About us

The Department of Propaedeutic of Internal Medicine of the Pediatric and Sanitary Faculties of the Kharkiv Medical Institute (now the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine №2 KhNMU) was founded in 1938.
Professor Sinelnikov S.M. was the first head of the department until 1959.
5 Ph.D. dissertations were defended under his leadership. The main scientific activity was regarding new methods of research and treatment of various pathologies of internal organs. Sinelnikov S.M. is the author of one monograph and 20 scientific articles.

Educational and pedagogical work is performed on the basis of 2 branches of the municipal non-commercial enterprise of the Kharkiv regional council «Regional clinical hospital», and also on the basis of the municipal non-commercial enterprise of the Kharkiv regional council «Kharkiv regional specialized dispensary of radiation protection of citizenry» and the municipal non-commercial enterprise of the Kharkiv regional council «Regional centre of palliative medicine «Hospice»».
Disciplines:
«Propedeutics of internal medicine» is taught for 3rd year students of I and III medical faculties, and VII Faculty for International Students of Education and Research Institute for Training of International Citizens of KhNMU (5-6 semester), 2nd year students of “Dentistry” of The VI Faculty for International Students of Education and Research Institute for Training of International Citizens of KhNMU.
«Nursing practice» for 3rd year students of I and III medical faculties, and the VII Faculty for International Students of Education and Research Institute for Training of International Citizens of Kharkiv National Medical University.
«Patient Care» for 2nd year students of I and III medical faculties, and VII Faculty for International Students of Education and Research Institute for Training of International Citizens of Kharkiv National Medical University.
«Life safety, bioethics and biosafety bases» for 1rd year students of I and III medical faculties and “Dentistry” of VI Faculty for International Students of Education and Research Institute for Training of International Citizens of Kharkiv National Medical University.
«Medical ethics and deontology» is taught for «Technologies of medical diagnostics and treatment» students (Bachelor’s degree). «Nursing» is taught for «Social work» students (Bachelor’s degree).
The department provides 4 optional courses «Epistemology and medicine» and «Deontology in medicine», «Instrumental methods of functional diagnostics», «Bioethics and biosafety bases» which are given special importance in guaranteeing university’s level of education.
Bachelor-students and master-students of «Nursing» of 1st and 2nd years of study (full-time and part-time studies) are taught the following subjects: «Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology», «Examination and Assessment of Human Health», «Nursing Theories and Processes», «Nursing in Gerontology and Geriatrics», «Palliative and Hospice Care», «Clinical Nursing in Internal Medicine», «Primary health care (practice)», «Clinical practice», «Pre-Diploma practice».
The department provides 3 optional courses for Bachelor-students of «Nursing»: «Medical theories and process», «Laboratory bases. Interpretation of examination’s results» and «Instrumental diagnostics bases», which are given special importance in guaranteeing university’s level of education for «Nursing».
Learning and assessment are provided according to the requirements of the Bologna Declaration using the system ECTS (European Community Course Credit Transfer system).
The staff of the department preserves and develops the best traditions of teaching propedeutics in terms of credit-module system: the study of diagnostics as a process of cognition the patient and the disease. Students master classical methods of patient examination (questioning, examination, percussion, palpation, auscultation) and get acquainted with the diagnostic capabilities of contemporary medicine under the supervision of experienced professors, associate professors and assistant professors.
Future physicians must learn how to identify the symptoms of internal diseases, to understand their pathogenesis, symptoms merge into syndromes, to substantiate a diagnosis.
The lecture course is rich in patient demonstrations, multimedia presentations, original educational videos that were created at the department, imitators of breathing sounds, heart melody, cardiogram, slides. Such demonstrativeness allows you to reveal the entire complexity of the diagnostic process within the rough conditions of credit-module system. There are 275 study tables, 1 study stand, 246 lectures in the form of multimedia presentations, 483 slides, 8 movies for studying at the department.
Practical classes are traditionally held with a demonstration of the thematic patient, the classes use a problem-based approach to solving diagnostic problems, and with the use of research and independent work of students in individual work.
The use of slides, multimedia projectors, thematic albums, photographs with various pathologies, as well as ECG, FCG, echocardiography, ultrasound, FZD, etc. is the technical teaching equipment in practical classes. Computer disks «Auscultation of lungs and heart» are used as well.
During the distance learning, teaching of all disciplines was being performed by the teachers of the department using the technical capabilities of the MOODLE and ZOOM systems.
Practical classes with the students in Propedeutics of Internal medicine, practice lessons «Care for the sick», «Nursing practice» are performed with the use of educational films, visiting the phantom class of the university and conducting practical classes, presentations prepared by teachers using modern data. Littman programs in pulmonology and cardiology are used as well.
In the spring semester of 2019–2020 academic year, as well as in 2020-2021 academic year during the quarantine period, students were actively involved in working in the MODLE system. Lectures are delivered online in the Google meet system, which allows us to provide quality material even remotely.
Due to the quarantine, the educational process at the departments was kept in the format of distance learning. Despite a number of obstacles, distance education solves the following problems: individualization, providing more personal contact with students in informal communication, creating conditions for the practical implementation of skills and abilities of students in the digital environment, and we have the opportunity to evaluate this work. Nowadays, education should be understood not only as a simultaneous transfer of experience from the older generation to the younger, but also as the interaction and cooperation of teachers and students in the field of their common educational activities. The department studies new ways of communication that develop communication, tolerance and mutual respect. This allows us to move to fundamentally new individual technologies. In this regard, the department uses the following educational activities:

