A scientific conference and exhibition pay tribute to the legacy of female medical pioneers in Tuzla’s history
Pioneers of Medicine and Bridges of Friendship: Tuzla Honors Its First Women Doctors
The Archives of Tuzla Canton, in collaboration with the University of Tuzla, organized a scholarly conference dedicated to the professional contributions and enduring legacy of the first female physicians in Tuzla. The event took place at the Ismet Mujezinović Atelier.
In a powerful fusion of history, medicine, and international collaboration, the University of Tuzla and the Archives of Tuzla Canton hosted a scientific and professional conference titled “Women Doctors in Tuzla During the Austro-Hungarian Administration”. Held at the Ismet Mujezinović Atelier, the event attracted a full house of visitors and marked the opening of a month-long exhibition celebrating the lives and contributions of the city’s first women doctors.
This initiative, created as part of the DARIAH BiH Consortium’s 2025 program theme on women’s contributions across all fields of human endeavor, aims to spotlight a lesser-known but deeply impactful chapter of Tuzla’s medical and social history.
“We chose a topic that emphasizes the historical significance of the first female physicians in Tuzla, while also strengthening academic and cultural ties with Poland and the Czech Republic,” said Prof. Dr. Nermin Sarajlić, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research at the University of Tuzla.
“Through a round table, exhibition, and digital presentation, this project shows the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of digital humanities in preserving heritage.”
The exhibition is the result of extensive research conducted across multiple archives and museums in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Director of the Tuzla Canton Archives, Mr. Omer Zulić, emphasized the challenges and importance of this undertaking:
“We deliberately chose a difficult path—to explore an overlooked topic and dig deeper into the past. The resulting collection holds not only local, but also international significance,” said Zulić.
One of the exhibition’s authors, Hatidža Fetahagić, provided important historical context on the arrival of the first woman doctor in Tuzla.
“Reports from that time indicate that Benjamin Kállay became aware of the lack of healthcare access for Muslim women. He introduced a program to recruit female doctors to treat women. The first to arrive was Anna Bayerová. She wasn’t just needed—she was urgently needed,” Fetahagić said.
“Her care extended to all women in Tuzla, and her dedication was extraordinary.”
The exhibition was officially opened by Mr. Damir Gazdić, Minister for Culture, Sports, and Youth of Tuzla Canton, who praised the consistent support of the Tuzla Canton Government for cultural and historical initiatives.
A message from Prof. Dr. Lana Šehović, National Coordinator of DARIAH BiH, was also shared, commending the University of Tuzla and the Archives as strong and inspiring partners within the consortium. Their rich collections, professional teams, and commitment to innovation have made them leaders in digital humanities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The central segment of the event was a round table discussion, moderated by Prof. Dr. Mirza Mahmutović from the Faculty of Philosophy in Tuzla. He expressed gratitude to RTV TK for their media partnership and highlighted the creation of short-form digital content for younger audiences on social media.
Among the featured speakers were Prof. Dr. Izet Šabotić and Prof. Dr. Tomasz Jacek Lis from Poland. Dr. Šabotić contextualized the importance of the Austro-Hungarian era in shaping modern Tuzla:
“This period saw Tuzla transition from an agrarian to an administrative and industrial center. The changing role of women, including the arrival of female doctors, was a crucial part of that transformation,” he noted.
Prof. Dr. Lis, from Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, focused on three key figures: Anna Bayerová, Zofia Krajewska, and Maria Olszewska.
“These women served the most vulnerable, especially impoverished Muslim women. They were not only physicians but also educators and advocates for equality. The records left by Dr. Krajewska provide rare and invaluable insights into the daily lives of women at the time,” he explained.
The exhibition will remain open to the public for the next month. A digital presentation of the project is available online through the University of Tuzla’s website: http://untz.ba/en/dariah-tuzla/.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
