HISTORY

On 10th May 1918 the official opening of the Tavricheskii University branch consisting of medical and Physico-mathematical faculties took place. At the end of May the branch was transformed into the Tavricheskii University. Its first rector was a famous man of medical science, the head of anatomy chair, a professor Roman Ivanovich Gelvig. On 24 October 1918 studies began at the first institute of higher education of Crimea.

Considerable difficulties fell to the university's lot in the first years of existence. During three years Crimea was a field of military actions. German occupiers, English and French interventionists, Denikin's and Vrangel's troops plundered shameless the wealth of the land.

In autumn in 1920 the civil war was finished by defeat of Vrangel's troops. After liberation of Crimea from White Guards the Party regional committee and Crimrevcom took decisive measures of strengthening the university's educational base. On 18th November 1920 the chairman of Crimrevcom Bela Kun signed an order about protection of his scientific laboratories and buildings. A number of additional premises were given for the needs of medical faculty, considerable means were granted for repairing the cabinets and making visual aids. Professors and lecturers got a special ration.

The Council of People's Commissars of Crimea, considering the issue about conditions of reception to the institute, paid a special attention to the importance of wide drawing of working and peasant youth in study. At the beginning of 1931 the first intake of students 100 in number was made. The studies at the new higher educational institute began on 1st April 1931. Some time later the building of technical workers faculty in Lenin Avenue was given to the institute. In this building the chairs of biology, histology, hygiene, physics, chemistry and foreign languages took places. The administrative and economic outbuildings of the institute were housed here as well. The chars of normal and topographical anatomy stayed in the former building. [Rechnaya Street, 8].

The medical society of Simferopol, the pedagogical institute and other establishments gave considerable help to the institute in acquisition of the library fund and making of visual aids. Only from the scientific library of a biological station of Karadag they received about 40 thousand volumes of medical literature including rare editions of the former century. Many devices and educational supplies were made by lecturers and laboratory assistants. All this allowed to ensure carrying out of educational process up to standard. The institute constantly increased the personnel of higher skill.

The invitation of highly skilled doctors to the clinical chairs had an important meaning for improvement of treatment work in the region. The research work became more active in clinics, the new methods of treatment were being worked out and used. The results of their introduction into practice were written in the first volume of scientific works of the institute, which came into the world in 1935.

In January in 1936 the first graduating of doctors took place. 97 persons graduated the institute, most of them were sent to work in towns and regions of Crimea.

One of the main means of teaching quality improvement in the institute is constant perfection of educational and methodical work. Coordination and general leadership of educational and methodical work is put upon a central methodical commission. Besides in the institute eight profile methodical commissions are created: medical and biological, therapeutic, surgical, pediatric, stomatological ones, a commission for deontological and legal education of students, a faculty of advanced medical studies and a preparatory department. Their tasks are further perfection of educational plans in the light of new educational programs, improvement of teaching quality, perfection of forms and methods of conducting practical training for students, further improvement of educational work with foreign students, perfection of methods of taking into account the current progress of students, introduction of technical information means and habits of educational and researching search in educational progress, working out of new kinds of educational work.

In 1971 Crimean medical institute became a higher education institute of the first category. The intake of the students was considerably increased including students from developing countries, material and technical base continued to grow, the staff of professors and lecturers was expanded. Two new faculties (Dental and the faculty of advanced medical studies) and a preparatory department were opened. These alterations in the structure of the institute were evidence of its growing authority and successes of the institute's collective in educational, pedagogical and scientific activity.

Since October 1934 in the institute a newspaper "For medical personnel" is published in large editions. In the pre-war years only 26 issues were published. Its edition was resumed since 1st April 1974. In the newspaper (its editor is a member of the journalists' Union of USSR M.N.Yegorov) they took up many-sided life of the institute. It enjoys a wide popularity and authority in the institute's collective.

At Presently the University comprises 61 departments, a medical school, a medical/biological lyceum, research/science and backing divisions, several laboratories, a post-graduation department. The University's activities conforms with The Constitution of Ukraine, Ukrainian legislation, Acts issued by the President and the Cabinet of Ukraine, Decrees of the Health Department and Education Department of Ukraine, the Rules of University.

The University has become the major hub of training medical specialists for Ukraine and foreign countries. Over 25 thousand medical doctors of various specialities have been trained, including about 2.5 thousand for 60 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.