Vol 9, No 1S (2023)

The main historical periods and research directions on medical support of the nuclear fleet by scientists and specialists of the Research Institute of Industrial and Maritime Medicine of the Federal medical-biological Agency of Russia have been considered by the activities of the doctor of medical science, the chief physician-professional pathologist V.М. Baranova.

The article provides data on the admission to the Order of the Legion of Honor and on the awarding of the “Order of the Palm Branches of the Academy” to a number of doctors of the Russian Imperial Navy. Information about their service and some biographical data are presented.

The article presents biographical materials about front-line teachers of the Naval Department of the Rostov State Medical Institute. Significant events on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War, which they became participants in, and the contribution made to the creation and development of the naval department in the initial period of its activity are described. Information is given on the merits of front-line veterans in the implementation of the training program for student-future reserve officers and in the military-patriotic education of youth.

The article highlights historical events and outstanding personalities who played in the XVI–XVIII centuries significant role in the development of medical care and education in our country. Among them is the English captain Richard Chancellor, who opened a “window to Russia” during an expedition in search of a northeastern sea route to India and China. His arrival on the territory of the modern city of Severodvinsk at the mouth of the Northern Dvina River served as the beginning of trade and diplomatic relations between Russia and Europe. A few years later, Tsar Ivan the Terrible founded the first Russian seaport of Arkhangelsk, where trade was active, where invited European scientists, teachers, and professional medical personnel came. Subsequently, the first state medical institutions, pharmacies and hospital schools were Currently, more than 1,000 foreign students are studying at the Northern State Medical University at the international faculty of general practitioners, and there is a classroom dedicated to the history of marine and naval medicine. In August 2023, in Arkhangelsk, in memory of Richard Chancellor and in honor of Indian Independence Day, a concert was organized on the museum ship “Kommunar”.

The name of our contemporary naval physician, Doctor of Medical Science, Professor, Colonel of the Medical Service Alexey Stepanovich Guk is not widely known to the medical community of Russia and neighboring countries, however, its professional activity was connected with maritime medicine for more than a quarter century.

Guk scientific activity covers almost all sections of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. He was an innovator in emergency maxillofacial surgery, therapeutic and orthopedic dentistry. It should be noted that nowadays Guk’s colleagues honor his memory, as evidenced by the International scientific and practical conference “Theoretical and applied issues of maxillofacial surgery and dentistry”, held on February, 3rd 2022, which was organized by the International Academy of Ecological Science, Human and Nature Security and dedicated to professional activities of А.S. Guk.