The first centre for the Ultrasound Diagnostics and Education officially opened under the patronage of HRH Princess Katherine

Belgrade, 25 October, 2004 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine have officially opened today the first Centre for the Ultrasound Diagnostics and Education at the Polyclinic of the Clinical Centre of Serbia.

This Center is opened under the patronage of the Foundation of HRH Princess Katherine and it is a result of cooperation between the HRH Princess Katherine Foundation www.lifeline.org and the humanitarian organization “Lifeline – North America” (the patronage of Princess Katherine) www.lifelineaid.info, “Jefferson Ultrasound Institute”, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia www.jefferson.edu and the “Stavros S. Niarkos Foundation”.

HRH Princess Katherine had given a speech at the ceremony of the official opening where she stressed the importance of this institution, and added:

“It is great honor to be the 64th affiliated Centre of the World Health organization for continual and general education in ultrasound diagnostics at Thomas Jefferson Ultrasound Institute in Philadelphia, which exists in 58 countries of the World. My husband, Crown Prince Alexander are trying to bring the most famous experts in different branches of medicine to our country, so they could exchange their knowledge and experience with our doctors . We have worked very hard on establishing the cooperation with the high quality centers and universities in the world. That is why I would like to use this opportunity to say thank you to “Thomas Jefferson” Institute and its doctor Goldberg, Professor Margulis and his wife, Doctor Hricak, as well as the “Stavros S. Niarkos Foundation”, without whose generosity, will and wish to help my Foundation and this Centre, those 30 ultrasound apparatus, nor this Centre itself would not be in the possibility to work.”

The attendances were also addressed by doctor Goldberg, doctor Hricak, Professor Radulovic, Docent Ljubic, the Counselor of the Director of the Clinical Centre, Doctor Jekic, Deputy Minister of Health Mrs. Nevena Karanovic and Doctor Margulis, by which this Centre is going to be named after.

This is the 64th affiliated Centre of the World Health Association for the continuous education in ultrasound diagnostics under “Jefferson Ultrasound Institute” from Philadelphia, which exist in 58 countries in the world.

In Clinical Centre of Serbia this Centre will be run by the Radiology and Gynecology Institute. This Centre will be placed in two locations – Polyclinic of the Clinical centre and the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The existence of this Centre was enabled by the donation of 30 repaired Ultrasound apparatus which will be used for the treatments of the patients and for the education of the of doctors in ultrasound diagnostics. The value of one ultrasound apparatus is 20.000 euros, so far 6 is here, and 24 more are expected until the February, 2005.

The Centre will be run by the Professor Zeljko Markovic, the Director of the CCS Radiology Department and by Docent Alexander Ljubic, Deputy Director of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Institute CCS. It is planned that Centers like this to open in all University institutions in our country – Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Nis.

This Centre in Belgrade will be named after the famous radiologist, the member of SANU Professor Doctor Alexander Margulis, who has been working and living in the USA more than 60 years. As a part of this project, and by big efforts of the Professor Margulis` wife, Doctor Hedwig Hricak Margulis, the Director of the Radiology department in the “Sloan –Kettering Memorial Cancer Centre” of the Cornell University in New York, two doctors from the Radiology Institute CCS, are at the three month education of the ultrasound diagnostics at “Thomas Jefferson University” at “Sloan-Kattering” Hospital.

Beside Their Royal Highnesses, the official opening of the Centre was also attended by Professor Dr Alexander Margulis, Doctor Hedwig Hricak Margulis, the Director of “Thomas Jefferson Ultrasound Institute”, Dr Berry Goldberg, Deputy Minister of Health of Serbia, Nevena Karanovic, the representatives of the Ministry of Health and many other respected professors and doctors.

Before the official opening Dr Berry Goldberg gave a lecture about the importance and the usage of the ultrasound in early diagnostics in radiology and gynecology at the Medical Faculty, at the University of Belgrade.

Their Royal Highnesses hosted a celebration lunch at the White Palace for the Very respected guests. This lunch was attended by Their Excellencies the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece with his wife and H.E. the Ambassador of Croatia with wife, the wife and daughter of H.E. the Ambassador of the USA, Mrs. and Miss Polt, Deputy Minister of Health, Mrs. Nevena Karanovic. By generosity of the amateur folklore ensemble “Lola” www.kudlola.org.yu, the guests were presented with folklore dance.