Professor Dragan Primorac, M.D., Ph.D., (Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, St. Catherine Specialty Hospital) is a renowned physician, scientist, entrepreneur, and former Croatian Minister of Science, Education, and Sports (2003–2009). He made history as the first person to be named Global Penn State University Ambassador since the university’s founding in 1855.
Recognized internationally for his scientific impact in forensic, anthoropological and clinical genetics, as well as in personalized medicine, Prof. Primorac has consistently ranked among the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists both for career-long and single-year contributions—based on citation metrics by Stanford University and Elsevier. His academic appointments span institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including faculty roles at Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Xi’an Jiaotong University, among others. Notably, he is the first European to receive the title of Professor Emeritus from India’s National Forensic Science University.
With nearly 400 scientific publications, 30 books or book chapters, and invitations to speak at over 150 international conferences, his work has appeared in top-tier journals like Science and Nature. According to Google Scholar, his research has been cited more than 11,000 times, earning him an H-index of 45, reflecting both influence and reach in his field.
Bridging Innovation and Patient Care in Croatia
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital was founded with the vision of transforming healthcare in Croatia and the Europe region. The hospital’s establishment was inspired by its founder’s experience in the United States, where he recognized the potential of integrating cutting-edge medical innovation and biomedical research directly into clinical practice.
The hospital was created to bridge the gap between scientific advancement and routine care in Europe by immediately applying evidence-based scientific findings according to good clinical practice and diagnostics. St. Catherine’s offers a holistic, multidisciplinary model that combines diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation. It places a strong emphasis on personalized medicine, using genomics and precision diagnostics to tailor treatment plans to individual patients, aligning with the best clinical guidelines.
Built on core values of excellence, ethics, and empathy, the hospital serves as a leading center for treatment, education, and research collaboration.
How St. Catherine Became a Healthcare Pioneer in Personalized Medicine
Dragan Primorac established St. Catherine Specialty Hospital during a global recession, without national financial support, and faced skepticism toward private healthcare. Despite these obstacles, its founding was driven by a strong vision: to build a trusted institution based on clinical excellence, ethical responsibility, and patient accessibility.
The hospital immediately set itself apart by bringing together leading international experts and integrating advanced diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation into a single, comprehensive model centered on personalized medicine. This required introducing genomic diagnostics and OMICS technologies into routine care. To facilitate this transformation, the hospital heavily invested in education, research, and international collaboration.
A core realization of the hospital’s journey is that true innovation combines technology with compassion. By listening to patients and building a team driven by shared values, the hospital delivers care that is both cutting-edge and humane. Today, St. Catherine Specialty Hospital is recognized as a European Center of Excellence in personalized medicine.
Personalized Care, Proven Results
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital is a leader in personalized medicine, moving away from standard protocols to create precision treatment strategies based on each individual’s genetics, lifestyle, and values.
The hospital was an early adopter in Europe, integrating comprehensive genetic profiling and advanced molecular diagnostics into routine care to assess risk, guide therapy, and minimize side effects.
Its distinctive interdisciplinary model—especially effective in sports medicine and chronic disease—develops patient-specific plans that blend scientific precision with a deep understanding of the patient’s unique context, leading to better outcomes.
St. Catherine is set apart by its commitment to merging scientific innovation with compassionate, human-centered care. The hospital ensures treatment addresses not just the illness’s biology but also the patient’s personal goals and concerns, actively empowering patients. It is now recognized as a European Center of Excellence for this approach.
Redefining Clinical Care Through Genomics and AI
Innovation is central to St. Catherine Specialty Hospital’s mission, making it a leader in integrating advanced technology into routine care.
The hospital was a pioneer in adopting whole genome sequencing (WGS) for real-time clinical decisions, supporting precision strategies in areas like predictive medicine, pharmacogenomics, and oncology. Primorac’s approach for personalized risk assessment, optimized therapy, and prevention of adverse drug reactions, all based on the patient’s unique genetic makeup.
Along with St. Catherin, Dragan Primorac further leverages international collaborations to develop proprietary AI-driven algorithms and big data models that predict drug responses and refine dosing, advancing data-powered precision medicine.
The hospital’s strength is its multidisciplinary, patient-centered model that cohesively combines molecular diagnostics, clinical expertise, and AI. This ensures innovation is both technically advanced and deeply humane. St. Catherine believes the future of medicine is personal, integrating science and compassion to shape that future globally.
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital: Commitment to Trust & Ethics
- Operates with a core philosophy of trust, ethics, and highest international standards
- Fully GDPR-compliant with JCI Gold Seal of Approval for patient safety and data security
- Uses advanced encryption and secure electronic health records to protect patient information
- Ongoing staff training in medical ethics and privacy laws
- Dedicated ethics committee oversees complex cases
- Prioritizes transparency, cultural sensitivity, and patient autonomy
- Teaching hospital that instills compassion, integrity, and ethical excellence in future professionals
- Provides clinically outstanding and ethically grounded care for all, including elite athletes and international patients
- Puts human dignity at the center of every decision
The Next Frontier in Precision Healthcare
Dragan Primorac called by EU Reporter “A pioneer in the future of personalized medicine”, is driving a medical revolution, transforming healthcare from a reactive system into a predictive, preventive, and personalized model, anticipating major advances in multi-omics, AI, and data science.
The hospital was a global pioneer in integrating whole genome sequencing (WGS) into routine care, using genetic data for real-time therapeutic decisions and creating highly individualized treatment strategies.
