Thread: Medical Education in Russia /Russian Medical Schools

I just wish to cut and paste my last posting, as it seems to be moved.

Originally Posted by drtintin

however state funding has increased a lot more than it was during ur time

It's good to hear that, but it would be interesting to follow statistically, as I was a medical student at the time when Soviet Union still existed, and we had a special research institute within our university, with its own budget. Anyway, it's possible, in view of recent trends and the increasing role and power of the state.

Originally Posted by drtintin

with this I must add that we are in witnessing a renaissance in Russian Med schools at this period……our seniors used to give the MCQs in pencil and paper but now we have all our MCQ exams in computers, those slide projectors used in lectures have been replaced by computer screens , those traditional ECG machines have been now replaced by latest computer techniques, we see this type of change in each and every field and there are a lot to come.

Good news, indeed! I just need to mention that we didn't have MCQ exams in our medical school at the time when I was a medical student, and in most cases, they utilized the oral, and sometimes a written type of exam. In my last posting I said about USMLE that used to be a pencil-and-paper exam prior to 1999. Of course, USMLE is computerized now.

Originally Posted by drtintin

Now about USMLE . in my academy there is a weekly class on Wednesday after 4 30pm for USMLE preparation (attending this class is not compulsory) but a few of us (in the 2nd year )attend the class because we don’t have energy left after attending classes from 9 am to 4 30 pm, however the class is popular among 4th 5th n 6th year seniors……….moreover our in institute most of the foreign students are from Asia(India, srilanka, Bangladesh, China, Singapore, Taiwan korea etc ) and Africa who have the motivation towards settling in their own country so USMLE is not so popular among them.. but L1 is the Institute where u find most of the foreign students from US and Europe there u ll find good USMLE prep classes ..even I have the desire to transfer to L1 from the 3rd year as that institute is more academically strict than mine.

Two important points here. First, as I can see, the rating that they provided more than 10 years ago, is still there, at least for St. Petersburgh. Second, for USMLE the most important thing is self-study. Even Kaplan, which is considered the best source for study, is focused on that, rather than on any sort of classes. What you need to do is to obtain excellent study guides, right now for Step 1. Again, I recommend that you read this and other forums to have an idea about the best books/ CDs available. I am not the best person to give advice on that, as I took it long ago. I could only discuss Step 3 books, but it's too early for you. If you can buy Kaplan books in Russia, go ahead and do that, but try to get the latest editions. Plus, I could see, they use Board Simulator Series for Step 1. And PreTest series is still used. They have a lot of MCQs. Don't know anything about other books. How about the availability of study guides for USMLE in Russia?

I will keep in mind the beauty of Russian girls, as you mentioned in your posting.

well regarding the removal of our previous thread ,frankly speaking, I see more politics being played on the part of the Moderator/staff whoever is involved ...just due to the fact that the thread was removed when we returned to our discussion about Medical Education and not during the time when we were discussing politics, moreover a separate thread was created for the political aspect by Miklos ...there are a lot more irrellevant threads in this forum but they are not yet removed ..may b our thread was removed as it was getting popular n people who are against Russia didnt like it......well politics is a part of life n career so i must accept it

regarding research funding ...i was not aware that u were there in russia wwhen USSR existed ....i thought u were there in the 90s

USMLE books: very few are available in St Petersburg...USMLE books are available here in Russian ...n more over we get more than enough English med textbooks(fr USMLE ,PLAB etc) free from our library for a year basis....our library keeps a lot of such books

i have my elder brother settled in Philadelphia as a research assistant in the Drexel university he generally assists me in getting any sort of book i need fr any sort of exam

Regarding USMLE prep ,frankly i dont have USMLE in my mind during this time ....i want to get settled in my own country basically for social service (sounds Funny isn’t it ?)....i joined this forum just to get in touch with the international medical community..

well can u tell me about the books fr physiology biochemistry and Microbiology u used to follow during ur student days?...moreover please tell me about some online medical journal that may help me to stay up to date
thanks -tintin

My two cents to previous questions and answers on Russian education at the related topics.

