Profile of:

Simeon Grazio

Born and raised in Dubrovnik. Graduated from the School of Medicine, Zagreb in 1986. After the internship, a research fellow at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases of the Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre in Zagreb. Completed the residency in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in 1997 and the subspecialty exam in rheumatology in 2001. Successfully defended the master’s thesis in 1991, followed by attaining a PhD in 2000. Further education for 3 months in the Epidemiology Research Unit of the British Council for Arthritis and Rheumatism of the University of Manchester (UK), alongside shorter visits to Guy’s Hospital in London (UK), Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust(UK), Ghent University Hospital (Belgium), and Charité Hospital in Berlin (Germany). Attended several CME courses in rheumatology and physical and rehabilitation medicine, in Croatia and abroad. From 2005 to 2023, Head of the University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in the University Clinical Centre Sestre milosrdnice. In 2007, under his leadership, the Department became the Referral Centre for Spondyloarthritis of the Ministry of Health of Croatia, the first such referral centre in the field of rheumatology, of which he is still the leader. Initiated, lead and/or participated in many Croatian and international projects. Non-profitable international projects are performed within the EU Scientific Committee, EULAR, ASAS, or GRAPPA international organizations, some of them resulting in setting recommendations, standards of care, or consensus-based expert definitions. Leader or had an important role in creating Croatian guidelines/recommendations or position papers for the most prevalent entities in rheumatology (axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoporosis). Involved in several non-profitable studies (as PI and investigator), as well as multi-centric international clinical studies (from the phase IIA to the phase IV). Invited speaker, member of the scientific committee, organizing committee, and chairman at many Croatian and international congresses, symposia, and other meetings. Author of more than 200 papers, among which 158 are in internationally peer-reviewed journals (CC, SCIE, WoS Collection). Actively participated with around 300 abstracts at professional-scientific meetings, and published 68 chapters in 19 books, as well as 17 educational booklets for patients. Editor of the book “Low back-pain” (in Croatian), with a comprehensive approach to the topic, unique in Croatia and the region Devoted to education and teaching. Since 1997/1998 has participated in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate study programs at the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb, where he was elected full professor with tenure in 2022. Chair and/ or lecturer at other faculties, the Faculty of Medicine in Osijek (Croatia), the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Zagreb, and the Faculty of Rehabilitation and Education. Mentor to many junior doctors whom he has supported and encouraged on their path of gaining knowledge and in their scientific work, including mentorship for PhD and MSc theses. Member of the Editorial Board of the Acta Clinica Croatica (from 2005 to 2015), the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (from 2016 to 2020), the Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology (since 2016), and Rheumatology International (since 2018). Member of the Editorial Board of several Croatian journals, and editor-in-chief of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (2009-2013), and Rheumatism (Reumatizam) (2014-2023). From 1998 until 2016, editor-in-chief of the journal Reuma, organ of the Croatian League Against Rheumatism. Published multiple works in popular magazines and took part in many radio and television shows to raise awareness of the importance of rheumatic illnesses, their prevention, and treatment. Peer-reviewer of numerous manuscripts for international peer-reviewed journals like Rheumatology International, Clinical Rheumatology, Rheumatology and Therapy, Journal of Rheumatology, Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, Osteoporosis International, etc., as well as an EULAR project, EULAR Annual Congress (ARD), and three books (in Croatian). Since 2012, a full member of the most important international associations for spondyloarthritis and psoriatic disease, ASAS and GRAPPA, not only participating in their projects, but also contributing to educational and clinical materials, like translation of the ASAS slide-library, ASAS-HI Questionnaire, and ASDAS app. Honorary member of the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in 2020, as one of the first members to receive this title. Since 2016, a full member of the Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences. Representative of the Croatian Society for Rheumatology in the European Scientific Committee on Investigative Rheumatology (ESCIR) of the EULAR, and from 2011 to 2015, member of the Standing Committee on Epidemiology and EULAR's Standing Committee on Epidemiology and Health Services Research. From 2022-2025, representative of the Croatian Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in the European Board of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPMR ambassador). Since 2013, a member of the EU Osteoporosis Panel, where he has been the representative from Croatia. Won the first prize for the best solved case in treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis at the symposium "Advancing arthritis therapy: addressing patient needs" in Seville (Spain) (2006). Updated January 15th, 2026