Brief history

During its existence, the Discipline of internal medicine-semiology has undergone several structural changes. Thus, its history begins with the establishment of Chisinau State Institute of Medicine (20.10.1945). Initially named the Propaedeutic Therapy Chair, it was headed by A. Furman, university professor, Doctor of Medicine. In the difficult post-war conditions, professor Furman founded and organized a therapeutic clinic based on the Therapy Unit of the Republican Hospital, with a capacity of 35 beds. Prof.A. Furman fronted the Chair until 1949. From 1949, for a year, the position of interim head of Chair was held by the Doctor of Medicine L. Şraiber.

Starting with 1950, the name of the Chair was changed to the Internal Medicine Propaedeutics Chair. Professor A. Korovin, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences, Emeritus of Science, was appointed chief of Chair, a position held by him until 1981. Under his guidance, doctoral theses in medicine were defended, and the technical-material resources of the Chair were significantly enriched.

Between 1982-1987, the Chair was headed by Associate Professor Filip Ambros. During 1987-1994, a special role in consolidating Chair’s staff was played by the university professor, doctor of medicine Liudmila Testemitanu, who was elected as chief of Chair. By her extensive public and scientific activitity, prof. Liudmila Testemițanu contributed substantially to the education of the scientific-didactic staff of the University of Medicine and of the medical staff of the entire republic. Moreover, during this period (1990) of time, the name of the Chair was changed to Internal Medicine-Semiology.

In the years 1995-1998, the managerial position was held by the university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medicine, Victor Botnaru, and from 01.09.1998 - by the university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences, Valeriu Istrati. Professor V. Istrati organizes the educational-didactic process and the scientific-practical work in accordance with the current training requirements for medical specialists. Under his supervision, two doctoral theses in medical sciences were defended.

After the establishment of the Department of Internal Medicine, the Chair was reorganized into the Discipline of Internal Medicine-Semiology within this department.

Although structurally changed, the Discipline has maintained the same purpose over the years –to ensure mastering of clinical and paraclinical methods of patient examination, as well as disease detection and clinical diagnosis reasoning methods by future physicians.

The clinical bases of the Discipline are as follows: Central Military Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, Sf. Arhanghel Mihail Municipal Clinical Hospital, as well as the ASC branch of GS RM with therapeutic units (therapy, cardiopulmonology, gastroenterology) - modern, multifunctional hospitals, equipped with contemporary diagnostic equipment.

Currently, the Discipline team consists of 18 people: the head of the Discipline - Valeriu Istrati, university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; Ion Țîbîrnă, consulting professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; Vasilii Andreev, consulting professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; Minodora Mazur, university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; Mariana Smishoi, university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; Tudor Braniste, university professor, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences; 6 Associate Professors: Ludmila Condraţchii, Maria Feghiu, Ghenadie Bezu, Diana Manea, Vasile Luchian, Anatol Scorpan; 6 assistants: Ghenadie Calin, Rodica Bugai, Svetlana Gavriliuc, Oxana Sârbu, Victoria Sadovici-Bobeico, Diana Sasu.

Six collaborators of the Discipline have defended Doctor Habilitated theses, and ten - PhD disserations in medical sciences.