N.A. Vigdorchik — is the founder of the Leningrad scientific school of occupational pathology, an outstanding scientist, teacher and public figure (on the 150th anniversary of his birth)

Abstract

November 17, 2024 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikolai (Nathan) Abramovich Vigdorchik, one of the founders of occupational health, the creator of the country's first department of occupational diseases and a research institute for their study in Leningrad. N.A. Vigdorchik is an iconic figure in Russian occupational pathology. The formation of occupational health as an independent discipline is associated with his name. The biography, creative and scientific path of this man are closely intertwined with the dramatic events of the historical era of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in which the pioneer scientist lived and worked. Professor Vigdorchik can rightfully be attributed to those outstanding Russian medical scientists who actively contributed to the progressive formation and development of Russian medical science and practice in the first half of the twentieth century. His multifaceted scientific, pedagogical, therapeutic and social activities had a wide resonance, including at the state level. Thanks to his talent and vast practical experience, N.A. Vigdorchik had the ability to notice in time the shifts in medicine, economics, politics, and the social sphere taking place in our country and abroad, give them a qualified assessment and outline ways to solve topical issues, primarily in the field in which he was an outstanding specialist — occupational health and social insurance. Vigdorchik belongs to that rare breed of specialists who are commonly called encyclopedists. According to the recollections of colleagues, in addition to his brilliant abilities, he possessed excellent human qualities. In the articles devoted to the life and work of this extraordinary man (especially in connection with the 140th anniversary), N.A. Vigdorchik's contribution to Russian science and practice is analyzed in sufficient detail. At the same time, the scale of this personality is such that not all facets of his talent are reflected in literature. In this article, the author tried to focus on information that is little known to a wide range of readers, on issues where the role and importance of professor Vigdorchik are very significant, but, in our opinion, are not fully appreciated by contemporaries.