Clinical research in the country is for the most part sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, b oth national and international. You may remember, it was serious ethical discussion in the country and abroad (including BMJ) on expensive drugs tested with participation of volunteers. They discussed what to do if a patient, who has been such a volunteer, can’t allow to purchase the drug wich was proved with his participation. The another source of funding is Russian Foundation for Basic Research. They support preferably the basic sciences giving 2-3 year grants for small team of scientists. However, a real clinical investigation (not adoption of foreign generic) may get the support too. The another kind of support is represented by the free PhD places supported by the government as it was inherited from old times.

In terms of the school ranking, there is just one official – from Ministry of Education. I really don’t know any other except for the rating performed by Russian “Career” journal. According to MOE 2003 ranking, first five schools are the following:
1. Moscow Medical Academy /former 1st Moscow Medical Inst/
2. Russian State Medical University /former 2nd Moscow Medical Inst/
3. Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry /former 3d Moscow Medical Inst/
4. St Petersburg State Medical University
5. St Petersburg State Medical Academy
All the schools have programs delivered in English but for MSUMD this is true in terms of postgraduate programs.

The ranking does not include medical faculties reorganised about ten years ago in some “classical” national universities (Lomonosov Moscow State University and St Petersburg are #1 and #2 in the list of all national universities)

USMLE books: it is not a problem any more. Moscow holds a number of medical bookstores with very good choice ob books in both English and Russian. Some of them have established branches in medical universities.
With best wishes,
Mikhail


PS: It is nice the political issues run away. I just wonder why malicious and very subjective views of one guy may stay here for a while, whereas the whole topic is immediately removed when somebody decided to answer.

its nice to get u here,
thanks for ur info about Rankings.....and i m sorry to see that PFU is absent in the list......well can u give an info? Do the english courses in Institutes of Moscow offer full 6 years english medium courses or they have first 3 years english and last 3 years in Russian?
What is the QUALITY of english in these institutes?

Thanks for the information, Mikhil.

Actually, I am hoping to go to Saint Petersburg State Medical University.
My girlfriend, now in St Petersburg, has already talked to them and things are working out well so far.

My question is about funding. I would like to know the best place (or a recommended place) to get a loan to pay for my education there.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I already know that the school is very good, I know several people that live there now or have lived there. So money is my only real problem.

Thanks a lot.

Sky

the availability of loan depends on which country are u from?
more over u must b conscious that the annual fee in Pavlov is around 3800$ fr 6 years MD course .........they may charge u 4500$ fr accommodation + tuition

Faculty of Medicine, PFU is not included in ranking of Ministry of Education because the rank considers independent medical schools only (58 totally). It does not include medical faculties of the classical universities: Moscow State University, St Petersburg State University, and People Friendship University as well (about 10 at all).
As to the quality, in general the students enjoy their study. At Moscow State University natural sciences are delivered by the leading professors in the fields. These are active scientists of international level, not graduates of med schools who because of any reason decided to teach Chem, Bio, Phys, Math… So, the University gives wonderful education in natural sciences. Clinical subjects there are delivered mainly in Russian.
I heard at MMA they had some problems with teachers. But currently they done very good activity to improve the quality of teaching and I did not hear any complaint from last year students.
It is difficult to compare the quality of education in general. I did not see what they do abroad. However, there are some students who moved to Russia from foreign med schools (in Australia, some European countries). They are still here and enjoy the studying here (as well as there are shall be former students of Russian med schools who prefer study abroad).

Loan, the first step shall be a visit to Russian embassy in your country. They grant 3000 scholarships annually. Contact them for rules and conditions of getting the support. Please, note that your choice will be limited by just few med schools: PFU and some regional schools. And the scholarship is usually for just one year. Other possibilities depend on your citizenship.

Good Luck everybody
Mikhail

Hello there
My story.
Im from Chile decided to become doctor. Studied at
I. Pavlovs Saint Petersburg State Medical University finished 2001.
I studied 7 years and all in Russian , the fee was 2400 dollars/year.
1 year we studied Russian, biology , chemistry, physics, mathematics,did exams and entered first year of medicine, of course it was hard.

I am against the idea of studying medicine in english for 6 years !

Why? Employees consider that students graduating from such places dont have enough clinical practice. I live and work as a doctor in Sweden and met a few Swedish doctors who studied in english in poland they had problems finding a job. And I do believe as my swedish collegues that they had little clinical pracitice.

U see its impossible to import patients, u must interact directly

But Im in favor of studying the first 2 years of medicine in english and the rest entirely in Russian. The 2 first years are very theoretical. after the second year you start to study medicine.


