On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster, in collaboration with the Faculty of Dental Medicine, hosted an advisory board for medical tourism from Cheonan, led by Prof. Dr. Jeong Man LEE from South Korea. During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the work of the Cluster, the faculty’s programs, the infrastructure of successful dental institutions in Kvarner, and innovations in patient protection.

Manager Marija Banac presented the Cluster’s work so far and plans for the further development of health tourism in Kvarner, while Vice Dean for Internationalization, Science, and Quality, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Romana Peršić Bukmir, DMD, presented the work of the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Rijeka. Professor Braut, also from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Rijeka, was highlighted for his innovation that significantly improved patient safety during medical-dental procedures.

Prof. Dr. Alen Braut, DMD, spoke about his invention – the ‘torpedo’ for COVID-19, codenamed T4C19R (Torpedo For Covid-19 from Rijeka). It is a specially designed safety chamber that enables therapists to work safely and protects patients from respiratory infections during various dental and medical procedures.

The delegation also visited OrtoNova, a private dental clinic and member of the Cluster. OrtoNova demonstrated its operational methods and the development of innovative services that established Kvarner as a leader in dental tourism.

This visit marks a significant stride in bolstering international cooperation within health tourism, particularly in the dental sector. The South Korean delegation acknowledged Kvarner’s achievements in dental medicine and expressed interest in learning and enhancing their knowledge to establish their own National Center for Dental Health Research.