A trip to the departments and museums of ONMedU

The end of May at Odessa National Medical University turned out to be especially eventful and informative: the doors of the famous institution opened to curious schoolchildren.

On May 28, 45 schoolchildren of grades 8–9 of Odesa Lyceum No. 69 visited the Department of Medical Biology and Chemistry. Associate Professor of the Department, Nelli Anatoliivna Levytska, showed them various biological preparations.

Students of grades 9–10 from Odesa Lyceum No. 2 visited the Department of Simulation Medical Technologies (Head of the Department, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Oleksandr Petrovych Rogachevsky), where, under the guidance of experienced teachers, tutors conducted trainings on stopping bleeding using a tourniquet and wound tamponade. A tour of the department was of particular interest: the students saw modern simulation mannequins, got acquainted with the work of the interactive computer table Anatomage table, the equipment of the intensive care unit and the simulators used to train future doctors.

On May 21 and 29, 26 students from Odesa Lyceum “European” and 30 students from the Odesa Lyceum No. 56 visited ONMedU. Professor of the Department of General and Clinical Epidemiology and Biosafety with a course in Microbiology and Virology Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Gruzevsky and Associate Professor of the Department Shevchuk Hanna Yuriivna told the students about the disciplines “Epidemiology”, “Microbiology, Virology and Immunology”, showed the capabilities of the modern laboratory. The following were especially fascinating: staining microorganisms and observing the microworld under a microscope; familiarization with the methods of studying one’s own microflora of fingerprints on nutrient media; demonstration of cultures of microorganisms on slanted agar and Petri dishes; familiarization with the equipment of microbiological and immunological laboratories, the algorithm for conducting serological studies.

On May 30, the university hospitably opened its doors to students of the Richelieu Scientific Lyceum. First, they visited the Department of Histology, Cytology, Embryology and Pathological Morphology with a course in Forensic Medicine (Head of the Department, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor Sytnikova Varvara Oleksandrivna), where they got acquainted with the exhibits of the Museum of Forensic Medicine.

Then the schoolchildren visited the Anatomical Museum. The best professional anatomical museum of Ukraine was founded back in 1900. From the first days of its existence, it was a full-fledged educational unit of the Department of Human Anatomy (currently the head of the department is Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine Appelkhans Olena Leonidivna). An unsurpassed collection of anatomical specimens was created and is carefully maintained in good condition exclusively by the staff of the department and students of the university. The Museum of the Department of Anatomy is known far beyond the borders of Ukraine, as it presents all sections of morphology – from embryology and comparative anatomy to unique specimens for the study of the CNS, peripheral nerves and craniology. The museum collection also contains mammoth bones, sperm whale teeth and heads and fragments of mummified bodies from the Egyptian pyramids.

The lyceum students also liked the next excursion location – also one of the best professional museums in Ukraine – the Pathoanatomical Museum, created in 1902. The exposition is constantly replenished with macropreparations from Odessa pathologists and has about 2.5 thousand unique exhibits.

Future applicants were met by Professor Volyanska Alla Georgievna and representatives of the student government (head Matyushenko Sofia). During the excursions, the students also learned about the features of studying at ONMedU and student life.

The trip to the departments and museums of ONMedU was not only interesting for most students, but also extremely useful. They looked at the profession of a doctor in a different way. What they saw and heard made a deep impression on them: they were able to feel the atmosphere of a medical institution, touch the world of medicine and understand the importance of this noble cause. Some of the students even expressed a desire to master this profession in the future – and for this, of course, to enter ONMedU.