of B&H, Izet Masic had spoken about historical background and activities of Academy in the past. He noted that AMNuBiH is one of 5 scientific academies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but if we analyze scientific contributions of our 33 academicians measuring with scientific parameters which are used today within Scientometric data bases AMNuBiH is most referent. Members of AMNuBiH are most influential scientists in our scientific fields, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also in the countries were they live and still work - in B&H, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Germany, Norway, USA. Their scientific contributions are appreciated in countries were the live.

As a part of the event “Days of AMNuBiH 2019”, a seminar “How to prevent the most common mistakes that occur in scientific research” was organized, which is one of the most current problems in medical science, not only in BiH but in the world, which was presented by a group of academic researchers based on the results of a detailed study of articles published in reference scientific journals indexed in reputable scientific databases. As AMNuBiH President, Izet Masic pointed out in his speech, “Unfortunately, the medical academic, but also the scientific community in general, is paying little attention to this, and that is why science, among other things, is in crisis in our region, but also globally. And we cannot justify the lack of financial resources for scientific projects and research, there are other reasons that we hear and read about it in daily in the media, which in this case have also been failed and have not covered this major scientific event in BiH. They continue to report on a daily basis about whether governments and their ministries are or have not been formed, what their representatives are doing and having a good time, murders, migrants, football players (perhaps the most) and similar, much less important events at our region. And our universities and their faculties are in the last place in the ranking of science and education, or they are not ranked at all. Compared to population in BiH, we are far ahead in number of scientific researches of the more developed countries. Unfortunately, this is our reality, the consequences of which will be fatal for us, not just us, but for generations to come.”

One of the conclusions of AMNuBiH members was, given the presented data from their studies, that BiH is the last in the region in terms of number of transplants completed, and AMNuBiH should soon organize a thematic meeting on this health issue, significant for many characteristics for the BiH health system in general. Academician Asim Kurjak emphasized: “Everyone can be silent, but scientists should not, regardless of the consequences.”

Facts about AMNuBiH activities during past 10 years are described in the book “Ten years of Anniversary of AMNuBiH: 2009-2019, promoted during celebration of Anniversary of AMNuBiH. The book is deposited on official web site of Academy: www.amn.ba.

Idea for founding Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMNuBiH) was born in the Summer of the year 2009 during MIE 2009 Conference (Medical Informatics in Europe) held in Sarajevo from August 28th to September 2nd, 2009, when two participants of the Conference Izet Masic and Asim Kurjak discussed about possibility to establish BiH Academy of Medical Sciences as similar academies in Croatia and Serbia. Izet Masic asked several most influential professors and scientific and academic persons from several universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to join him as Initiative Council for founding of new Academia of Medical Sciences.

Initiative Council was consisted from of professors: Buksa Marko, Gerc Vjekoslav, Gribajcevic Mehmed, Grujic Mirko, Hadziahmetovic Zoran, Hozo Izet, Karamehic Jasenko, Kucukalic Abdulah, Kurjak Asim, Masic Izet, Sinanovic Osman, Zildzic Muharem and Zvizdic Sukrija. They signed Declaration about founding Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 20th October of the 2009 at Department of Medical Informatics at Faculty of medicine of University of Sarajevo. At this inaugural meeting Initiative Council members adopted all necessary documents for registration of Academy and has elected Board members. Newly elected President, professor Izet Masic, suggested the election of other members of the Main Board of AMNuBiH, as follows: Vice Presidents: professor Mirko Grujic and professor Osman Sinanovic, as the Secretary General suggested is the professor Zoran Hadziahmetovic. Chairman of the Supervisory Board has been elected professor Vjekoslav Gerc, and President of the Court of Honor professor Marko Buksa. Other signers of applications to AMNuBiH became members of the Main Board. Other members of the Executive Board have been elected: Sukrija Zvizdic, Abdulah Kucukalic, Jasenko Karamehic, Muharem Zildzic and Izet Hozo. As Corresponding members of AMNuBiH were elected: Asim Kurjak, Benjamin Djulbegovic, Jacob Bergsland, Zeljko Reiner and Pavle Milenkovic.

The first General Assembly of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on 28th December of the 2009 at Rectorate Hall of University of Sarajevo (Figure 1, 2 and 3). At Assembly were adopted all documents and the first class of academicians were elected: Izet Masic, Mirko Grujic, Vjekoslav Gerc, Zoran Hadziahmetovic, Abdulah Kucukalic, Mehmed Gribajcevic, Sukrija Zvizdic, from University of Sarajevo, Osman Sinanovic, Muharem Zildzic from University of Tuzla, Asim Kurjak from University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), Jacob Bergsland from University of Oslo (Norway), Benjamin Djulbegovic from University of Tampa, Florida (USA), Izet Hozo from University of Split (Croatia), Zeljko Reiner from University of Zagreb (Croatia), Pavle Milenkovic from University of Belgrade (Serbia). All elected academicians has given inaugural speech during General Assembly. Presentations are deposited on web site of Academy www.amn.ba (1-3).

Figure 1. Founding of AMNuBiH at Rectorate of UNSA, Dec 28th, 2009.

Figure 1. Founding of AMNuBiH at Rectorate of UNSA, Dec 28th, 2009.

Figure 3. Reports about founding AMNuBiH published in Sarajevo Daily news “Dnevni Avaz”.