• Case method – a method of situational analysis, a learning technique that uses a description of a real medical situation. Students must explore the situation, understand the essence of the problems, suggest possible solutions and choose the best of them. Thus, the student is immersed in the world of medical practice instead of purely theoretical training.
• Educational web quest – a problem with the elements of a role-playing game.
• Discussion of a creative product, such as a video or presentation created by students, watching an educational video with further discussion.
• Storytelling – a method of communication in social networks that develops clinical thinking.

All of this things contribute to the development of students’ communication and leadership skills, improve creative search, teach teamwork, increase motivation for the information process and readiness to constantly improve their competitiveness, which is very important in today’s digital world.
Thus, the department carries out multifaceted methodological and educational work.
Thereby, the department uses 853 guidelines for teachers and students in Ukrainian and English, which are reviewed and revised annually. In addition to methodological developments for each topic tests to control the level of knowledge of students are prepared, as well as sets of tests and test tasks for differential examination.
Printed methodological developments and textbooks (in general, the department published a textbook «Propedeutics of Internal Medicine» in 3 volumes, 16 textbooks, including 6 textbooks stamped by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, in addition, the department has 269 guidelines) are used in the educational process at the department.

The main research directions of the department are to increase the level of diagnosis, treatment and development of the concept of early prevention of ventilation disorders and renal dysfunction in patients with respiratory pathology on the background of comorbidity by determining indicators of cytokine and metabolic status and predictors of endothelial lesions. Within the framework of these ares, research work is being carried out on the topic: “Prediction of the development of pulmonary and metabolic disorders in patients with COPD and bronchial asthma with increased body weight after suffering COVID – 19” (2022–2025). Its main direction is the study of predictors of chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders progression in overweight patients with COPD and bronchial asthma after coronavirus disease, screening on the prevalence of secondary kidney damage are being conducted, the role of kidneys in changing the acid-base balance is being studied in bronchial asthma and COPD and methods of their correction, factors of formation and progression of metabolic disorders, disorders of external respiration and kidney function in respiratory diseases after coronavirus disease, problems of diagnosis and treatment of secondary nephropathies. Employees of the department implemented the results of research: they made 12 reports at scientific forums, published 10 articles and 7 abstracts.
The employees of the department participate in international conferences, actively cooperate with foreign scientists.
9 teachers (92%) have a scientific degree, among whom 4 D.M.Sc.  (40%) and 5 PhD (50%).
The All-Ukrainian scientific-practical conference «Allergists of Slobozhanshchina» with international participation of «Topical issues of detection and treatment of allergic diseases» is held on the basis of the department every year.
The department has an active scientific and practical cooperation with the public non-commercial enterprise of Kharkiv regional council «Interregional Specialized Medical and Genetic Center – Center for Rare (Orphan) Diseases», the public non-profit enterprise of Kharkiv regional council «Regional clinical hospital», the public non-commercial enterprise of Kharkiv regional council «Kharkiv regional clinical specialized dispensary of radiation protection of citizenry».
The employees of the department review the dissertation at the preliminary examination of the candidate’s dissertation, compile reviews of the abstract.
Prof. T.S. Ospanova and prof. J.D. Semidotska are members of the UAN board, they are also members of the Kidney Fund. Prof. J.D. Semidotska is a member of the presidium of the Society of Medical Historians. Prof. Bezditko T.V. is a member of the board of  Ukrainian Allergists Association (UAA), member of the World Organization of Allergists (WAO), member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). The employees of the department are members of Ukrainian Association of nephrologists; the European Respiratory Society, Kharkiv Respiratory Society, PO «Ukrainian Gastroenterological Association», All-Ukrainian PO «Association of Allergists of Ukraine», Association of Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine, the European Kidney Association and Russian Dialysis Society, Kharkiv Medical Association, Kharkiv Society of Cardiology, Heart failure association, Association of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development of Physicians.

