Public Health

Acting Head of Department

• Assist. Prof. Robert Doričić, PhD, MSc (Sanitary Administration)
  • Office hours: Tuesday, 09:00–10:00 or by appointment, with prior email notice
  • e-mail: robert.doricic@uniri.hr

Deputy Acting Head of Department

• Toni Buterin, PhD, MSc (Sanitary Engineering), Senior Assistant
  • Office hours: Tuesday, 09:00–11:00
  • e-mail: toni.buterin@uniri.hr

Administrative staff

• Marinka Kruljac
  • tel.: +385 51 688 264
  • e-mail: marinka.kruljac@uniri.hr

• Prof. Amir Muzur, PhD, MD
  • Office hours: Tuesday, 12:00–14:00
  • e-mail: amir.muzur@uniri.hr
• Prof. Iva Rinčić, PhD, MA (Croatian Language and Sociology)
  • Employment suspended
  • e-mail: iva.rincic@uniri.hr
• Prof. Elizabeta Dadić-Hero, PhD, MD (Primarius)
  • e-mail: elizabeta.dadic.hero@ri.ht.hr
• Assoc. Prof. Saša Horvat, PhD, BA (Theology)
  • Office hours: Wednesday, 09:00–11:00
  • e-mail: sasa.horvat@uniri.hr
• Assoc. Prof. Lovorka Bilajac, PhD, BSc (Sanitary Engineering)
  • e-mail: lovorka.bilajac@medri.uniri.hr
• Svjetlana Gašparović Babić, MD (Primarius), Assistant
  • Office hours: Wednesday, 10:00–12:00, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, 5th floor, room 510
  • e-mail: svjetlanagb@uniri.hr
• Helena Glibotić Kresina, MD (Primarius), Assistant
  • Office hours: Monday, 11:00–12:00, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Department of Public Health
  • e-mail: helenagk@uniri.hr
• Vladimir Šupek, MSc (Sanitary Engineering), Assistant
  • Office hours: Wednesday, 10:00–11:00
  • e-mail: vladimir.supek@fzsri.uniri.hr
• Tajana Tomak, MA (English and German Language and Literature), Senior Lecturer
  • Office hours: Tuesday, 12:00–14:00
  • e-mail: tajana.tomak@medri.uniri.hr
• Helena Štrucelj, MA (Psychology), Senior Lecturer
  • Office hours: Thursday, 13:00–14:00
  • e-mail: helena.strucelj@uniri.hr

• Assoc. Prof. Aleksandar Racz, PhD, MD
  • e-mail: aleksandar.racz@zvu.hr
• Assoc. Prof. Vanja Ivković, PhD, MD
  • e-mail: vanja.ivkovic@gmail.com
• Damir Brnas, MSc (Criminology), Assistant
  • e-mail: brdamir@gmail.com
• Dobrica Rončević, MSc, MD, Assistant
  • e-mail: dobrica.roncevic@zzjzpgz.hr

• Suzana Janković, PhD, MD
  • e-mail: suzana.jankovic1@gmail.com
• Daniela Glažar Ivče, PhD, MD
  • e-mail: daniela.glazar-ivce@zzjzpgz.hr