Recognizing the importance of knowledge, St. Catherine is dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders in precision medicine through training and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. Its commitment to research is highlighted by co-organizing leading international scientific conferences with the Mayo Clinic and International Society for Applied Biological Sciences (ISABS), drawing Nobel laureates and thousands of scientists.
St. Catherine also maintains key collaborations with top U.S. institutions (e.g., UPMC, Dartmouth Health) and the International Center for Applied Biological Research to develop AI-powered clinical models that combine WGS and pharmacogenomics for predicting drug responses.
Looking forward, the hospital is exploring next-generation innovations like single-cell genomics, stem cell therapies, and gene therapy, aiming to shift the paradigm toward curative treatments that address diseases at their molecular origins. Ultimately, St. Catherine is building a model where care is defined by the unique biological narrative of each patient.
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital: Core Values
- Innovation: Leading in precision medicine with whole genome sequencing and AI tools like OncoOrigin always focused on improving patient outcomes.
- Compassion: Delivering empathetic, personalized care with cultural sensitivity, seeing patients as individuals, not just diagnoses.
- Integrity: Upholding world-class safety, transparency, and ethics, certified by Joint Commission International (JCI).
The hospital builds global partnerships based on shared ethical values, not commercial interests. Furthermore, it is committed to a healthcare model that is technologically advanced, ethically grounded, and deeply human. It ensures innovation serves humanity and every patient is treated with respect and dignity.
Recognized by the World, Rooted in Croatia
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital and the International Center for Applied Biological Research (ICABS) are gaining global recognition for leading in personalized medicine and international scientific collaboration, especially with U.S. institutions.
This influence stems from a commitment to excellence and global cooperation. St. Catherine was the first Croatian institution to receive the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) Gold Seal of Approval® for patient safety and quality.
As a teaching hospital, it maintains academic affiliations with top universities, including Penn State University College of Medicine, ensuring its clinical practices are research-informed.
In sports medicine, St. Catherine is the official hospital for major Croatian sports organizations including Croatian Olympic Committee, Croatian Football Federation, Croatian Taekwondo Federation, etc.and was honored as an International Center of Excellence by the World Taekwondo Federation in 2024.
The hospital pioneers innovative treatments, including clinical studies on microfragmented adipose tissue containing mesenchymal stem cells for treating the hyaline. Crucially, in partnership with the Croatian Football Federation, it launched Europe’s first large-scale genetic screening program to identify athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death.
These achievements underscore St. Catherine’s core mission: delivering world-class, patient-centered care while driving scientific breakthroughs.
Where Innovation Meets Humanity
Dragan Primorac uses strategic partnerships to advance personalized medicine, regenerative therapies, and oncological care. The hospital believes that collaborating with global leaders is essential for providing world-class, science-driven healthcare.
Key alliances include:
- A partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to establish an advanced cancer treatment center in Southeast Europe that uses U.S.-standard diagnostics and protocols.
- Collaboration with the Center for Precision Medicine and AI at Dartmouth Health to integrate whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and AI-based systems into clinical workflows, enabling individualized treatments.
- Partnerships with Neuberg Diagnostics (India) to strengthen molecular diagnostics and with Bonus Biogroup (Israel) and Apex Heart Institute (India) to evaluate an enhanced allogenic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in patients with inoperable coronary artery disease
Additionally, a long-standing collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and ISABS positions the hospital at the center of global scientific discourse, highlighted by conferences that draw Nobel laureates and international participants.The 2026 conference (www.isabs.net), to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from June 15–19, will focus on how AI is transforming diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient outcomes through data-driven, individualized approaches.
These international collaborations are a strategic investment in building a global network of excellence, where scientific innovation meets clinical compassion, making personalized medicine the global standard.
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital at a Glance
- A hub for medical education and research, with eight physicians pursuing Ph.D. degrees under Dr. Dragan Primorac’s mentorship
- 20% of patients come from abroad, making it a top destination for medical tourism and strategic partnerships, and innovations
Open Letter from Dragan Primorac
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
From the very beginning of my journey, I’ve held a steadfast belief: science must serve humanity.
Whether through whole genome sequencing and multi-OMICS enabling precise diagnosis and treatment, regenerative medicine powered by mesenchymal stem cells, or the creation of integrated hospitals that seamlessly unite molecular diagnostics with advanced therapy—our mission has remained clear and unwavering: to improve lives with compassion and precision.
At the heart of this mission lies personalized medicine. It is not merely a scientific paradigm—it is a profound human commitment. By tailoring care to the molecular and genetic profile of each individual—powered by AI, we move beyond the limitations of generalized approaches and embrace a future where medicine is as unique as the life it seeks to heal.
This vision is not theoretical—it is unfolding every day. It lives in every patient whose treatment is guided by data, in every life transformed by innovation, and in every institution built to integrate science with empathy.
Together—with courage, empathy, and relentless dedication—we are shaping a world where innovation meets humanity at every step. A world where science is not only advanced, but deeply humane.
I am profoundly grateful to all who have walked this path with me. Your trust, collaboration, and belief in this mission are the foundation of everything we’ve built—and everything we will continue to build together.
With sincere appreciation,
Dragan Primorac
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
St. Catherine Specialty Hospital
Quick Takes from Dragan Primorac
- Recommended tool:
- “Genome4All integrates whole genome sequencing into everyday clinical care, driving precision medicine forward.”
- Motivating quote:
- “The future belongs to those who dream big, act with courage, and conviction.”
- Advice for entrepreneurs:
- “Don’t fear risk—fall, learn, and rise stronger every time.”
- Recommended book/movie:
- “For personal growth, read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; for leadership, read Leaders Eat Last.”
