Dubovitsky, Pyotr Alexandrovich

DUBOVITSKY, Pyotr Alexandrovich (1815–1888), professor of surgery, president and reformer of the Medico-Surgical Academy, specialized in surgery in Paris. In 1840, Dubovitsky took the chair of theoretical surgery at the Medico-Surgical Academy.

In 1857, Dubovitsky became president of the Medico-Surgical Academy, which, thanks to the radical reform he carried out—exceptionally bold for that time—achieved brilliant development. At the heart of Dubovitsky's reform plans lay the idea that medical education should be preceded by a thorough study of the natural sciences. In accordance with this, teaching was completely reformed. The practical implementation of the reforms was achieved by creating a coherent system of institutions: a natural history institute, a botanical garden with a botanical building, and an anatomical-physiological institute. No less attention was paid by Dubovitsky to the reform of clinical education. The 2nd Land Forces Hospital was converted into a clinical one, and clinics that had not existed anywhere before were established: forensic medicine and psychiatry. The Villier Hospital was turned into a model clinical institution. Six new departments were established and private docent positions were introduced for the first time; Dubovitsky attracted a number of talented young scientists to the academy, who would in the future become the pride of Russian science (I. M. Sechenov, S. P. Botkin, I. M. Balinsky, and others). To replenish scientific personnel, Dubovitsky established an institute for preparation for scientific activity, in which 10 of the best doctors were selected annually by competition to remain for 3 years to improve in their chosen specialty, with a subsequent trip abroad. This institute gave Russia a huge number of scientists and professors. In fairness, the "Dubovitsky era" at the academy is the most brilliant and flourishing period in its history. Of Dubovitsky's scientific works, we note: "Stone-crushing" (Scientific Notes of Kazan University, vol. III, 1837); "A View on Deformity in General, with a Brief Application to Practical Medical Sciences" (Notes on Medical Sciences, 1847, book 2); "The Doctrine of Wounds" (St. Petersburg, 1850). Dubovitsky founded and edited "Notes on Medical Sciences" (St. Petersburg, 1843–1850)—a journal that enjoyed great popularity in its time; it was simply called "Dubovitsky's Notes."