Vitebsk State Medical University

Vitebsk State Medical Institute was established as a hospital-medical institute in November 1, 1934 by Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR. The total number of students on all courses was 250.

MD, Professor Moisei Anisimovich Khazanov, a graduate of the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern (Switzerland) was appointed as the first Rector of the Institute. 12 Professors, well-known in the USSR and abroad medical scientists, started to work with him: Professor Pavel Markovich Gurevich, a graduate of the University of Strasbourg (Alsace - France), became the first dean. In 1938 a hospital-medical institute was renamed into Vitebsk Medical Institute.

Medical school hospital, 1946

Until 1941 seven turn-outs of physicians was carried out. The Great Patriotic War stalled the development of the Institute for many years. At the beginning of the war the Institute was evacuated to Chelyabinsk, and then in 1943 - to Yaroslavl. Subsequently, Yaroslavl Medical Institute was established on the basis of Vitebsk Medical Institute. In 1944 a part of the Institute staff returned to Minsk and participated in the reconstruction of Minsk Medical Institute. And only in 1946 the Institute returned to its native Vitebsk region. From 1946 to 1950 the Institute was headed by Anisim Ivanovich Savchenko, Deputy Minister of Health of the Byelorussian SSR. In 1948 the student scientific society was created.

In 1951 the Institute was headed by a graduate of First Moscow Medical Institute, Professor Ivan Illarionovich Bogdanovich. In 1952-53 a large group of famous academicians and professors came to the Institute from Moscow and Leningrad: V.V.Shapurov, S.B.Vainberg, I.B.Aleshkovich, L.N.Goldman, E.S.Ketiladze, N.M.Yanchur, K.L.Markuze, P.N.Maslov, L.Ya.Shostak, I.L.Sosnovik and others. For 10 years they have created strong medico-biological and clinical schools which are still honored both in our country and abroad.

Main building, 1959

In 1959 the main academic building was put into operation. In 1959 Pharmaceutical Faculty was created, along with the current General Medicine Faculty.

In 1961 the Institute was headed by Professor Medvedeva Glafira Antonovna. In 1962 the Central Scientific Research laboratory was founded. From 1965 to 1979 Docent Medvetskiy Evgeniy Nikandrovich was the Rector of the Institute. Preparatory Training Department was opened in 1974.

From 1979 to 1996 Honored Worker of Science of BSSR, Professor Sachek Mikhail Grigoryevich was the Rector of the Institute. In 1981 the new laboratory and theoretical building housing the total area of 14 thousand square meters came into operation. In 1981 Vitebsk State Medical Institute began training medical and pharmaceutical specialists for foreign countries. For merits in training of highly qualified specialists and contribution to development of medical science and public health service according to the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Vitebsk State Medical Institute was awarded the Order of Peoples’ Friendship in 1984 (by the 50th anniversary of VSMI). In 1984 the Faculty of Advanced Training of doctors was opened. In 1989 the Ministry of Health of the USSR passed the Institute for subordination to the Ministry of Health of the BSSR.

From 1997 to 2005 the University was headed by Alexander Nikolayevich Kosinets. During this period the University held a profound transformation. The Faculty of Overseas Students Training and Advanced Training and Retraining Faculty were opened in 1997, the Faculty of Career Guidance and Pre-University Training – in 1998, Stomatological Faculty – in 2001, the Faculty of Advanced Training in Pedagogics and Psychology – in 2001. New departments and courses of professional development are organized at the faculties. An electronic library was created, computer classes are connected to global sources of information. In March 10, 2003 by order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus the Clinic of Vitebsk State Medical University was founded.

In 1998 the Institute has successfully passed the certification and accreditation of the status of higher educational establishment of a university type and was transformed into Vitebsk State Order of Peoples' Friendship Medical University.

Medical library of VSMU

The morphological building

In 2005 MD, Professor Valery Deikalo became the Rector of the University. Since 2010 the University has been training on the second stage of higher education (Master’s program). In 2010 a morphological building was put into operation and medical library of VSMU - in 2011.

In 2007 in cooperation with PATHE Academy (DSR Sri Lanka) the University signed a protocol of joint action to establish a branch of VSMU in DSR Sri Lanka. In 2008 it signed an agreement on mutual cooperation with Gdansk Medical Academy (Poland). In 2009 it established cooperation with Argentine University Maimonides.