• 2025
• Armano L, Vasiljev V, Rukavina T, Trnčević M, Filipčić I, Racz A. Diverging perceptions of therapeutic effectiveness in complementary and alternative medicine: a cross-sectional study among oncology patients and healthcare professionals. Edelweiss Appl Sci Technol. 2025;9(7):1507-1518. https://doi.org/10.55214/2576-8484.v9i7.8964
• Bilajac L, Marinović Glavić M, Zulle K, Bilobrk M, Juraga D, Jelaković A, Rukavina T, Vasiljev V, Jelaković B. Breaking the Cycle: Enhancing Cardiovascular Health in the Elderly Through Group Exercise. Life. 2025;15(2):206. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020206
• Buterin T, Doričić R, Muzur A. Mali nepretenciozni povijesnomedicinski vodič Rijekom / A short & unpretentious historical-medical guide to Rijeka. Rijeka: University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, 2025. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:184:434049
• Buterin T, Rinčić I, Muzur A, Doričić R. Climate change from the perspective of the New Public Health. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1620117. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1620117
• Eterović I, Buterin T, Sepčić J, Muzur A, Doričić R. Pharmacy on Cres: Fragments of the History of the Profession and Culture. Acta Med Hist Adriat. 2025;23(1):167-179. https://doi.org/10.31952/amha.23.1.8
• Gjuran-Coha A, Tomak T. Croatian medical terminology – between Anglicisms and neologisms. In: Đorović D, Mirić M, Stojičić V, editors. Jezik struke: pristupi i strategije: zbornik radova. Belgrade: Društvo za strane jezike i književnosti Srbije, Sekcija univerzitetskih nastavnika stranog jezika struke, 2025:67-79. https://doi.org/10.18485/lsp.2025.6.ch5
• Horvat S. Neuroscience of religious experience: between subjectivity and objectivity. In: Horvat S, Roszak P, editors. Neuroscience of religion: integrating brain, mind and beliefs. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025:19-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02444-2_3
• Horvat S, Roszak P, editors. Neuroscience of religion: integrating brain, mind and beliefs. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02444-2
• Horvat S, Horvat T. Artificial intelligence, neurodiversity, and trust: an exploratory overview. Scientia et Fides. 2025;13(1):215-232. https://doi.org/10.12775/SetF.2025.011
• Jelaković B, Marinović Glavić M, Belančić A, Bilobrk M, Bilajac L, Josipović J, Bolješić Dumančić M, Stupin A, Šušnjara P, Domislović M, Gellineo L, Prelević V, Radunović D, Fuček M, Anđelić AM, Alagić M, Bitunjac I, Kralj V, Vasiljev V, Željković Vrkić T, Živko M, Reiner Ž, Bubaš M, Jelaković A, Pećin I. Determinants of arterial hypertension in Croatian cohort of general adults: EHUH 2 study. J Hypertens. 2025;44(3):391-398. https://doi.org/10.1097/hjh.0000000000004214
• Jularić K, Vuletić N, Štrucelj H. Experience of preventive gynaecological examination in the general population of women. Primaljski vjesnik. 2025;37/38:38-42. https://www.komora-primalja.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PV-37-38_ispravak.pdf
• Juraga D, Rukavina T, Marinović Glavić M, Roviš D, Racz A, Bilajac L, Antonić M, Raat H, Vasiljev V. Impact of Face-to-Face and Online Mindfulness-Based Public Health Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older People: A Comparative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025;22(10):1588. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101588
• Medvedić E, Štrucelj H. Lifelong education in midwifery. Primaljski vjesnik. 2025;39:29-36. https://www.komora-primalja.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PV-37-38_ispravak.pdf
• Muzur A. How much neuroscience and religion can learn from Near-Death Experience: a frank critical re-appraisal. In: Horvat S, Roszak P, editors. Neuroscience of religion: integrating brain, mind and beliefs. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025:229-232. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02444-2_13
• Muzur A, Rinčić I. Global bioethics. Translated by D. C. Zanella. In: Sganzerla A, Zanella DC, Whitehouse PJ, editors. A bioética de V. R. Potter: conceitos, usos e significado. Curitiba: Pucpress, 2025:103-108. https://www.pucpress.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/livroBioeticaPotter_amostra.pdf
• Racz A, Vasiljev V, Rukavina T, Armano A, Perak A, Trnčević M, Hošnjak AM, Armano L. Barriers to communication about complementary and alternative medicine between oncology patients and healthcare professionals in Croatia: a cross-sectional study. Korean J Med Educ. 2025;37(4):401-418. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2025.353
• Racz A, Vasiljev V, Rukavina T, Hošnjak AM, Armano L. Sources of information about complementary and alternative medicine commonly used by oncology patients and healthcare professionals. Edelweiss Appl Sci Technol. 2025;9(4):1265-1275. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i4.6231
• Sraka D, Štrucelj H. Partner support and mental health of mothers of preterm children. Primaljski vjesnik. 2025;39:44-50. https://www.komora-primalja.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PV-39_online-za-objavu.pdf
• Tutić Grokša I, Depope A, Trako Poljak T, Buterin T, Doričić R, Rinčić I, Gensabella M, Zagorac I, Eterović I, Kalokairinou E, Kaluđerović Ž, Guć J, Vantsos M, Giacobello ML, Muzur A. Attitudes towards Medically Assisted Reproduction among Students in Three Euro-Mediterranean Countries. Ethics in Progress. 2025;16(2):4-30. https://doi.org/10.14746/eip.2025.2.1
