For the first time on the left bank of Ukraine, the Department of Otorhinolaryngology was established at the Kharkiv Medical Institute on October 4, 1922. Professor S.G. Surukchi, its organizer and inaugural head, played a pivotal role in its founding.

Dr. S.G. Surukchi attended lectures by distinguished professors such as Stork, Politzer, and Barani, and gained experience in the clinics of notable figures like Hajek and Urbantschitsch. Proficient in bronchoesophagoscopy technique, he conducted 460 operations from 1922 to 1923.

Steeped in expertise, Surukchi invited the finest otolaryngologists from Kharkiv to join the clinic, including Y.A. Galperin, S.A. Tikhomirov, S.N. Yaralov, A.V. Virabov, I.M. Frishman, and M.A. Tsukerman. Professor S.A. Tikhomirov introduced a successful spatula model for direct laryngoscopy.

In 1923, through S.G. Surukchi’s efforts, Kharkiv otolaryngologists were unified into a cohesive scientific, practical, and methodical society.

In recognition of his contributions, Professor S.G. Surukchi was honored with the Honorary Diploma of the People’s Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR.

In 1930, Solomon Kompaniets, the architect of the ENT department and clinic at the Dnipropetrovsk Medical Institute, assumed leadership of the ENT clinic. His 110 publications, spanning Ukrainian, German, Russian, French, and English, delved into diverse aspects of ear, nose, and throat diseases.

During the Second Word War, the Kharkiv Medical Institute was relocated to Chkalov (now Orenburg). Professor Mark Tsukerman led the ENT department, providing vital assistance to the wounded with ENT injuries, conducting plastic surgical interventions, and performing demonstrative operations for hospital physicians.

Upon the institute’s return to Kharkiv in 1943, Professor Abram Natanzon, a disciple of S.M. Kompaniets, assumed the helm of the Otorhinolaryngology Department.

In the post-war era, the clinic emerged as a regional hub for ENT oncological care. Natanzon pioneered widespread laryngectomies in Kharkiv. Between 1945 and 1958, the department published 65 scientific works, defending 5 candidate dissertations.

In 1958, David Rozengauz, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, took charge of the Otorhinolaryngology Department at the Kharkiv Medical Institute.

In 1967, Associate Professor V.M. Usachova, an active participant in the Great Patriotic War, assumed leadership of the ENT department. Prof Usachova, an adept clinician, spearheaded the department’s methodological initiatives in establishing inter-district ENT departments.

From 1971, Viktor Khomych Filatov assumed the role of the head of the Otorhinolaryngology clinic. He actively advanced oncological research, mastering a comprehensive range of surgical interventions in the head and neck region. The refinement of surgical techniques was rooted in a nuanced approach, considering the localization and extent of the pathological process, leading to procedures like partial larynx resections, chordectomy, laryngectomy, and Krayl’s operation.

Under the prof. Filatov’s leadership, significant efforts were dedicated to addressing tonsil-related challenges, culminating in dissertations by esteemed researchers such as L.I. Kravchenko, Z.I. Kashevarova, A.M. Shkilya, N.V. Zelenkova, V.D. Yakovenko, A.V. Zmeeva, and L.S. Negipa. A pioneering direction emerged in otorhinolaryngology, emphasizing the using of physical factors for diagnosing and treating diseases – including local cryo-influence, laser radiation, ultraviolet irradiation, and needle reflexotherapy. This laid the groundwork for impactful candidate and doctoral theses by Z.I. Kashevarova, T.E. Shamrai, N.V. Zelenkova, M.V. Buchatsky, A.S. Zhuravlov, V.D. Yakovenko, M.V. Kalashnik, A.V. Zmeeva, V.V. Skvyrsky, Yusef Yusef Ali, L.S. Negipa, L.L. Zahoruyeva, Ababa Melak, A.V. Lupyria, M.I. Yaschenko, A.G. Ogneva.

A notable achievement during this period was the development of a device treating chronic tonsillitis through laser oxygen influence, earning it the prestigious silver medal at the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy in 1988 (awarded to L. Negipa).

Viktor Filatov, an inspiring and distinctive lecturer, seamlessly integrated practical examples, patient demonstrations, and humorous anecdotes into his presentations, leaving a lasting impact on his audience. His teaching philosophy was deeply rooted in a profound love for students.

Starting from 1978, V. Filatov assumed the position of the Dean of the Dental Faculty at Kharkiv Medical Institute, synthesizing his extensive scientific, pedagogical, and medical experiences into over 300 published works and 20 inventions. In January 1995, he received the honorary title of Honored Scientist and Technician of Ukraine. Unfortunately, Viktor Filatov passed away in 2001.

