by Sebastiaan Engelborghs and Massimo Filippi Co-Chairs, EAN Scientific Panel on Dementia and Cognitive Disorders
It is with great sadness that we mourn the untimely passing of Professor Svetlana Tomić, a highly respected Croatian neurologist, dedicated clinician and teacher, and a valued colleague within the European Academy of Neurology.
Svetlana was born in Osijek, Croatia, in 1974 and graduated in medicine from the University of Zagreb in 1998. She joined the University Hospital Centre Osijek in 2002, initially as a resident in neurology, and became a specialist neurologist in 2006. In 2012, she completed her PhD in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, studying the relationship between cognitive impairment and the severity of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. She subsequently developed a distinguished clinical and academic career in Osijek. From 2016 onwards, she headed the Department for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases at University Hospital Centre Osijek, and in 2019 she became a subspecialist in neurodegenerative diseases. Alongside her clinical work, she was active academically as a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.
Her professional life was deeply rooted in the care of people living with neurodegenerative diseases. Her clinical and scientific expertise encompassed Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. She combined an interest in movement disorders with a strong commitment to dementia and cognitive neurology, reflecting the breadth of her expertise in neurodegeneration.
Svetlana’s engagement with patients went well beyond clinical practice. In 2013, she founded the patient association Awakening in Osijek, initially focused on supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families, and served as its president. She understood the uncertainty and vulnerability that accompany chronic neurodegenerative diseases and worked tirelessly to improve care, knowledge and support for those affected.
Svetlana was also deeply committed to European neurology. She joined the management group of the EAN Scientific Panel on Dementia and Cognitive Disorders in 2021 and became co-chair of the panel in 2022. In this role, she contributed substantially to the scientific, educational and collaborative activities of the panel and to advancing the field of dementia and cognitive disorders within the EAN. She was also a member of the Expert Advisory Panel of Alzheimer Europe and contributed to European initiatives addressing the changing landscape of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, treatment and care. Among the initiatives she helped to lead was the update of the EAN guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Whether lecturing at an EAN meeting, contributing to a scientific project or discussing the future direction of our field, Svetlana could always be relied upon for her expertise, careful preparation and commitment.
Her contribution, however, cannot be captured by positions, publications or projects alone. Those of us who had the privilege of working closely with Svetlana will remember above all the person behind these achievements. She was calm, thoughtful and kind. She listened carefully, expressed her views with clarity and respect, and brought a quiet sense of purpose to our discussions. Working with her was both a pleasure and a privilege. Conversations with Svetlana could range from complex questions in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration to the many other aspects of neurology that fascinated her, and her company was always a pleasure.
Her colleagues remember an excellent neurologist and lecturer, but equally someone warm, modest and deeply collegial. Her commitment was never about personal recognition; it was about doing good work, advancing neurology and, ultimately, improving the lives of patients. These qualities made her an especially valued member of our panel and of the wider neurological community.
Svetlana achieved a great deal during a life that ended far too soon. She leaves behind an important professional legacy in Osijek, in Croatian neurology and within the EAN, but she also leaves something less tangible and equally enduring: the memory of a thoughtful, generous and dedicated colleague whom we greatly enjoyed working with and whose presence we will deeply miss.
Our sincere condolences go to her husband Igor, her family, friends, colleagues and patients.
We will remember Svetlana with great respect and affection.
Sebastiaan Engelborghs and Massimo Filippi
Co-Chairs, EAN Scientific Panel on Dementia and Cognitive Disorders
