History of the development of endocrinology at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University for 50 years (1967-2017)

Abstract

During the 20th century, the process of origin and formation of endocrinology in Prykarpattia is linked to the development of medicine and organization of healthcare in Ukraine in general and in particular to an evolution of endocrinology from organotherapy and experimental studies up to medical specialty and specialized section in the structure of medical sciences. First steps for the organization of endocrinology service in Stanislav region were done during the first postwar decade (1945-1953) by results of expeditionary researches of endemic goiter in Prykarpattia. Next period (1953-1967) development of studies and medical practice were combined with introducing of endocrinology to the academic process of Stanislav Medical Institute. Origin of endocrinology as an academic discipline happened in Prykarpattia in 1953, when the head of the Chair of Social Hygiene and Healthcare Organization A.A. Harhashian started to teach this course for students of Stanislav State Medical Institute. Actually, the history of future Chair of Endocrinology of modern Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University started from this. A.A. Harhashian was famous as a grounder of endocrinology service in Ivano-Frankivsk region. In 1951 he organized one of the first antigoiter dispensaries in Ukraine and introduced diagnostics and treatment of thyroid diseases with radioactive iodine. Furthermore, he was an excellent pedagogue, while working in Ivano-Frankivsk Medical Institute as a dean of medical faculty, and later as a vice-rector of educational work. A new stage in the development of endocrinology as an academic and scientific discipline and at the same time the future chair was the organization of a separate course of endocrinology in 1967. Its foundation meant organizational separation of endocrinology in the structure of the medical institute, laid the groundwork for a foundation of a specialized chair in perspective. The first supervisor, head of the course of endocrinology was in Ivano-Frankivsk State Medical Institute in 1967-1981 the Candidate of Medical Sciences, Docent Hanna P. Parashchak (1927-2013). Heading in 1967 the course of endocrinology, Ms. Parashchak formed a course collective, organized its educational, scientific and medical activity. Along with the educational work, the course of endocrinology played a role of a peculiar center for scientific studies of problems of endocrine diseases. In 1970th the head of the course of endocrinology Professor H.P. Parashchak continued the practice of scientific expeditions in mountain districts of Ivano-Frankivsk region. The second head of the course of endocrinology of Ivano-Frankivsk State Medical Institute was in 1982-1985 the Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Iryna P. Vandzhura. A quite new stage in the development of the course of endocrinology in medical institute started in the middle of 1980th years, when in 1985 Volodymyr Botsyurko was elected as a head of the course. While organizing the work of the course of endocrinology in 1985-1996, V.І. Botsyurko focused attention on the formation and scientific and professional growth of the course collective, educational, scientific and medical and preventing activity. In 1997 a quite new stage starts in the development of endocrinology in Ivano-Frankivsk State Medical Academy, linked to a reorganization of the course into an independent chair. At the same time, it was laid on an organizational basis for the development of scientific studies, preparation of narrow specialized physicians and deployment of practical therapeutic and prophylactic work in endocrinology, and in perspective creation of a scientific school of endocrinologists in Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. Since September 2014 the Chair of Endocrinology of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University has been headed by the Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, doctor of higher qualification category Nadiya Skrypnyk. The second head of the chair got a line of new challenges and tasks that needed a solution in nearer and farther perspective. Nowadays collective of the Chair of Endocrinology of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University formed in such way: head of the chair, DMedSc Prof Nadiya Skrypnyk; DMedSc Prof Volodymyr Botsyurko; DMedSc Prof Oksana Didushko; CMedSc Docent Nadiia Romash; CMedSc Docent Iryna Kostitska; CMedSc Docent Oksana Marusyn; CMedSc Docent Tamara Vatseba; Assistant Iryna Cherniavska, Assistant Iryna Hudz. A top priority task of the modern Chair of Endocrinology is improving modern requirements level for preparation of highly skilled physicians, improving methodical skill of scientific and pedagogical employees of the chair; improvement of organization and providing of educational process; improvement of methodology in improvement of effectiveness and quality of all types of classes; preparation for defending of candidate and doctoral dissertations; providing of organizational and individual work with scientific and pedagogical employees, students, directed at their active participation in the academic process, development of professional culture, observation of ethical norms, rules of the University internal routine, providing an environment of discipline, benevolence and mutual respect in relations between employees, teachers and students of the faculty.