• Tutić Grokša I, Depope A, Trako Poljak T, Eterović I, Buterin T, Doričić R, Gensabella Furnari M, Giacobello ML, Guć J, Kalokairinou E, Kaluđerović Ž, Rinčić I, Zagorac I, Vantsos M, Muzur A. Students’ attitudes toward euthanasia and abortion: a cross-cultural study in three Mediterranean countries. BMC Med Ethics. 2025;26(9). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01167-8
• Tutić Grokša I, Muzur A, Rinčić I. (Bio)ethical dilemmas that have lasted for decades – the background, effect and influence of the article “They Decide Who Lives, Who Dies” by Shane Alexander. Filozofska istraživanja. 2025;44(176):751-768. https://doi.org/10.21464/fi44408
• 2024
• Spevan M, Doričić R, Franković S, Muzur A. Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul as the founders of nursing in Rijeka and the healthcare activities of their Province of the Mother of Good Counsel. Nova prisutnost. 2024;22(2):429-439.
• Štrucelj H, Rošić Novak J, Bugarin V, Brusić J, Spevan M. Can education influence the habit of and motivation for proper hand disinfection technique? An experimental pilot study. Medicina fluminensis. 2024;60(2):229-237.
• Savić V, Štrucelj H. Unplanned pregnancy: The impact of social support on the mental health of the pregnant woman and pregnancy outcome. Primaljski vjesnik. 2024;35/36:65-70.
• Jurić T, Štrucelj H, Borovac B, Vuletić N, Klarić M. Effects of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on labor outcomes. Perinatal Journal. 2024;32(1):50-56.
• Doričić R, Buterin T, Eterović I, Gensabella Furnari M, Giacobello ML, Guć J, Kalokairinou E, Kaluđerović Ž, Rinčić I, Trako Poljak T, Tutić Grokša I, Vantsos M, Zagorac I, Muzur A. Mediterranean Bioethics in the bioethically less known Mediterranean: a struggle for identity. Med Morale. 2024;73(2):219-225.
• Milić J, Skitarelić N, Majstorović D, Zoranić S, Čivljak M, Ivanišević K, Marendić M, Mesarić J, Puharić Z, Neuberg M, Čukljek S, Racz A, Puljak L. Levels of depression, anxiety and subjective happiness among health sciences students in Croatia: a multi-centric cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2024;24:50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05498-5
• Racz A. Haiku poetry and Shinrin-yoku: Synergy of natural beauty and spiritual healing. Journal of Applied Health Sciences. 2024;19(1):65-73. https://jahs.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/07.pdf
• 2023
• Mohorić S, Anić I, Gašparović Babić S, Glibotić Kresina H, Sorta-Bilajac Turina I. Marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization: a review of the place and role of Andrija Štampar – “the Balkan bear” and initiator of Rijeka public health history. Medicina fluminensis. 2023;59(3):257-264. https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2023_306344
• Bakarcic D, Vlah N, Ivancic Jokic N, Jankovic S, Dragas Zubalj N, Kresina S, Mohoric S, Grzic R, Glibotic Kresina H. Oral Health Promotion Model Implemented in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. Preprints. 2023:2023100236. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0236
• Doričić R, Buterin T, Eterović I, Gensabella Furnari M, Giacobello ML, Guć J, Kalokairinou E, Kaluđerović Ž, Rinčić I, Trako Poljak T, Tutić Grokša I, Vantsos M, Zagorac I, Muzur A. Mediterranean Bioethics in the bioethically less known Mediterranean: a struggle for identity. Medicina e morale. 2023;73(2):219-225.
• Gjuran Coha A, Tomak T. Terminological aspects of medical terminology – between norm and usage. Mostariensia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2023;27(2):7-32.
• Gjuran Coha A, Tomak T. The Attitudes Towards the Use of Anglicisms in the Croatian Language of Medicine. MAP Education and Humanities. 2023;4:77-86.
• Gosić N, Tomak T. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Religion in Bioethical Education – One Proposition. Science, Art and Religion. 2023;2(3-4):112-116.
• Gjuran Coha A, Tomak T. English in Medical Practice. University of Rijeka Textbooks: Faculty of Medicine, e-edition, 2023.
• Hajdarevic S, Högberg C, Marzo-Castillejo M, Siliņa V, Sawicka-Powierza J, Esteva M, Koskela T, Petek D, Contreras-Martos S, Mangione M, Ožvačić Adžić Z, Asenova R, Gašparović Babić S, Brekke M, Buczkowsk K, Buono N, Serap Çifçili S, Dinant GJ, Doorn B, Hoffman RD, Kuodza G, Murchie P, Pilv L, Puia A, Rapalavicius A, Smyrnakis E, Weltermann B, Harris M. Exploring why European primary care physicians sometimes do not think of, or act on, a possible cancer diagnosis. A qualitative study. BJGP Open. 19 September 2023;BJGPO.2023.0029.
• Starc A, Enea V, Racz A, Palatin K, Gabrovec B, Đido V, Dahmane R, Rotim K. Predictors of sexual satisfaction: an international study. Acta Clin Croat. 2023;62(4):704-702. https://hrcak.srce.hr/320591
• 2022
• Gjuran Coha A, Tomak T. The Challenges in Learning English for Medical Purposes for the Health Professions Students. Proceedings of the 12th International Expert Science Conference “New Contemporary Challenges – Opportunities for Integrating Innovative Solutions into 21st Century Education”, EDUvision, 2022:463-477.
