Eng
Eng
The Department of Normal and Pathological Clinical Anatomy is one of the oldest. In 1900 it was one of the first to accept students. The department is equipped with modern simulation equipment, without which it is impossible to imagine training of qualified medical staff today. We talked about innovations and plans for the 120th anniversary year with the head of the department, professor, doctor of medical sciences Olena Leonidivna Appelhans.
You head one of the oldest departments of ONMedU, is this department still the main one for any freshman?
Right, the Department of Normal and Pathological Clinical Anatomy is one of the oldest at the university, originally called “human anatomy”. Professor Batuiev gave his first lecture on human anatomy on September 5, 1900. In 2019, the Academic Council of ONMedU decided to merge the departments of human anatomy, pathological anatomy and simulation medicine (where the subject “Clinical Anatomy” was taught). Thus, we implemented the idea of comprehensive education of students and hereditary transfer of knowledge from the first year to graduation.
Human morphology is a basic branch of medicine, the knowledge of which is the key to quality training of doctors of all specialties. The main task of a teacher of normal anatomy is to create motivation for first-year students to study the structure of the human body, to provide opportunities for practical clarification of the topography of organs and anatomical formations. At the same time, at classes on clinical anatomy, second- and third-year students will be able to use this information to understand the ways of spreading pathological processes and choose the most convenient surgical approaches; studying pathological anatomy, the student of the second year will be able to reveal features of structural changes during various diseases.
But usually all these disciplines are taught at different departments.
Yes, mostly so. The result is a lack of a holistic approach to the study of morphological disciplines, which affects the results of the KROK-1 test exam.
Our experience has shown that combining several morphological disciplines under one roof creates a number of advantages: the staff of the department can teach at least 2 disciplines (human anatomy and clinical anatomy, or clinical anatomy and pathological anatomy), there is a possibility of optimal distribution of training facilities and equipment.; the term of decision-making in the process of organizing the educational process is reduced; the quality of students’ training increases, as well as the level of professionalism of teachers; opportunities for transfer and acquisition of pedagogical and clinical experience among teachers are expanding.
The other side of the merger is a large staff that is difficult to manage.
If you treat the team formally, it is probably difficult. And if you see a team member in each colleague, then there are no difficulties. I want the team to be cohesive, friendly, interchangeable. We communicate not only out of business necessity and during working hours. Over the years of joint work we have a wonderful tradition of holding field meetings of the department in the fresh air, we regularly go on tours of our hometown and Ukraine. With great enthusiasm in a very creative atmosphere, the staff of the department prepares for open meetings of Odessa branch of the Scientific Society of Anatomists, Histologists, Embryologists, Topographers of Ukraine and the Society of Pathologists of Ukraine. Joint extracurricular activities unite the team very much, inspire and promote the implementation of ambitious plans as soon as possible, and most importantly – give a sense of unity and support always and in everything.
The department has more than 40 employees, many laboratory assistants – our students, future doctors.
Today’s situation in the country and in the world requires innovations in teaching methods, use of modern equipment, use of distance learning technologies. Experienced professionals with extensive teaching experience can find it difficult to master gadgets, Internet resources and other features of the modern world, but young colleagues always come to the rescue. We have a team!
Tell us about the technical equipment of the department.
Equipment for virtual work with a corpse, body parts, separate organs are available for students. We have a complete set of endoscopic equipment for the first experience of surgery.
We created an experimental operating room to practice practical skills in clinical anatomy. Many of our teachers are specialists in clinics: pathologists, surgeons, obstetricians-gynecologists, anesthesiologists-resuscitators, pediatricians and many others work at the department! Therefore, students receive not only “dry” knowledge, but also analyze real clinical situations in class.
The pride of our department is the presence of two research and training laboratories to work with clinical and experimental material. Over the long history of their existence, these laboratories have become a real “forge of personnel”: most students who have passed a “school of morphology”, continue their journey in science at both fundamental and clinical departments of our university.
You have been working at ONMedU for many years. How has the university changed over the years?
I have been working here since 1995. I came as a senior laboratory assistant at the Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology, where I graduated from post-graduate school, defended my dissertation. For some time I worked at the Department of Pathological Anatomy, and since 2001 my educational, scientific, organizational activities have been inextricably linked with the Department of Human Anatomy. I am happy to work at Odessa University and have the opportunity to promote the formation of a joint department, the Department of Normal and Pathological Clinical Anatomy. This is a significant step for the progressive future of the university.
Our university has always been and is in development and search. We offer new approaches in teaching students, in the treatment of patients, which are absolutely unique for Ukraine. I think all this is due to the fact that for many years our university was headed by Valerii Mykolaiovych Zaporozhan. A very progressive person who sees for a few, I can’t say decades, but for a few years ahead – that’s for sure. We were the first in the whole Ukraine to start teaching in English, we were the first in the country to have simulation classes and a unique department dealing with reproductive medicine. For the first time in Ukraine, a laboratory for experimental cell therapy was established. And thanks to the energy of Valerii Mykolaiovych, the direction of “regenerative medicine” began to actively develop in Ukraine, which replaced the uncontrolled use of stem cells.
This year, Odessa National Medical University is 120. Do you personally have any feelings about this date?
Every time I walk up the stairs of the morphological building, I am overwhelmed by a sense of admiration: Odessa National Medical University is a powerful educational institution with the best, most experienced specialists in fundamental medical and biological, humanities and all clinical specialties. Here, even the walls help to feel the importance of the chosen noble path – the study of Medicine! Students have all the conditions for their own development, formation, work: modern laboratories, simulation classes, computer rooms, operating rooms and libraries. The main thing is the desire to become a highly qualified doctor. I am proud of the girls and boys who choose this path at a very difficult time.
Many events were planned for the 120th anniversary, but the quarantine made adjustments. Face-to-face meetings have been postponed. The department has prepared a gift guide to our museums – the Historical Museum of Human Anatomy and Pathology. A textbook on clinical anatomy has been published in three languages. A solemn meeting of the regional branch of the Scientific Society of Anatomists, Histologists, Embryologists, Topographers of Ukraine and a conference of the Society of Pathologists will be held online.
Ukr