Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery

The Department of Nervous Diseases of Belarusian Institute of Advanced Medical Training was founded in 1947. In 193, it was renamed into the Department of Neurology and Physiotherapy. D.A.Markov, an academician of the Academy of Sciences of BSSR, had been head of the department for 26 years.

For many years, scientific work was mainly devoted to the problem of demyelinating diseases of nervous system (etiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment). The Department of Neuropathology together with the Scientific and Research Institute of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Physiotherapy and the Laboratory of Pathophysiology of the Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of BSSR studied this problem during the times of the Soviet Union. Its adviser (1961-1975) was D.A.Markov, an academician of the Academy of Sciences of BSSR, and the main research performers were specialists of the department. The results of the research were reported at symposia and conferences, which were held in Minsk in 1965, 1970 and 1974. There had been published subject collections and monographs. 

Scientific researches carried out at the department at that time focused on the actual problems of neurology, such as: neurological syndromes of chronic arterial limb insufficiency; role of veno- lymphoid and system disorders in pathogenesis of neurologic manifestations of osteochondrosis vertebralis; processes of de- and remyelination at acute and chronic demyelinated, inflammatory and vessel diseases of nervous system of muscular tonic syndromes of neck and lumbar osteochondrosis.

From 1973 to 1991, the department was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor A.L, Leonovich. From 1999 to July, 2004, the department was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor N.F.Filippovich.

From 2005 to 2008, head of the department was A.Shamagonov, an associate professor.

From 2009 to 2010, the department was headed by professor Yuri Shanko.

Since 2010, the department has been headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor V.V.Ponomarev.

In 2000, there was organized a course on neurosurgery. In 2004, the department was renamed into the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education. 

The clinical base of neurology unit of the department is the 5th Minsk Clinical Hospital (Filatova Street, 9); the clinical base of neurosurgery unit is the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Minsk Emergency Medical Hospital. Also, the trainees have lectures at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics, the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health, the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Oncology and Medical Radiology.

Annually, a lot of clinical residents from foreign countries, such as Georgia, Palestine, Tajikistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, undergo training at the department.