Vasyl Yakovych Danylevskyi's lecture on science, university and faculty selection (1921): annotated translation

Kharkiv National Medical University has the honor to present a series of lectures by the outstanding doctor of Kharkiv region Danylevskyi V.Ya., which for 100 years have not lost their relevance and can be a guideline for modern doctors and students of medical universities. In this abstract, we will briefly outline the advice of the author of the lecture to young doctors. Without a general scientific education, even a good practicing doctor will remain a narrow empiricist with a limited mental horizon. The student must complete the entire curriculum, because he cannot yet understand the suitability of the academic subjects in his future profession. The formalistic system of educational institutions suppresses higher educational interests, logic and scientific truth. Scientific successes bring people together and promote international communication based on knowledge and art, work and peace. True, mutual understanding covers only the cultural top of the population. Therefore, the democratization of science is necessary for the universal sharing of spiritual and material benefits. That is why they fought so hard for the development of the education of their people in European countries after the wars, and that is why the general rise of the cultural and political power of Japan began with the development of public education. Our physical and mental health depends on all conditions of human existence, starting with the mental and social state. That is why in all matters of physical, mental and social life, their organization and reform, the voice of the doctor should be highly respected. To earn such respect, the doctor must have great tact, understanding of people, and most importantly, great scientific knowledge. What should someone do who has already spent 2–3 years at medical school and then became convinced of his worthlessness? Of course, leaving medicine. Keywords: medical university, medical education, history of medicine.