Head of the study: Prof. Gordana Rubeša, MD, PhD
E-mail: gordana.rubesa@medri.uniri.hr
For numerous years, residents from the CHC Rijeka and regional psychiatric institutions such as Rab Psychiatric Hospital, Pula MC, Lopača Psychiatric Hospital, Gospić MC, as well as other institutions from Croatia, have been doing their specialist training in psychiatry at the CHC Rijeka Clinic for Psychiatry. According to the new specialisation programme in psychiatry, valid from January 1, 2012, the resident is obligated to attend a one-year specialist study programme during the five-year residency. Since the Clinic for Psychiatry at the CHC Rijeka is accredited to conduct most of the specialisation programme and the final specialist exam, the launching of the study programme enables the full implementation of specialist education in psychiatry. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia issues approval for specialisation in psychiatry based on the conditions stipulated by the Ordinance on Specialist Training for Doctors of Medicine and according to the current National Programme that approves a certain number of specialisations from a certain branch of medicine.
The participants attending the study are physicians who have been approved specialisation in psychiatry to work in mental health institutions in the wider Rijeka region and the entire Republic of Croatia. This study programme and the requirements for specialist training in psychiatry are aligned with the requirements set by the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Medical Chamber and professional psychiatric associations. A similar specialist professional study of psychiatry did not exist in the Republic of Croatia until the accreditation of this programme. This programme offers education in all general and specific knowledge and skills in the field of psychiatry required by the current specialisation programme. Students must attend and pass all compulsory courses (40 ECTS credits). Elective courses worth 5 ECTS credits and other elective activities can be enrolled in other university studies at the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Rijeka and other universities in the Republic of Croatia and the EU after prior agreement with the mentor. This study is aligned with the Strategic Development Plan of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka 2010–2015, which proposes drafting a joint specialisation plan for the Faculty of Medicine. Upon completion of the study and specialisation in psychiatry, the participant is awarded the title of psychiatry specialist and is thus able to work in private and public mental health institutions. A psychiatry specialist can also work independently in the clinical branch of psychiatry.