Doctor Jovan Stejić: The first Serbian doctor of medicine

Doctor Jovan Stejić was born in Arad on November 24, 1803. He was the first Serbian to hold the title of Doctor of Medicine and worked in the renewed Serbia. He was the creator of Serbian medical terminology, the first Serbian anthropologist, and the Chief of Sanitation for the Principality of Serbia. Additionally, he served as the Chief Secretary of the State Council, a fighter for the reform of the Serbian language and orthography, a great enlightener, and an advocate for the rights of individuals and citizens. Doctor Stejić was also one of the founders of the Society of Serbian Letters and the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. His arrival in Serbia as the personal physician of Prince Miloš Obrenović marked the beginning of organized healthcare services in the country. He succeeded in bringing advanced medical ideas to Serbia, modeled after the country where he studied. He belonged to the first generation of Serbian intellectuals who invested their knowledge and efforts into the cultural enlightenment of the Serbian people and the building of the modern Serbian state in the 19th century. Some of the key messages of his works include natural rights, the right to freedom and equality, the right to honor and good name, and the right to property and acquired goods. His stance was that the state should be organized according to the law, and the law should be equal for all. He spoke about freedom and people's right to express their opinions. Significantly, he emphasized the educational role for younger generations. As a pioneer in many areas, through his literary work, he sought to highlight the foundations of moral values and the importance of a clear and peaceful conscience, thereby laying the foundations of medical ethics. One of his notable contributions was the book he translated and supplemented as a student according to the needs of the Serbian people, "Macrobiotics, or the Science of Prolonging Human Life," which was the first medical book in Serbia. By translating this book, he initiated pioneering work on Serbian medical terminology. Doctor Stejić died of tuberculosis in 1853 in Belgrade. He left behind his son, Pavle Stejić, a renowned Belgrade surgeon. Doctor Jovan Stejić distinguished himself through his diverse cultural, healthcare, and social work as a physician, writer, great scientist, and enlightener.