Alojz Ihan

Alojz Ihan (23 July 1961 – 10 March 2026) was a Slovenian doctor who was a specialist in medical microbiology and immunology. Beside his medical profession, he was also a poet, writer, essayist and editor.

Life and career Ihan was born in Ljubljana on 23 July 1961 and studied at the Medical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana. He worked at the university's Institute for Microbiology and Immunology. He was also known for his poetry and regularly published essays and opinions in Slovene newspapers and journals. He received the Prešeren Foundation Award for his poetry collection Srebrnik (Silver Coin) in 1987 and in 1996 won the Jenko Award for his poetry collection Južno dekle (Southern Girl). In 2013, he won the prestigious Rožanc Award for his book Civic Essays (Državljanski eseji). The book however received a mixed reception, with some critics denouncing its populist tone and weak arguments.

Ihan died on 10 March 2026, at the age of 64.

Poetry Srebrnik (Silver Coin), 1985 Igralci pokra (Poker Players), 1989 Pesmi (Poems), 1989 Ritem (Rhythm), 1993 Južno dekle (Southern Girl), 1995 Salsa (Salsa), 2003

Novels Hiša (House), 1997 Romanje za dva … in psa (Pilgrimage for Two ... and a Dog), 1998 Hvalnica rešnjemu telesu (Ode to the Most Holy Body), 2011 "Slike z razstave" (Pictures at an Exhibition), 2013

Collection of Essays Platon pri zobozdravniku (Plato at the Dentist), 1997 Deset božjih zapovedi (Ten Holy Commandments), 2000 "Državljanski eseji" (Civic Essays), 2012

Popular science Imunski sistem in odpornost: kako se ubranimo bolezni (The Immune System and Immunity: How to Avoid Falling Ill), 2000 Do odpornosti z glavo (To Immunity by Using Your Head ), 2003 Prebujanje: Psiha v iskanju izgubljenega Erosa - psihonevroimunologija, 2014

Scientific publications Klinična uporaba analize limfocitnih populacij s pretočnim citometrom (The Clinical Use of Flow Cytometry Analysis in Lymphocyte Cultures), 1999