History of Pediatrics at the Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University

In 2025 year has become an important one for the pediatric community of the Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University (Pavlov University), celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Department of Pediatrics. This event marks the glorious history of pediatrics at the university and the significant contribution of the department to the development of pediatric science and practice, its continued commitment to caring for children’s health. The Department of Pediatrics at the Pavlov University was established in 1900 by the famous St. Petersburg pediatrician, Professor D.A. Sokolov. He expanded the pediatric diseases training program for graduates of the Women’s Medical Institute and introduced the idea of training pediatricians from the 1st year. Throughout its history, the Department of Pediatrics has been headed by such outstanding scientists as D.A. Sokolov, N.I. Krasnogorsky, E.A. Gornitskaya, K.M. Sergeeva and N.N. Smirnova. They not only raised a galaxy of outstanding pediatricians, but also through their scientific research significantly expanded the understanding of pediatric neurophysiology, lung diseases, kidney diseases, and metabolic disorders in children. Under their leadership, new methods of diagnosis and treatment of childhood diseases were developed. The Department of Pediatrics has played an important role in the development of science and is the custodian and successor of the St. Petersburg Pediatric School.