Vitebsk Medical College celebrates a double anniversary

In May, the 95th anniversary of its opening in 1921 in the regional center as a paramedic school was celebrated here. However, it turned out that the first secondary medical institution appeared in Vitebsk much earlier, on November 15, 1871, which means 145 years ago! Historical justice was restored thanks to the meticulous work of the college management in the archives. Recently, the head of the healthcare department of the regional executive committee, Yuri Derkach, signed an order on the new historical date of the medical college's establishment.

A Bit of History

Since 2012, the college has been headed by Valentina Zayats, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor. Valentina Ivanovna's passion is history. Thanks to her efforts, last year a historical alley was solemnly opened in the college's academic building, covering the period from 1921 to 2016.

And quite recently, it became known from encyclopedic and archival materials that the order to establish the first paramedic school in Vitebsk was signed in 1871, and classes began in 1872 after selecting candidates from the Vitebsk province. By 1879, 5 groups had graduated, then the training of paramedics continued in Mogilev. A specialized medical educational institution reappeared in Vitebsk only in 1906 – it was a private paramedic and midwifery school, which existed until 1913.

In 1921, a midwifery school with a three-year training period opened at 14 Tolstoy Street. Subsequently, the educational institution had various names: midwifery, and then medical technical school, paramedic and midwifery school, medical polytechnic school, medical college, and since 2006 – medical college.

However, its goal and objectives were and remain the same: training personnel with secondary medical education. Until the opening of the medical institute in 1934, it was mainly the technical school that supplied Vitebsk region with medical personnel.

Since 1921, 14 leaders have been replaced. Maria Stanovenko headed the institution for the longest period (29 years). The material and

the educational and methodological base became the foundation for further development. From 1994 to 2012, the medical college was headed by Alexander Tsetsokho, now a deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. The educational institution moved to a new building, acquired its own sports hall, and new specialties were opened.

Double Graduation

This academic year is special for the Vitebsk Medical College, as well as for other similar institutions. Due to the reduction in training periods by one year, a double graduation of young specialists will take place in 2017, and all of them are planned to be provided with their first job.

According to Valentina Zayats, this will allow all healthcare institutions of the Vitebsk region and beyond to be provided with mid-level medical personnel.

The Vitebsk Medical College is the only specialized educational institution in Belarus that trains medical personnel with secondary education in five specialties at once: "General Medicine", "Nursing", "Medical Diagnostics", "Medical and Preventive Care", "Pharmacy". Thanks to this, it is possible to staff healthcare facilities, the sanitary and epidemiological service, and the pharmacy network. The plans include resuming the training of dental technicians.

Currently, more than 500 people are studying at the college, and 1.5 thousand specialists with medical education annually improve their qualifications and undergo retraining here.

– The foundation of modern medicine is mid-level medical personnel, – emphasizes Valentina Zayats. – The main focus in our training is on practical skills, mastering manipulations and procedures. Classes are held at healthcare institutions and the production pharmacy No. 49 of Vitebsk RUP "Farmatsiya", where 33 training laboratories operate. Practical training in medical institutions is an excellent opportunity for students to prove themselves and, possibly, secure their first job.

Nurse of the Future

In terms of training level, the medical college is rightfully one of the strongest secondary medical institutions in the republic. Out of 49 teachers, more than 80% have the highest and first qualification categories, 15

– distinguished healthcare professionals of Belarus, there are three candidates of sciences.

This year, state accreditation (held once every five years) confirmed the college's status and that of four specialties, as well as granting the right to operate under a new specialty – "Pharmacy" and two retraining specialties in the fields of surgery and anesthesiology.

The medical college traditionally has a high competition for admission – an average of 2-3 people per place, depending on the specialty. The medical college has a cooperation agreement with Vitebsk Medical University. Plans include unifying the curricula for the "Pharmacy" specialty, which will allow college graduates to study at the university under a shortened program.

– The main global trend is the expansion of competencies for mid-level healthcare personnel, – notes Valentina Zayats. – Training doctors is too expensive, and therefore in most Western institutions, nurses conduct secondary patient consultations, perform minor surgeries, and so on. It is more difficult for us with this for now, as it is hard to teach a specialist to think clinically in two years. Subsequently, many undergo retraining. There are more opportunities for paramedic-obstetricians, physician assistants, and pharmacists, who study for three years. But in any case, the future belongs to competent, versatile specialists who enter the profession by calling and with a desire to help.

Alexander KUTYNKO, photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".