• Gosić N, Tomak T. The impact of poverty on the position of vulnerable groups in health care – a retrospective study of cases of pregnant women and newborns. In: Ramšak M, Łuków P, Muzur A, Steger F, editors. Social diversity and access to healthcare. Baden-Baden: Verlag Karl Alber, 2022:186-195.
• Šimunković G, Buterin T, Muzur A. The thorny way of European Bioethics: The Jahr journal case study. Nova prisutnost. 2022;20(2):417-430.
• Eterović I, Buterin T. Bioethical analysis of sanitary engineering: a critical assessment of the profession at the crossroad of environmental and public health ethics. Ethics Sci Environ Polit. 2022;22:13-24.
• Racz A. Attitudes of Roma women in isolated Roma settlements on the acceptability of violence against women. International Journal Knowledge. 2022;51(1):107-111. https://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/5045/5022
• Racz A. Illiteracy and low level of education as a barrier for Roma to entering the labor market. International Journal Knowledge. 2022;51(1):23-27. https://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/5036
• Petek D, Assenova R, Foreva G, Gašparović Babić S, Petek Šter M, Prebil N, Puia A, Smyrnakis E, Harris M. Primary care system factors and clinical decision-making in patients that could have lung cancer: a vignette study in five Balkan region countries. Slovenian Journal of Public Health. 2022;61(1):40-47. doi:10.2478/sjph-2022-0007
• Racz A. Prevalence of different forms of violence against Roma women in Roma families in isolated Roma settlements on the territory of Međimurje County. Ljetopis socijalnog rada. 2022;29(3):497-520. https://doi.org/10.3935/ljsr.v29i3.452
• Racz A, Rončević B, Milošević M. Logistic regression model of prediction of exposure to violence against Roma women in Roma families in isolated Roma settlements of Međimurje County. JAHR. 2022;13(1):23-46. https://hrcak.srce.hr/281554
• Brkić M, Bošnir J, Brkić D, Bevardi M, Racz A, Lasić D, Đido V, Pašalić A, Vlainić M. Presence of nitrates and nitrites in fresh cow milk from milk machines during winter and summer period in the city Zagreb and Zagreb County area. J Health Sci. 2022;12(2):140-145. https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/1816
• Starc A, Golubović N, Jukić T, Racz A, Dahmane Gošnak R. Determinants of sexual satisfaction among Bosnian and Herzegovinian women. J Health Sci. 2022;12(2):129-135. https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/1740
• Pavlek Z, Bošnir J, Kuharić Z, Racz A, Jurak I, Lasić D, Markov K, Jakopović Z, Frece J. The Influence of Binding of Selected Mycotoxin Deactivators and Aflatoxin M1 on the Content of Selected Micronutrients in Milk. Processes. 2022;10:2431. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10112431
• Racz A. Roma in Croatia throughout history – from unfamiliarity and stereotyping to acceptance and integration. JAHR. 2022;8(2):281-299. https://doi.org/10.24141/1/8/2/15
• Spevan M, Muzur A, Štrucelj H. Healthy lifestyles of nursing and medical students: a scoping review. Sestrinski glasnik. 2022;27:182-188.
• Buterin T, Doričić R, Broznić D, Ćorić T, Muzur A. The Labin Region, an ecologically vulnerable geographical area in Croatia: mortality characteristics in an area polluted by industry over a 40-year period. Geospat Health. 2022;17(1):1082.
• Racz A. Beliefs and attitudes of Roma women from isolated Roma settlements in Međimurje County about violence against women in the family. Nova prisutnost. 2022;20(3):633-653. https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/413595
• 2021
• Racz A, Smolčić Jurdana D, Rotim K. Spa & wellness offer as a determinant of the development of environmental awareness of managers in tourism. International Journal Knowledge. 2021;45(1):101-107.
• Tamarut S, Lampret Puž S, Štrucelj H. Analysis of the number of undergraduate and graduate theses of students of the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, in the institutional repository Dabar for the period 2018–2021. World of Health. 2022;5:40-45.
• Jurak G, Bošnir J, Đikić D, Mojsović Ćuić A, Pavlinić Prokurica I, Racz A, Jukić T, Stubljar D, Starc A. The Risk Assessment of Pesticide Ingestion with Fruit and Vegetables for Consumer’s Health. International Journal of Food Science. 2021:9990219. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9990219
• Jurak G, Bošnir J, Racz A, Brkić D, Prskalo I, Kiš D, Ozimec S, Kalambura S. Bioindicator detection of pesticide residues in the environment using honey bees. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology. 2021;22(2):458-466.
• Hrnjkaš Lj, Racz A. Distribution of pesticide residues between orange peel and pulp. Journal of Applied Health Sciences. 2021;7(2):181-190. https://doi.org/10.24141/1/7/2/8
• Racz A, Smolčić Jurdana D, Rotim K. Differences in attitudes about climate change among managers in tourist accommodation facilities of different categories. Journal of Applied Health Sciences. 2021;7(2):151-160. https://doi.org/10.24141/1/7/2/5
• Pavlek Ž, Bošnir J, Ivešić M, Serdar S, Kuharić Ž, Jakopović Ž, Frece J, Markov K, Čanak I, Racz A. Study of milk quality after the removal of AFM1 by lactic acid bacteria and beta-glucan. Medica Jadertina. 2021;51(1):5-12. https://hrcak.srce.hr/256558
• Racz A, Smolčić Jurdana D, Šverko Grdić Z. Managers’ Perspectives about the Relationship between Tourism and Climate Change: Case of the Republic of Croatia. Academica Turistica. 2021;14(1):53-70. doi:10.26493/2335-4194.14.53-70

