4th Vladimir Totovic – Memorial Symposium / – One Day Virtual Symposium organized by the German Division of the IAP & the Vladimir Totović -Foundation

Course fee:

EUR 110,00:  Regular / Specialists

EUR 60,00:  Residents / Physicians in further education programme*

Free of charge:  Pathologists from Ukraine

*Resident status must be confirmed by a formal declaration from the Head of Department issued in 2026. The requested document can be uploaded during registration process.

Pathologists from under-resourced countries are eligible for free registration. Please explain why a bursary is needed and upload the document during the online registration process.

Payment must be made in EUR. All charges for bank transfer are to be paid by participant.

The North Rhine Medical Association has accredited the event with 8 continuing education credits in Category A.

An application for CME credits has been submitted to the UEMS.

Vladimir Totović was born in Novi Sad, the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina (Serbia)   on May 9, 1924.

Because of WW II he finished gymnasium in 1946. He started studying medicine in Prague and changed after 4   semesters to Zagreb Medical School, where his talent was immediately recognized by Prof. Sergej Saltykow (head   of the Department of Pathology) and his coworker and successor Prof. Zlatko Kopač. Totović graduated from   medical school in 1953 and immediately started his residency in Anatomic Pathology, which he finished in 1959.   In the same year he made his first educational visit to Bonn. In 1960 he obtained the prestigious Humboldt   scholarship to study the application of histochemical methods in Marburg and electron microscopy in Bonn. He   proceeded his research work with a PhD thesis and habilitation in 1968 and became an extraordinary professor in Bonn in 1971. He was a brilliant teacher and was taking part in many textbooks.

For his whole life he stayed in contact with the Institute of Pathology of the Zagreb Medical School and together with his wife Olga he promoted the contacts between this institute and German pathology by supporting applications of Croatian colleagues for Humboldt scholarships as well as during their stays in Germany.

Totović was one of the founding members of the German IAP Division (GDIAP) in 1964/ 1965 and actively involved in the organization of the 1st Annual Meeting of the GDIAP in 1972. Under the presidency of Prof. Walter Sandritter he organized educational programs according to the educational structure of the IAP, particularly to that of the US and Canadian Division. Except from the annual meetings, he established one day courses to different topics (“tutorials”) and a self-education program with slide collections and handouts. 1980 he was elect to the board of directors of the GDIAP and subsequently became secretary/ treasurer and hold this position until his death on September 5, 1997. In this period the GDIAP experienced an important developmental step including its headquarter in Bonn.

The GDIAP honors Vladimir Totovic for his enormous contributions to the IAP. In his memory the Vladimir Totovic Foundation was founded in 2014 at the 50th anniversary of the GDIAP in particular to support pathology and its trainees with a special focus on young pathologists from underserved countries.

The Vladimir Totović Foundation is a non-profit foundation in the fiduciary administration of the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany for the promotion of pathology and its young academics. It was established in 2014 by the German Division of the International Academy of Pathology German Section The purpose of the foundation is in particular the promotion of scientifically based further and advanced training in pathology, including the examination methods used in their interdisciplinary significance for the whole of medicine. The Foundation provides its support primarily from donations.

Funding priorities

Vladimir Totović Research Prize
The Vladimir Totovic Research Award recognizes outstanding research achievements of internationally renowned pathologists. The prize money of 5,000 € includes the award of the Vladimir Totovic Medal and the Vladmir Totovic Lecture by the awardee. The selection of the awardees is made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees; self-application is not possible.

Vladimir Totovic Research Fellowships
Research fellows may apply for a stipend and research funding for a maximum three-month project closely related to academic pathology. The aim is to promote early scientific independence through an independent project leader. This requires a transfer from Germany to a foreign institution or from a foreign institution to Germany. Applications in accordance with the guidelines for research grants can be submitted by June 30 and December 31. The decision is made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees on the basis of independent expert opinions, taking into account the total budget available for funding. The scholarships are open to physicians and scientists of related disciplines with a qualifying degree.

Vladimir Totovic Travel Grants

Travel grants can be applied for participation in a German or international congress of pathology or in a symposium of the International Academy of Pathology. It is a prerequisite that the applicant provides evidence of his or her own scientific contribution (poster presentation or lecture). Applications according to the guidelines for travel grants can be submitted at any time. The decision will be made by the Board of Trustees within 8 weeks.

The foundation gladly accepts applications for research and travel grants.

For this, please contact the foundation manager Hannah Hexamer Hannah.Hexamer@stifterverband.de or contact Martina Schmidt  from the office of the German Division of IAP martina.schmidt@iap-bonn.de