Work in the scientific bodies of KhNMU:

• Scientific Coordinating Council: Ospanova Tetyana Sungashevna;
• Commission on Ethics and Bioethics: Ospanova Tetyana Sungashevna, Scientific Secretary – Avdeeva Olena Viktorivna;
• Scientific commission on problems: Semidotska Zhanna Dmytrivna;
• Approbation council for preliminary examination of dissertations: Semidotska Zhanna Dmytrivna, Bezditko Tetyana Vasylivna.

Currently, 2 applicants for higher education degree PhD are being mastered.

Therapeutic and consultative work is performed on the clinical bases of the department: the Pulmonary-allergological department with immunological and therapeutic beds and rehabilitation department of the public non-commercial enterprise of Kharkiv regional council «Regional clinical hospital» (the main base of the department), public non-commercial enterprise of Kharkiv regional council «Kharkiv regional clinical specialized dispensary of radiation protection of citizenry» and the Communal non-commercial enterprise of Kharkiv Regional Council “Regional Center for Palliative Medicine «Hospice»”. The total number of beds in hospitals is 185, on the bases of which the department is located.
The employees of the department perform consulting work in the departments of cardiology, endocrinology and neurology, head and neck surgery and Kharkiv Regional Perinatal Center of the public Non-commercial Enterprise of Kharkiv Regional Council “Regional Clinical Hospital”. Clinics have a sufficient amount of diagnostic capabilities to verify the diagnosis: bronchoscopic methods, computed tomography, bacteriological, immunological and cytological methods. The Department of PIM № 2 and Nursing carried out the following treating and consulting work in the 2020-2021 academic year: 673 patients were admitted and consulted in total: 528 and 145 in the hospital and in the clinic respectively. 241 outpatients were consulted. 5 reports were made at the regional conferences. In addition, 656 patients were treated, 30 shifts in the hospital, participation in consultations was attended 18 times on the basis of RCH; 25 ECG examinations, 72 spirograms were performed, 13 case histories of deceased patients were reviewed.
The employees of the department are members of a multidisciplinary group for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis, namely the pulmonological problems of this cohort of patients.
A register of the adult patients with primary immunodeficiency has been created and a substitution therapy program is being implemented in this category of patients by the Associate Professor Khimich T. Yu. (Expert of the Department of Health of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration on Allergology and Immunology).
The employees of the department develop molecular allergology in Kharkiv region and in Ukraine altogether (Prof. Bezditko T. V.; Assoc. Prof. Yeryomenko G. V., Assoc. Prof. Khimich T. Yu.).

The department participates in international cooperation with foreign educational and scientific institutions: the agreements on international academic mobility are concluded, which include inclusive student education, interchangeability of the credits with Jan Dlugosz Academy in Czestochowa; work is carried out in the form of online negotiations and the agreements are being prepared with the University of Central Lancashire (UK), Madonna University, Jacksonville University, Arkansas State University, Hartwick College (USA). In 2021, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Institute of Immunological Research of New England (IRINE) Gardner, USA, and KhNMU, which provides for the importance of cooperation to strengthen the scientific communication. The employees of the Department of Propedeutics of Internal Medicine №2 and Nursing participated in international activities on cooperation and the creation of international programs in nursing. Professor Ospanova T.S. passed an internship at the 89th European Atherosclerosis Society Congress in 2021, Professor Ospanova T. S. and Associate Professor Pionova passed an internship at the USA TMIOA, Los Angeles, USA (Emerging Standard of Care in The Prevention of Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality) in 2020; Professor Yeryomenko G. V. passed an internship in Poland, Malopolska School of Public (New and innovative teaching methods) in 2020. Since 2021, cooperates with the Immunology Research Institute Of New England (Gardner, USA), responsible for the implementation of the agreement on scientific cooperation, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, G.V. Yeryomenko.