Zdenko Škrabalo
Encyclopedia
Zdenko Škrabalo is a Croatian academician
and diplomat and former foreign minister
of Croatia
.
After finishing high school in his home town of Sombor, Škrabalo enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, and graduated in 1953, where he also received a doctorate with a thesis on disorders of endocrine glands
. He attended several seminars around Germany, and he founded the first German laboratory for the cytopathology
of endocrine glands. He also attended seminars at medical schools in London, Leuven, Boston and Toronto. In 1976 he became full professor at the Zagreb University School of Medicine, and he was also a guest lecturer at universities in Dacca, Boston, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Valletta.
Škrabalo also worked for the World Health Organisation as an advisor to various bodies concerned with diabetes
treatment. He is notable for being the first researcher who described the parasitic disease piroplasmosis
and his later research was concerned with thyroid
pathology, andrology
and diabetes. He auhored over 250 research articles and is a member of numerous Croatian and international physicians' associations. He is also a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
since 1992.
Škrabalo became engaged in politics in the early 1990s, and between 1991 and 1992 he was advisor to the President of Croatia
Franjo Tuđman for dealing with specialised agencies of the United Nations
. From 1992 to 1993 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
, and after that he served as Croatia's ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (1993–1995). In 1995 he was awarded the honorary title of professor emeritus of the University of Zagreb
and from 1996 to 2000 he served as ambassador to Hungary
. In 2000 Škrabalo went into retirement.
His younger brother Ivo Škrabalo
was also active in Croatian politics, but in the Croatian Social Liberal Party
.
Academician
The title Academician denotes a Full Member of an art, literary, or scientific academy.In many countries, it is an honorary title. There also exists a lower-rank title, variously translated Corresponding Member or Associate Member, .-Eastern Europe and China:"Academician" may also be a functional...
and diplomat and former foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
.
After finishing high school in his home town of Sombor, Škrabalo enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, and graduated in 1953, where he also received a doctorate with a thesis on disorders of endocrine glands
Endocrine system
In physiology, the endocrine system is a system of glands, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body. The endocrine system is in contrast to the exocrine system, which secretes its chemicals using ducts. It derives from the Greek words "endo"...
. He attended several seminars around Germany, and he founded the first German laboratory for the cytopathology
Cytopathology
Cytopathology is a branch of pathology that studies and diagnoses diseases on the cellular level. The discipline was founded by Rudolf Virchow in 1858. A common application of cytopathology is the Pap smear, used as a screening tool, to detect precancerous cervical lesions and prevent cervical...
of endocrine glands. He also attended seminars at medical schools in London, Leuven, Boston and Toronto. In 1976 he became full professor at the Zagreb University School of Medicine, and he was also a guest lecturer at universities in Dacca, Boston, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Valletta.
Škrabalo also worked for the World Health Organisation as an advisor to various bodies concerned with diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
treatment. He is notable for being the first researcher who described the parasitic disease piroplasmosis
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by infection with Babesia, a genus of protozoal piroplasms. After trypanosomes, Babesia are thought to be the second most common blood parasites of mammals and they can have a major impact on health of domestic animals in areas without severe...
and his later research was concerned with thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
pathology, andrology
Andrology
Andrology is the medical specialty that deals with male health, particularly relating to the problems of the male reproductive system and urological problems that are unique to men. It is the counterpart to gynaecology, which deals with medical issues which are specific to the female reproductive...
and diabetes. He auhored over 250 research articles and is a member of numerous Croatian and international physicians' associations. He is also a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
since 1992.
Škrabalo became engaged in politics in the early 1990s, and between 1991 and 1992 he was advisor to the President of Croatia
President of Croatia
The President of Croatia , officially styled the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia in the country and abroad as the head of state, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system, and safeguards the independence and...
Franjo Tuđman for dealing with specialised agencies of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. From 1992 to 1993 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia is the ministry in the Government of Croatia which is in charge of foreign relations and admission into the European Union.-Foreign affairs ministers:...
, and after that he served as Croatia's ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (1993–1995). In 1995 he was awarded the honorary title of professor emeritus of the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
and from 1996 to 2000 he served as ambassador to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In 2000 Škrabalo went into retirement.
His younger brother Ivo Škrabalo
Ivo Škrabalo
Ivo Škrabalo was a Croatian film critic, screenwriter, and member of parliament.Škrabalo was born in Sombor, where he finished elementary and high school before moving to Zagreb in 1952...
was also active in Croatian politics, but in the Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS is a conservative liberal political party in Croatia. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Its current president is Darinko Kosor, elected to that post in November 2009.-Chronology:The HSLS was...
.
Sources
- Biography at the Croatian Foreign Affairs Ministry