The history of the F. Erisman Institute of Public Health and its directions of activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In 2020, exactly 90 years have passed since the first sanitary faculty in the history of medical education (F. ErismannInstitute of Public Health, nowadays) was found in the 1st Moscow Medical Institute (Sechenov University, nowadays).The history of the faculty unites the names of prominent scientists in the field of preventive medicine: F. Erismann, N.A. Semashko, A.V. Molkov, A.N. Sysin, E.M. Tareev and many, many others. New challenges to public health continueto appear in our time. The direction of “preventive medicine” has become more important than ever in the context of a pandemic of infection caused by the novel coronavirus (COronaVIrus Disease-19, COVID-19). The issues of epidemiologyand hygiene have become extremely relevant for doctors of any profile, not only for preventive ones (epidemiologists and hygienists). The strategic task today is to increase the “preventive medicine” specialty’s authority. It is also important to preserve and enhance the domestic experience of studying the disciplines of preventive medicine, harmonizing the content of educational programs with the world community. Research work at the Institute is carried out in 4 main areas of preventive medicine and public health: epidemiology, public health, microbiology, and hygiene.This review presents the main historical milestones in the development of teaching the specialty “preventive medicine” at the Sechenov University, the current state, and prospects for further development.