For the years of working the University has trained more than 14,000 physicians and more than 6,000 pharmacists. Graduates of the University are great organizers and leaders of practical public health, heads of clinic departments, head physicians. Over the years, superior positions in the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus were occupied by K.N. Anishchenko, N.I. Stepanenko, V.M. Orekhovskiy, V.V. Kolbanov, A.S. Romanenkov. I.M. Drobyshevskaya was the Minister of Health. S.N. Govorushkin and V.N. Lectorov were the Chairmen of the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. A.N. Kosinets was Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus (2005-2007), the Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee (24.11.2008-27.12.2014) and currently he is the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office. Yu.N. Derkach is the Chief of health in Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. All CEOs of the unitary enterprises “Pharmacy” and the leaders in the field – M.G. Shalaeva, V.V Kupriyanov, N.N. Gritsevich, V.F. Sosonkina, G.V. Godovalnikov, L.A. Reutsky, S.N. Kiselyova, Z.A. Filipenko, S.K. Ustyugova - our graduates. The rector of Gomel Medical University A.N. Lyzikov - a graduate of VSMU. Only in the Russian Federation 5 generals-our graduates serve today. Main Military Medical Department of the Russian Federation is headed by Colonel General I.M. Chizh. The Department of Medical Service of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus is headed by our graduate - Colonel L.A. Bogdanov, the Central military hospital – S.F. Savitskiy.

In March 18, 2015 MD Anatoliy Tadeushevich Shchastniy, the graduate of 1984, Professor of Surgery Chair of the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining was appointed as a rector of Vitebsk State Medical University.

The morphological building

Today educational process is carried out at 7 faculties:

• Preparatory Training Course
• General Medicine
• Pharmaceutical Faculty
• Stomatological Faculty
• Overseas Students Training Faculty
• Post-graduate Training Faculty
• Faculty of Pedagogics and Psychology of Higher School

Educational process is organized at 63 departments, where 56 doctors and 227 candidates of sciences, including 44 professors and 171 associate professors, work. The educational departments are equipped with modern automatic apparatuses for training, sets of plastic models and phantoms, complex medical-diagnostic equipment. The teaching is supported with skilled pedagogical experience, highly - qualified research activity and great academic means of training. Ratio and 3-stage system of students’ knowledge assessment is used at the university (computer testing, practical skills and interview).

To improve the quality of teaching educative-industrial pharmacy, dental clinic, and control-analytic laboratory were created where students are able to put the accepted knowledge into practice.

Clinical bases of the University are the majority of city clinics containing necessary modern medical-diagnostic equipment. Total bed fund of clinical departments is 4 200 beds. The main clinical bases of the university are Regional Clinical Hospital, Regional Oncological Heath Centre, Hospital of Emergency Medical Help, Regional Children Clinical Hospital, VSMU Clinic and others.

There is a perfect library at the University, available to each student and having a large number of books in all branches of knowledge in Russian and foreign languages. The majority of books are educational and scientific - methodical literature, unique editions of lectures, recommendations, monographs, scientific works and materials of conferences issued by various chairs.

The unique electronic library in the Republic of Belarus was founded in VSMU in 2003. The centre is equipped with new computer equipment with high Internet speed connections. Teaching staff and students are given access to materials of scientific medical information department, databases "Medicine" (Russia), "Medline" (the USA), "International Pharmaceutical Abstracts" (the USA) etc.

There are 14 scientific-pedagogical schools in medical-biological, clinical, pharmaceutical disciplines at VSMU which make a valuable contribution into contemporary medical and pharmaceutical science and practice development in the Republic of Belarus and CIS countries. Students scientific society has rich traditions and wide experience in the field of young scientists preparation. The scientific activity of VSMU is carried out in the following perspective scientific directions: field and extremal medicine, surgical diseases, medical aids, infection, prophylaxis and treatment of heart-vascular system, traumas, oncology, healthy mother – healthy child, prophylaxis of alcoholism, drug addiction and psychosomatic diseases, internal diseases; organization, management and economy of health care system.

The University edits scientific practical magazines “News of Surgery”, “Bulletin of Pharmacy”, “Bulletin of VSMU”, “Maternity and Childhood Protection”, published in large editions newspaper “Medvuzovets”.

Cultural life of the University is multinational in character.

Each year students have several sport programs at their disposal: cricket tournament, chess competition, football championship and other sport events. The immerse number of cultural festivals and celebrations, which take place all-the-year-round, demonstrate international cultural diversity. The annual festival "Student Autumn", National Cuisine Feasts, Faculty Days, National Student Union Holidays with a wide range of cultural activities present a perfect chance for foreign students to display their skills and abilities.

The variety of Belorussian countrysides and landscapes offer many interesting excursion traveling tours around the country to all tastes. Students may enjoy this kind of activities all year round.

The University maintains strong relations with parents. For parents' convenience and peace of mind the administration staff communicated with parents whatever possible, by phone, fax and e-mail to keep them abreast of their children's progress.

Believing that Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world the Vitebsk State Medical University - Model United Nations has provided the students the opportunity to attend quality international college/university level programs that bring together the next generation of international leaders. The VSMU-UNBody is a nonprofit organization which implement strategies of the UN and also is powered by the direct support by the European and North American UN associated bodies.