Second class of academicians of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been elected at General Assembly of AMNuBiH held on 24th June, 2011: Zlata Kundurovic and Halima Resic from University of Sarajevo, Enver Zerem from University of Tuzla, Ljubo Simic from University of Mostar and Zlatko Hrgovic from University of Frankfurt (Germany).

Third class of academicians of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been elected at General Assembly of AMNuBiH held on 22nd May, 2012: Snjezana Milicevic from University of Banja Luka, Emir Mujanovic from University of Tuzla, Mustafa Sefic and Dzelaludin Junuzovic from University of Sarajevo and Kenan Arnautovic from University of Memphis (USA).

Fourth class of academicians of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been elected electronically in March of the 2019: Enisa Mesic, Senaid Trnacevic and Sefik Hasukic from University of Tuzla, Mirza Biscevic from University of Sarajevo, and Doncho Donev from University of Skopje (North Macedonia). Current number of AMNuBiH is 33 and their CVs are deposited on www.amn.ba (Figure 4).

Fiigure 4. Members of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina - pictures deposited on www.amn.ba.

Since 2009 till today Executive Council of the AMNuBiH was very active and has been organized annually scientific meetings “Days of AMNuBiH” with special topics, and also with participation of academicians of AMNuBiH and with presentations from different scientific fields. But also, at meetings participated other experts and scientists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. Sometimes famous scientists from other countries via link presented interesting lectures (4-18).

During “Days of AMNuBiH 2013” held in hotel Holiday in Sarajevo on June 21st, 2013 Board of AMNuBiH organized International Scientific Conference “Publishing Integrity and Misconduct in Biomedicine”. Invited speakers have been professors: Enes Kujundzic (Sarajevo, BiH), Doncho Donev (Skopje, Nort Macedonia), Kenan Arnautovic (Memphis, USA), Benjamin Djulbegovic (Tampa, Florida, USA), Izet Masic (Sarajevo, BiH), Asim Kurjak (Dubrovnik, Croatia), and Azis Pollozhani (Tetovo, North Macedonia). Professor Muharem Zildzic promoted book “Clinical propedeutics” written by Professor Izet Hozo (Split, Croatia).

During “Days of AMNuBiH 2016” held in hotel Bosnia in Sarajevo on December 2nd and 3rd Board of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized, also, seminar named as “SWEP – Mediterranean Seminar about Science Editing and Publishing” with participation of 13 editors of important indexed biomedical journals published in countries of South-Eastern Europe. Speakers of the “SWEP 2016” Seminar were: Izet Masic (Sarajevo), Doncho M. Donev (Skopje, North Macedonia), Srecko Gajovic (Croatia), Armen Yuri Gasparyan (Birmingham, UK), Miro Jakovljevic (Zagreb, Croatia), Dejan B. Milosevic (Sarajevo), Osman Sinanovic (Tuzla), Sekib Sokolovic (Sarajevo), Selma Uzunovic (Zenica), and Enver Zerem (Tuzla). Mentioned editors of biomedical journals adopted “Sarajevo Declaration on the Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications”, which has been included in Instructions for authors in approximately 30 biomedical journals and cited in Pubmed Central over 40 times. Sarajevo Declaration is translated from Bosnian to English and Russian language and re-published in several journals in Russia, Pakistan and other countries.

During “Days of AMNuBiH 2018” held in hotel Holiday in Sarajevo on December 8th, 2018 Board of Academy of Medical sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the “Second SWEP – Mediterranean Seminar about Science Editing and Publishing” - “SWEP 2018”, with participation of 15 editors of important indexed biomedical journals published in countries of South-Eastern Europe. At “SWEP 2018”, active participation have taken by editors of the biomedical journals and also, distinguished professors and scientists who are interesting in the field of Science editing and publishing: Medical Archives, Acta Informatica Medica, Materia Socio-Medica, Croatian Medical Journal, Psichiatria Danubina, Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, Medicinski Glasnik, Acta Medica Saliniana, European Journal for Biomedical Informatics, Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, etc. from several counties: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and USA. The aim of the meeting was to provide fundamental help to PhD students in their PhD thesis, because we all expected that their current topics in the field of scientific publishing will at least be a road sign, how to act, and what to avoid problems in this field.

These meetings of AMNuBiH become a tradition, and promote scientific excellence, as the only weapon in the hands of science in the modern world. SWEP 2018 is one of the contributors to the development of science in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and both the region and the Europe.

AMNuBiH has three official biomedical journals published by AVICENA, d.o.o. Publisher: Medical Archives (founded in 1947), Materia Socio-Medica (founded in 1978) and Acta informatica Medica (founded in 1993). All journals are cited and indexed in more than 20 on-line databases (4-18).

Academicians of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina are actively included in different activities in other international and domestic academies. Asim Kurjak, Mustafa Sefic and Izet Masic are members of World Academy of Art and Science, Asim Kurjak and Enver Zerem are members of Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Izet Masic is member of International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics, Mirko Grujic and Ljubo Simic are members of Croatian Academy of Sciences in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Asim Kurjak, Mustafa Sefic and Osman Sinanovic are members of Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences (1, 2).

Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina has good cooperation with other academic institutions (ANUBiH), universities, medical academies in other countries. We hope that cooperation and collaboration will be continued in the future, also was the one of main conclusions of the last General Assembly meeting held on October 27th, 2019 (Figure 5 and 6).

Figure 5. Academicians of AMNuBiH at celebration of 10th Anniversary, 2009-2019.

Figure 6. Participants of the Seminar “How to avoid errors in statistical research”.