Voronezh n.N. Burdenko State Medical Academy

Voronezh Medical Academy is one of the leading higher educational establishments in Russia. It provides graduate and postgraduate training for about 5500 students who have chosen medicine for their future career. The Academy is also known as a big research centre for health sciences.

It is one of the oldest educational institutions of Russia. Its history goes back to 1802 — the date of Derpt (now Tartu) University foundation, which moved to Voronezh in 1918. In December, 1930 the Medical Faculty of the Voronezh University became an independent medical institute consisting of two Faculties: the Faculty of General Medicine and the Faculty of Health. The Institute acquired an Academy status in 1994.

Now the Academy comprises a great number of academic facilities which include 6 training buildings, a dental out-patient hospital, a pediatric hospital, 50 clinical chairs situated at 52 clinical bases of the Academy, 5 student hostels, laboratory centres, and computer halls. The professional training is provided by 5 faculties and 3 institutes: Faculty of General Medicine, Pediatrics Faculty, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medico-prophylactic Faculty (the Faculty of Preventive Medicine), International Institute of Medical Education and Cooperation, Institute of Nursing, Institute of Continuing Professional Education. The Academy students are lucky to listen to the lectures of academicians, honored professors, assistant professors, lecturers with academic degrees and qualifications. The total number of the Academy’s teaching staff is over 800 people.

The basic academic curriculum consists of pre-clinical subjects (1–2 years) and clinical subjects (3–6 years). From the second year undergraduate students have clinical attachments which mean they attend hospitals and clinics to develop practical skills along with the study of medical sciences. The largest Voronezh hospitals serve as clinical bases for this. Besides, various well-equipped laboratories are at the disposal of the undergraduate and postgraduate Academy students. There they have an opportunity to develop their practical skills as well as carry out a research. Student involvement in scientific research is greatly encouraged. To support such interest the Students Scientific Society and the Association of Young Scientists were organized. So, undergraduate researchers have an opportunity for a research in different medical subjects and fields. 1560 students work at 60 sections of the Students Scientific Society .The results of their work are annually presented at conferences, international meetings and symposiums.

The Academy provides postgraduate courses in 40 specialties and postdoctoral courses in 5 specialties.

The Academy has an extensive library with 580 000 items in it. The library’s Reading Hall has been computerized so now library visitors have free access to a great number of Internet resources including electronic libraries, sites and forums on medicine related subjects.

The Academy has a well-established reputation for providing high quality medical training and research. The quality of its performance is reflected in the national rating system, where the Academy was placed among the top ten higher medical schools of Russia. Since the foundation it has prepared above 40 thousand medical practitioners, including foreign specialists from 28 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. Medical qualifications received at VSMA are recognized worldwide.

B. Answer the questions

1. When was the Academy founded?

2. How many departments are there at the Academy?

3. What departments are there at the Academy?

4. What academic facilities does the Academy comprise now?

5. What does the basic academic curriculum consist of?

6. Where can students continue their study?

7. Where do students have practical training?

8. What library does the Academy have?

9. What reputation does the Academy have?

10. The Academy was placed among the top ten higher medical schools of Russia, wasn’t it?

11. How many students has the Academy prepared since the year of its foundation?

12. Are medical degrees received at the Academy recognized worldwide?

C. Decide whether the statements below are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones.

1. The academy has the total teacher enrollment of about 5500 people.

2. In December, 1830 the Medical Faculty of the Voronezh University became an independent medical institute.

3. The Institute acquired an Academy status in 1994.

4. There are more than 50 chairs at the Academy located in one building.

5. New information technologies have been introduced successfully in the work of the library.

6. Medical degrees received at Voronezh Medical academy aren’t recognized abroad.

D. Fill in the correct preposition (to, in, for, back, above, about, of, at). There are sentences where you needn’t a preposition at all.

1. Its history goes . . . . . . 1802.

2. In 1918 it moved . . . Voronezh.

3. The total number … the Academy’s teaching staff is over 800 people.

4. They serve as clinical bases . . . students’ practical training.

5. Students can listen … interesting lectures delivered by reputable professors.

6. They are . . . the disposal . . . the Academy.

7. It possesses . . . 580 000 items.

8. The curriculum consists … pre-clinical subjects and clinical disciplines.

9. From the early days of their study students are involved … research.

10. Academy students attend …. hospitals to acquire practical skills.

11. It has a perfect reputation . . . providing high quality teaching.

12. It is reflected . . . the rating system.

13. It was placed . . . the top ten best institutes . . . Russia.

14. It has prepared . . . 40 thousand medical specialists.

E. Read the article again and take notes under these headings.

1. Voronezh Medical Academy’s present and past.

2. The Academy’s facilities and faculties.

3. The academic curriculum.

4. Postgraduate courses.

5. The reputation of the Academy

F. Use your notes to talk about your Alma Mater.

Part II. Home Reading

A. Read the text about N. Burdenko. Put the events given below in the chronological order.

1. N. Burdenko entered the Faculty of Medicine;

2. The Neurosurgical Institute was founded under his supervision in 1932;

3. N. Burdenko successfully passed national examinations for the qualifications of a doctor;

4. N. Burdenko came back to Tartu and a year later he moved to Voronezh with the University;

5. N.N. Burdenko died in 1946;

6. During the I World War Burdenko was one of the creators of Russian military medical service;

7. N. Burdenko entered the Faculty of Medicine at Tartu University;

8. N. Burdenko was born on the 3 June 1876 in Penza guberniya;

9. N. Burdenko submitted an application for getting the right to deliver lectures as a privatdozent of faculty surgery.

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