The excerpt of the exhibition "Restoration of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius Stephen Bathory University and its Activities in 1922–1939" . Photo: VU MF
The exhibition "Restoration of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius Stephen Bathory University and its Activities in 1922–1939", located in the lobby of the first floor of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University next to the Grand Auditorium, commemorates the centenary of the restoration and activities of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University.
When Stephen Bathory University was opened in 1919, it was thought that this would be an exclusively classical university that promoted humanities and social sciences. The founders’ initial hopes were that it would be a seat of learning for law, philosophy, history, and languages. However, it soon became clear that it was necessary to re-establish the Medical Faculty and its clinics for the needs of residents of Vilnius region.
By 1922, instead of just a few previously planned departments teaching theory and clinics, the Faculty of Medicine grew into one of the most influential centres of medical science and practice in the region. There were 18 divisions of the Faculty of Medicine:
- Department of Descriptive Anatomy. Head of the Department J. Aleksandrowicz, later M. Reicher.
- Department of Hygiene. The first Head of the Department was K. Karaffa-Korbut. The department had one of the largest libraries of medicine in Poland.
- Department of Histology and Embryology. Head of the Department J. Aleksandrowicz.
- Department of Bacteriology. Head of Department: Prof. T. Gryglewicz.
- Department of Physiology and Physiological Chemistry. Head of the Department Prof. M. Eiger.
- Department of General Biology. Head of the Department E. Godlewski, later J. Wilczyński.
- Department of Forensic Medicine. Head of the Department Prof. S. Shilling-Siengalewicz.
- Department of General Pathology. The department was founded by Prof. S. Trzebiński. He taught the course of general pathology and conducted practice with his assistants. The department had a laboratory and a vivarium.
- Department of Pathological Anatomy. The department was founded and for many years headed by Prof. K. Opoczyński.
- Department of Pharmacology. The first Head of the Department was C. Traczewski.
- Department of Medical History and Philosophy and Medical Propedeutics. The first Head of the Department was S. Trzebiński.
- Clinic of Internal Diseases No. 1, which operated at St. Jacob’s hospital. It was founded and led by Prof. Z. Orłowski. The clinic had an X-ray room, two laboratories, an outpatient unit and a classroom for students.
- Clinic of Internal Diseases No. 2 was established in the military hospital in Antakalnis. It was founded and led by Prof. A. Januszkiewicz. There were 75 beds in the clinic.
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. It was founded by Prof. T. Burdziński. The clinic had separate wards, 50 beds in total: 20 obstetrics and 30 gynaecology.
- Surgery Clinic. It was founded and led by Prof. K. Michejda. A total of 600-1000 patients were treated each year and 600-800 surgeries were performed.
- Paediatric Clinic. Head of the Department Prof. W. Jasiński.
- Department of Dermatology. Head of the Department Prof. Z. Sowiński.
- Clinic of Neurology. Head of the Department Prof. S. Władyczko. The clinic was initially a neurological unit at St. Jacob’s hospital. It had 2 departments, an outpatient unit, a histology laboratory, and an electric treatment room.
The exhibition will continue until the end of December 2022.