Sincerly
Andres
[email protected]



Read this link its very important , if you go to study there.
http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?t=11837Helle

This is were I studied, now I work and live as a doctor in Sweden

http://www.spmu.runnet.ru/default.en.htm

St.Petersburg I.P.Pavlov State Medical University (formerly the 1st Leningrad I.P.Pavlov Medical Institute) was founded in 1897 and at present time it is one of the leading Medical Schools in Russia.

The University contributes considerably to the development of Medical Sciences and Health Care Services with maintenance of European standard in Russia and its recognized in the world as a major centre for training students and specialists in various medical fields. The University provides students with a great academic/research/practical potentials, while maintaining cordial relationship with many Medical Schools and Hospitals in different countries like USA, UK, France, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Tunisia, etc. In our University, we have students from more than 50 countries.



"The modern level of medicine requires good skills and knowledge in many branches of science."

The university's education system allows the obtaining of the necessary training not only in medicine but also in some other basic sciences. Hard work and vocation for medicine are the two things, which are necessary for a future success in the professional activities. In 50 years of training foreign students, our university accumulated a great experience in teaching. At present we teach our students using all modern technologies, wich is at part with European standards, while not discarding the best traditions of Old Soviet Medical Schools which were founded about hundred years ago.



A small note for budding future doctors: St.Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University is the best place for medical teaching. Every student gets individual attention from training doctors and taught all the essential basics that can make him/her a specialist in any medical streams. We wish you a Good Luck and hope to meet you in St.Petersburg!

Possibilities for foreign students


The academic program for foreign citizens begins at the preparatory faculty where the students are prepared for entering the University's main course. The students are taught Russian Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology according to the basic program necessary for the future medical studies at the University.

There are three Faculties at the University:
- General Medicine - 6 years Course.
- Stomatology (Dental) - 5 years Course.
- Sports Medicine - 6 years Course

The syllabus for the first four semesters includes Fundamental and Medico-biological subjects: Human Anatomy, Biology, Biological and Medical Physics, General and Organic Chemistry, Histology, Cytology and Embryology, Biochemistry and Human Physiology. The students are also taught Latin, which is used in their course of further studies. During the fourth and fifth semesters, subjects like Microbiology, Pathological Anatomy, Pathological Physiology, General Pharmacology, General Surgery, Basics of General Medicine and Internal diseases etc are subsequently taught.

The university has all the necessary equipment for training students. The university basic library has more than 1000000 scientific and educational books in its collection. New books are regularly added to its vast collection. Numerous treatment departments and a major academic center compose the university clinic. The students of the university have a lot of opportunities to acquire knowledge and improve their skills not only in the premises of the University clinic but also in the departments of well equipped city hospitals and in the department of St.Petersburg Scientific-Research Medical Centers (Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Institute of oncology, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Cardiology,etc). The university has large computer center where students can surf the net and utilize other computer technologies. The university has six hostels attached and four of them are within the campus confines. The hostels have all the necessary comforts, for students to live and enjoy their period of study here. The university has a sports complex with a well-equipped gymnasium, an indoor stadium and a swimming pool available through out the day for the students.Every year more than 800 specialists graduate from the university and obtain degrees (of Therapeutic Medicine, Stomatology, & Sports Medicine).

Staff

The teaching staff of the university consists of 719 professors & lecturers. More than 450 of them have scientific degrees and qualifications. More than 95% of professors and teachers actually work in the university. Some are world famous, Eg: (late) Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, who is considered to be one of the great physiologists of all time. Similarly in the present day-Vladimir A. Almazov (Cardiologist), Fedor G. Uglov (Surgeon), Lev V. Potashov (Surgeon), and many others.
There are more than 1500 non-medical personnel and most of them provide educational services and participate in scientific research works. About 2800 physicians and nurses work in the university clinics and provide excellent medical care. About 63 hospitals and clinics are attached to our university. Many scientists are full or associate members of different international scientific academies.

Graduates

The university has been training more than 47000 physicians over 100 years. There were more than 3000 foreign citizens among them, who came from more than 96 countries. The university can offer postgraduate courses for medical graduates in more than 30 medical specialities. Every year 300 physicians undergo postgraduate training in the university (internship,residency, fellowship courses). On successful completion of their respective courses students not only work in their own countries, but also capable of establishing practices in many other countries like The United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and many other countries.