From 2001 to December 2017, the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Kharkiv National Medical University was led by Anatoliy Zhuravlyov, a disciple of Viktor Filatov. As a Doctor of Medicine, Professor, and Full Member of the International Academy of Otorhinolaryngology, Zhuravlyov oversaw the entire spectrum of otorhinolaryngological surgical interventions. Under his guidance, the clinic introduced innovative methods such as endoscopic rhinosurgery, open rhinoplasty using hetero- and autotransplants, operations involving high-energy lasers, cryosurgical interventions, and aromatherapy.

Research under A. Zhuravlyov’s leadership explored the effective application of pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors in rehabilitating patients with ENT pathology and associated somatic diseases, involving researchers like N. Shushlyapina, N. Sydorenko, Yu. Kalashnik, and Mani Hans. His prolific scientific output includes over 500 published papers, 27 inventions, and author’s certificates in Ukraine. Noteworthy contributions include co-authorship in the oncology handbook edited by V.V. Boyko.

Under Zhuravlyov’s mentorship, five candidate dissertations were prepared and defended by Almashni Ziyad, N. Sydorenko, N. Shushlyapina, Yu. Kalashnik, and Mani Hans. The introduction of original mold-phantoms in 2009 marked a significant advancement in simulation training for students. Since then, postgraduate education in the form of thematic improvement for doctors specializing in otorhinolaryngology has been ongoing.

From January 2018 to August 2019, the responsibilities of the head of the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Kharkiv National Medical University were undertaken by Marina Yashchenko, a Candidate of Medical Sciences and Associate Professor. Her scientific and pedagogical contributions are evident in over 250 published works and four patents of Ukraine. In the diagnostic and therapeutic processes, enhanced methods for studying nasal breathing function, treating keloid scars of the auricle, and rehabilitating patients with hearing impairment due to acoustic trauma have been introduced.

In postgraduate education, a thematic improvement cycle titled “Non-drug methods of treatment in otolaryngology” was developed and implemented under Yashchenko’s guidance. Under her leadership, the department published 27 scientific papers, issued seven methodological recommendations, and obtained three patents of Ukraine. She is an esteemed member of the specialized accreditation board.

In September 2019, Dr. Andriy Lupyr, Ph.D., and Associate Professor assumed leadership of the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Kharkiv National Medical University. Dr. Lupyr boasts an extensive academic portfolio, with over 200 published works, including 7 articles featured in Scopus-indexed journals, and holds 9 patents in Ukraine. Notably, he is a co-author of the comprehensive “Anatomical-Clinical Atlas of the Ear” handbook, published in four languages (Kharkiv, 2012). Dr. Lupyr honed his skills through training in Leipzig (Germany), the International Center for Surgical Technologies (2020), Bialystok (Poland), Faculty of Education, University of Bialystok (2021), and Graz (Austria), The European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery (2021).

A respected member of the Scientific Councils of Kharkiv National Medical University and the Dental Faculty, Dr. Lupyri serves on the boards of the regional scientific-medical society (otorhinolaryngology section) and the Ukrainian Association of Otolaryngologists, Otoneurosurgeons, and Otoneurologists. He is an esteemed editorial board member of the VAK “International Medical Journal.”

His scientific-practical focus centers on validating the effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapy in upper respiratory tract diseases and spearheading innovative technologies in treating otorhinolaryngological patients. This includes conducting endoscopic surgical interventions using laser and radiofrequency radiation, performing plastic surgeries for deformities of the external nose, nasal septum, and ear auricles, engaging in uvulopalatoplasty, and undertaking microsurgical operations to enhance hearing in the middle ear (tympanoplasty, stapedoplasty).

Dr. Lupyr has introduced three new cycles and programs for postgraduate education in “Otorhinolaryngology” at the department, comprising two specialization cycles (3 and 5 months) and one internship cycle (1 month).

Under his editorial guidance, the department’s team published the educational handbook “Emergency Conditions in Otorhinolaryngology” in 2020 and the educational handbook “Current Issues in Modern Otorhinolaryngology” in 2022. The year 2022 marked the department’s 100th anniversary, commemorated with the publication in 2023 of the educational handbook “Lectures on Otorhinolaryngology.”

Professor A. Lupyr, currently oversees the research work of three Ph.D. students actively pursuing their dissertations to obtain the degree of Ph.D.

Today, we operate as a cohesive team, driven by harmony, purpose, and a multitude of plans for the future…