100 Outstanding Graduates (Valentyn Solomonovych Kofman)

Valentyn Solomonovych Kofman is not a surgeon in the first generation.
In 1921, Kofman entered Odessa Medical Institute, and after the end of his two years served as a doctor of the cavalry regiment. In 1937 he became an associate professor of the Department of General Surgery.
Then he wrote and defended his doctoral dissertation, and in 1938 V. S. Kofman became a professor. He worked a lot, published scientific works. Together with his father, a phthisiologist-orthopedist, he created a “House for Crippled Children”, where there were children who became disabled after suffering bone tuberculosis.
In 1939 Kofman was called up for military service. During the “liberation” of Western Ukraine, he commanded a medical company, then – a medical sanitary battalion. In the war with Finland, he was the senior surgeon of the infantry corps. Like Pirogov during the first Sevastopol defense, surgeon Kofman operated under fire, maintaining a professional cool-mindedness.
In October 1941, the methodical recommendations prepared by Valentyn Solomonovych for the regimental doctors were issued in Odesa: “Observations on the Organization and Technique of Primary Treatment of Wounds in Military Areas”. This small – 44 pages – booklet became the first medical “methodology” in the history of the Patriotic War! And during the defense of Sevastopol, Professor Kofman compiled a collection of scientific works belonging to 29 medical doctors. The manuscript was transmitted to the Great Land and published by the Chief Sanitary Directorate of the Soviet Army in 1943 – after the death of most authors, including the compiler. It is difficult to overestimate the significance of the method of the current execution of surgical operations in the active combat zone, developed by Dr. Kofman. The essence of it is that the surgeons acted immediately at several operating tables: complex work was carried out by experienced specialists, and at the closing stage, young people who did not have sufficient training joined the operations. Thousands of the wounded were saved thanks to the profound work of Professor Kofman and his followers. Among the rescued there also was severely wounded Chief of Staff of the Seaside Army, twice hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal Krylov. Valentyn Solomonovich removed a shard with the size of a matchbox, which pierced the shoulder blade, entering the chest and a nearly reaching the heart. The doctors were surprised to see both the strength of Krylov’s spirit and the skill of Kofman.
Valentyn Kofman, under the order of the commander, was subject to evacuation along with other commanders of high ranks. Instead of military subordination, he preferred the high duty of the Hippocratic Oath and, having violated the order, gave his seat to nurse Kononov with a newborn baby in the plane. Itsaved the boy’s life, and after the war he returned to his mother to Sevastopol.
Kofman stayed with his patients and was shot by fascists on July 3, 1942 in Sevastopol, together with the chief of the medical service of the naval base, a military doctor of the 1st rank Zelikov and the head of the 41st hospital, a military doctor of the 1st rank Zlotnikov. All these doctors (Jews) were left with their patients for death.
Valentyn Kofman is a great graduate of our university, not only for his professional qualities, but also for human qualities. He is a true Hero for many patients, whom he saved lives at the cost of his own.