The VSMU-UN advances understanding of the United Nations and contemporary international issues. We positively affect the lives of participants and prepare them to be better global citizens through quality educational experiences that emphasize collaboration and cooperative resolution of conflict. We envision a world comprised of civically engaged people who strive for peaceful, multi-lateral conflict resolution and equitable, sustainable human development.

Although becoming a Doctor is one of the best ways we can serve the humanity, unfortunately learning medicine and becoming a doctor is seen as a profession which has not got much weight in the hands of international affairs and laws. The primary objective of the VSMU-UN is to build bridges between international affairs and medical studies since we believe in the depth of medical law. The Vitebsk State Medical University MUN community sets a common ground to the delegates from all around the world to use their diplomatic skills and bring up new resolutions to the modern issues in the world. We also enhance the ability and provide the delegates the chance to attend internationally recognized MUN conferences, medical associated conferences, seminars, cultural and social activities all around the world. We support and do train the well wishers who wants to join our community to look at the world in a different eye. Through these experiences - during preparation, in committee sessions, and even in hallway caucuses - students develop an appreciation of differing viewpoints, experience the challenges of negotiation, see the rewards of cooperation, broaden their world view, increase their intellectual abilities and discover the human side of international relations and diplomacy.

On our way to our primary goals we do recruit volunteers who could serve as organizing committee members , chair persons for conferences and also Delegates who would love to experience the world in a new way.

If interested do not hesitate to contact the VSMU-UN.

International cooperation is one of the most important activities of Vitebsk State Medical University, contributing to the solution of the main aims of the university: the preparation of highly qualified specialists, development of priority directions of medical science, the provision of high quality medical care.

International activity is aimed at:

• acceleration of the exchange of knowledge and technology
• development of innovative medical education, science and health based on the study of international experience
• increase of multilateral mobility of students and teachers
• integration in the emerging European educational space

Vitebsk State Medical University is highly rated in academic ranking of world medical universities.

The degrees of VSMU are recognized by:

World Health Organization (WHO)

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG, Philadelphia, USA)

Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS, Dallas, USA)

Lithuanian Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (Lithuania)

Medical Council of India

Medical Council of Sri-Lanka

Medical Council of Ireland

Ministry of Education and Higher Learning (Republic of Lebanon)

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq

Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China

Ministry of Education of United Arab Emirates

Ministry of education on Iran

Ministry of Education of Pakistan

Ministry of education of Turkey

Ministry of Education of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Ministry of Education of Nepal

Ministry of education of Israel

Ministry of education of scientific research of Jordan

Ministry of Education of Syria

Ministry if Higher Education of Oman

Ministry of Education of Yemen

Ministries of all African countries.

Maldives Medical and Dental Council

VSMU is registered in the Directory AVICENNA that allows diplomas of VSMU to be accepted in all European countries and countries of the former USSA.

1. Training, specialization, training of medical and pharmaceutical personnel, including:

• participation in international educational programs
• education and training of foreign students
• direction of overseas staff of the University and the reception of foreign experts to exchange experiences in the field of medical science, medical education and practical public health
• participation in international training seminars in countries of near and far abroad
• training of educational and scientific university students in foreign universities
• student exchanges with foreign universities (medical practice, training, professional exchanges from international and national youth organizations)
• exchange of teachers and scholars for reading lectures, training events
• inter act 4 inter act 5 inter act 8 inter act 9 inter act 10

2. Scientific and technical cooperation with universities, medical scientific and practical institutions, organizations, scientific societies, professional associations, businesses and others, including:

• exchange of information in the field of medical science and practical public health through various forms of international contacts
• participation in international research programs
• carrying out research in the framework of agreements and contracts with foreign partners, contracts, international projects
• study and development of modern scientific medical and educational technologies in the various forms of international contacts
• participation in international forums, exhibitions, scientific societies, associations, unions in countries of near and far abroad
• conducting international scientific and practical activities (conferences, seminars, exhibitions)
• participation in international associations, editorial boards of medical publications

3. Representative activity:

• receiving and sending of various delegations with the introductory, promotional and other purposes

Through various forms of international cooperation of scientists and faculty members of the University, performed each year a significant amount of research in various fields of medicine is realized.

The university annually sends out abroad about 150 staff and students. Every year more than 100 people participate in more than 80 major international forums.

The university gives special attention to student exchange programs with foreign partner institutions and trips abroad for university students through various forms of education and training through various channels of international relations.

Over the past 5 years, students, interns and graduate students of the University undergone educational and scientific training in leading academic and research institutions in Australia, Germany, Finland, Russia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal.

With various purposes, including introductory, participation in conferences, symposia, meetings, seminars, conventions, research, exchange of experience and others the university is visited annually by about 100 foreign experts, including delegations, representing ministries, departments and other government agencies of foreign countries and representatives of medical, scientific and educational institutions of societies, companies and others.