In memory of Professor Ludmyla Mykolaivna Kovaliova

On July 17, 2024, at the age of 83, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Odesa National Medical University, member of the New York Academy of Medical Sciences and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Liudmyla Mykolaivna Kovaliova passed away.

Lyudmyla Mykolaivna was born in 1942 in the city of Kirovohrad.

Having chosen the profession of a doctor, in 1967 she graduated with honors from  Vinnytsia Medical Institute named after M.I. Pirogov. From 1968 to 1970 L.M. Kovaliova studied at a postgraduate course at the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases under the supervision of Professor N.I. Tumashova.

In 1971, she defended her candidate’s thesis on the topic: “The influence of autoimmune shifts to platelets on indicators of the hemostasis system in psoriasis, eczema, syphilis and gonorrhea” in Donetsk. 1972-1973 – she was teaching dermatovenerology at  Kirovohrad Medical School combining it with medical practice. From 1974 to 1975, she worked at  Poltava Medical Stomatological Institute as an assistant at the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases. Since 1975, she worked at Odesa National Medical University, holding the positions of assistant, associate professor, and professor. From 1978 to 1982, she headed the department of dermatology and venereology at the National Medical University named after E. Mondlana and at the same time was the director of the service of the People’s Republic of Mozambique. She was an Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Mozambique (1982, Maputo).

In 1991, L.M. Kovalyova defended her doctoral dissertation on the topic: “Social-epidemiological and social-psychological characteristics, a new selection diagnostic test, improvement of therapy of infectious forms of syphilis in maritime transport workers” at the Central Skin and Venereology Institute (Moscow). From 2002 to August 2003, she headed the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases of  Odesa Medical Institute.

The main direction of scientific research of Professor L.M. Kovaliova was studying epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, development of new methods of diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and chronic dermatoses in the Southern region of Ukraine.

L.M. Kovaliova was the founder of several areas of development of  Odesa Dermatovenereological Scientific School, in particular: STD among sea workers; skin atopy, protozoonosis; new diagnostic methods in dermatovenerology (cholesteric liquid crystals, laser correlation spectroscopy).

L.M. Kovaliova is the author of more than 400 scientific publications in domestic and foreign specialized publications, 18 copyright certificates and patents for inventions; four monographs. At the same time as a scientific professor, she carried out considerable medical and advisory work. Under the leadership of L.M. Kovaliova, eight PhD theses were defended, more than 300 interns and masters were trained. She had well-deserved authority among colleagues and student youth, intern doctors and patients.

L.M. Kovaliova continued the best traditions of the Ukrainian school of dermatovenerology. Her life was inseparable from medicine.

A brilliant doctor, scientist, teacher who devoted her whole life to dermatovenerology left us.

The bright memory of Lyudmila Mykolaivna Kovaliova will forever remain in our hearts!

Employees of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology
Odesa National Medical University