Until 1866, Krakow physicians were active within the framework of the Imperial-Royal Krakow Scientific Society (C.K. Towarzystwo Naukowe Krakowskie), established in 1815, particularly in the Section of Natural and Medical Sciences. Meetings were held at the Society’s headquarters on Sławkowska Street in Krakow. Scientific works were presented during joint sessions of the Society and published in various periodicals, including Yearbook of the Krakow Scientific Society in Association with the Jagiellonian University, Yearbook of the Faculty of Medicine at the Jagiellonian University (1838–1845), and Krakow Pharmaceutical Memoirs (1834–1836).

The need for dissemination of medical information in Polish led Professors Józef Dietl and Antoni Bryk, together with Professors Józef Majer and Fryderyk Skobel and Doctors Józef Oettinger and Michał Zieleniewski, to initiate the publication of a weekly titled Przegląd Lekarski (Medical Review) in April 1862. The journal published not only scientific papers but also a wide range of information on clinical practice, reports from scientific meetings, sanitary and epidemiological data, accounts of scientific, professional, and social life, and promoted the establishment of a strictly medical association.1,2

From its inception, Przegląd Lekarski—currently known as Przegląd Lekarski – Jagiellonian Medical Review—faced numerous challenges, which diminished with the establishment of the Krakow Medical Society (KMS) in 1866, with the journal becoming its official organ. Financial difficulties, however, remained a constant concern.

The history of Przegląd Lekarski and the KMS has been described in numerous publications,1-8 many of which emphasized the close connection between the KMS and the Jagiellonian University. In 1966, long-term KMS president Professor Józef Bogusz stated: “The Krakow Medical Society maintained close ties with the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University, just as today it remains closely liaised with the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical Academy. The outward expression of this connection included, among others, a celebration of the ceremonial jubilee session marking the 25th anniversary of the Krakow Medical Society in the assembly hall of the Jagiellonian University; joint publication of several volumes of the Medical Yearbook by the Krakow Medical Society and the Faculty of Medicine under the editorship of Professor Stanisław Ciechanowski, MD; and the fact that the presidents of the Society were the most distinguished professors of medicine in Krakow.”4

It should be emphasized that successive editors-in-chief of Przegląd Lekarski were simultaneously members of the KMS board and professors of the Medical Academy / Jagiellonian University (Table 1). This connection, as well as the adherence to the founding “Prospectus” of Przegląd Lekarski (Figure 1), was particularly maintained during the presidency of Professor Igor Gościński, who has headed the KMS since 2003.

Table 1. Editors-in-chief of Przegląd Lekarski from 1945

Year

Editor-in-chief

1945

Jan Hozer, MD, PhD

1946–1971

Professor Bronisław Giędosz, MD, PhD

1972–1984

Professor Leon Cholewa, MD, PhD

1985–1990

Professor Jan Sznajd, MD, PhD

1990–1995

Professor Zygmunt Hanicki, MD, PhD

1995–2019

Professor Władysław Sułowicz, MD, PhD

2025–presenta

Associate Professor Aleksander Siniarski, MD, PhD

a Przegląd Lekarski – Jagiellonian Medical Review

Figure 1. First page of Przegląd Lekarski from 1862

Financial difficulties led to the discontinuation of the journal in 2019. However, after years of efforts, and despite legal and organizational challenges, the dedication of Professors Igor Gościński and Jacek Składzień, as well as the support of Professor Maciej Małecki, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University Medical College (currently Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University Medical College for the years 2024–2028) and Professor Grzegorz Gajos (Vice-Dean for Scientific Research and Development at Faculty of Medicine at the University Medical College) resulted in the revival of the journal in 2025 in its new electronic format. The editor-in-chief became Aleksander Siniarski, MD, PhD—Associate Professor at the Department of Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Failure at the Institute of Cardiology of the Jagiellonian University Medical College.9 The electronic format of the journal has been implemented in collaboration with Medycyna Praktyczna.