• 2025 – 2029 Project leader: Saša Horvat, University of Rijeka
  • Social assistive robots and autism – perspectives and challenges
• 2025 – 2026 Project leader: Saša Horvat, John Templeton Foundation
  • Science and Faith in Healthcare: Advancing Holistic Approaches
• 2024 – 2025 Project leader: Toni Buterin, University of Rijeka
  • Historical, sociological and cultural aspects of environmental and climate change in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
• 2024 – 2025 Project leader: Robert Doričić, University of Rijeka
  • Diversity competences in higher education of health professions – new perspectives and models at the University
• 2024 – 2025 Project leader: Iva Rinčić, University of Rijeka
  • From living to belonging: a contribution to the establishment of bioethics of space
• 2023 – 2025 Project leader: Aleksandar Racz
  • Stereotypes and Social Distance of Nurses and Healthcare Workers toward Members of the Roma Minority (Roma) as Users of Healthcare, University of Applied Health Sciences Zagreb
• 2022 – 2024 Project leader: Aleksandar Racz, University of Applied Health Sciences Zagreb
  • Negative stereotypes and social distance of nurses toward members of the Roma national minority as users of healthcare
• 2022 – 2023 Project leader: Robert Doričić, University of Rijeka
  • Readiness for diversity: diversity competences of students of health professions at the University of Rijeka
• 2021 – 2024 Project leader: Amir Muzur, Croatian Science Foundation
  • From diversity of traditions to a common Euro-Mediterranean bioethical platform – creating tools for dialogue and action (EuroBioMed)