Azerbaijani Medical University rector talks about foreign students, anatomy museum and the innovations at the university

The Azerbaijan Medical University is going to celebrate 80-year anniversary soon. What events does the university plan to hold on occasion of the jubilee?

The anniversary of the university will be marked on the state level under the decree of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dated April 28, 2010. The Azerbaijan Medical University was founded on the basis of the Medical Department of the Baku State University on May 9, 1930. It was called Azerbaijan State Medical Institute back then.

The AMU set up organizational Committee to develop an action plan in this regard on November 2009. The action plan includes conduct of scientific practical conferences at the university, conference of the Scientific Society of Students, documentary about history and development of the university, a number of cultural events, visits and also inauguration of the 14-storey Multi-Disciplinary Therapy Clinic of the university which will be timed with grand anniversary celebration.

I believe this event will draw attention of AMU’s former graduates across the world and they will not be indifferent to the jubilee celebration of their Alma Mater. We will work to include data about our graduates to the book about history and development of our university.


Why was there a need to build a new clinic for the university?

Under world experience, all educational institutions that offer medical education must have their own clinics which provide examination, diagnosis and treatment to patients and training to students. The education process was carried out in a different way in the USSR. After Azerbaijan regained independence, we felt a strong need for our own clinics. The Stomatology Clinic, which was first clinic under the AMU, was launched in 2002 with the help of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The Oncology Clinic was launched with the support of President Ilham Aliyev in 2007. 

Later, the university leadership appealed to the President with a request to assist in establishing multi-disciplinary therapy and surgery clinics. President Ilham Aliyev responded to our appeal in a short period of time and issued a decree to start construction of multi-disciplinary therapy clinic on September 11, 2007 and surgery clinic on March 13, 2008.

The President attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the multi-disciplinary therapy clinic on September 18, 2007. So far, clinic lessons for students were conducted in various clinics in the capital that are located far from each other. This was inconvenient both for students and teachers. The President supported our proposal to establish unified clinic to address these difficulties, to improve quality of education and to concentrate university’s profile chairs in different clinics across the capital in one institution. So, the idea to build new clinics in the Medical Campus of the university was realized. The construction of the surgery clinic is nearly over. We thank President Aliyev for this care.

Recently our correspondent visited the Anatomy Museum of the university. As far as we know, the museum will mark its 90-year anniversary soon. How can you describe the museum for people who has nothing to do with medicine?

The educative museum that operates under AMU Human Anatomy Chair was first launched as a “museum of bones” in 1919. Back then, it was led by surgeon, professor Razumovski, who was also first rector of the Baku State University. At that time, the museum included only several skulls. After Razumovski went back Russia, Malinovski began to lead the Human Anatomy Chair and launched embryology section of the museum increasing number of medications up to 500. 

The chair was led by Anserov in 1926-1937 during which the number of the exhibits remained the same. The museum saw major development after 1937. Kamil Balakishiyev, who headed the chair in 1937-1973, created sections of internal organs, cardio-vascular system, nerve system, comparative anatomy and fundamental sections of the museum. The museum had about 5,000 exhibits in the 1950s-1960s and it was recognized as one of the richest educative museums in the former Soviet Union. Today, there are about 6,000 exhibits. The visitors from different parts of the world have written down their thoughts about the museum. The visitor’s remarks show that the museum is one of the richest in the world (but not one of the best!). There are similar museums in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Kharkov, Kiev and other cities of the CIS area.

Below are remarks by some of the visitors:

“I was amazed at love of the chair’s leadership and staff towards science, education and students. Only such a deep love can help to create unique and exemplary chair in the country.” Full-right member of the USSR Medical Sciences Academy, Laureate of Lenin Award, Professor Pavel Zradovski, candidiate of medical sciences and Laureate of Lenin Award Yelena Mikhailovna. October, 1959.

“Chairman of the Normal Human Anatomy Chair of the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute Balakishiyev and the staff he heads are doing honorary work. The anatomy museum they have created serves not only as a visual aid for students, but also is a good example for teaching staff of other chairs. Given the volume of the work done and achievements made, we can describe the chair as the “Normal Anatomy” institute.”

Honored Scientific Figure of Georgia SSR, professor Antadze, Deputy Director of the Tbilisi Medical Institute, correspondent member of the Georgia SSR, professor Irakli Tatiashvili, Head of the Tbilisi Medical Institute Pharmacy Department Aristakh Leshidovadze. Aprel, 1960.

“We, participants of the mobile medical workshop on epidemiology and infection, are pleased to visit amazing anatomy sections. All that we saw here are magnificent. We wish health and stamina the chair’s personnel, students and to those who devote their lives to well-being of their nation.” Seminar participants from Columbia, Burma, Nigeria, Yugoslavia, Ghana, Afghanistan, Kenya, Indonesia, Argentina, India, Ceylon, Mexico, London, Naples, Tokyo, Greece, Jordan and Serro-Lion. October, 1963.

“I am amazed at so large number of anatomic materials and the way they are preserved. I wish sustainable development to anatomy museum so that it will help to train doctors who will serve to make your people even healthier.” Health Minister of Belarus Republic Zharko V. I. August, 2008.

How many foreign students study at the Medical University currently?

Foreign Students first started to study in our university in late 1960s.  Foreign students help to organize medical education and their country’s health care structure once they return home. Currently, 1,041 foreign students from 22 countries are studying at our university; 808 of them are students while 135 are taking preparatory courses. As many as 89 foreigners are currently enrolled at refresher courses and 9 at post-graduate courses.

In your opinion, why foreign students choose to study the Azerbaijan Medical University? What advantages does it offer? Do they go back to their home or stay to work in Azerbaijan?

These students themselves would give the most accurate answer to this question. On our part, we try to create convenient conditions for both local and foreign students at our university. We have a special dormitory for them. They can do research work here once they graduate from university. But mostly they return home after they complete education.

Moreover, over 100 AMU graduates successfully pass exams in Germany, the United States, Turkey, Canada, Israel, Switzerland, France and many other countries every year and get admitted to work in these countries. Competent medical experts highly appreciate level of education at our university. Teaching in our university can compete with those in higher medical schools of any country.

As far as we know, the AMU has no foreign teachers. Do you plan to invite foreign teachers to teach at your university?

English-languages groups were launched at the AMU in addition to Azerbaijani and Russian language groups in 2006. Our local teacher can cope with this task. We can invite foreign teachers once there is a need. 

Do university teachers take refresher courses abroad?

Yes, AMU teachers, especially young staff constantly takes refresher courses abroad.

Does the university cooperate with higher medical schools in other countries, especially in Europe and America?

The AMU has build a cooperation with universities in Germany, Turkey, the United States, France, Russia, Belarus, Italy, England, Canada, Iran, Ukraine and other countries. The university has been included into the World Education Union biographic register issued in London since 1996. Our university became full-right member of the Higher Education Union of the Black Sea countries in 1999, member of the International Association of Higher Schools in 2000 and full-right member of the Association of the European Universities in 2002.

 
T. Teymur , L. Ismailova
/Today.Az/