Bogomolets National Medical University

The necessity of actively utilizing physical culture—one of the most critical means of health improvement, disease prevention, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle—prompted the introduction of a physical culture course into the medical training system. This course encompassed not only physical education but also the teaching of medical control and therapeutic physical culture.

At the Kyiv Medical Institute, such a course was organized as early as 1929. Its first director was Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor L. O. Fink. The foundation of the mandatory physical culture course curriculum consisted of familiarizing students with the medico-biological bases of physical education. Starting in 1931, the preparation and passing of performance standards according to the GTO complex of the 1st and 2nd stages were implemented.

From the inception of the department, practical physical education classes were conducted in a sports hall located within the dormitory on Heroiv Revoliutsii Street, 4a (Trokhsviatytelska Street), as well as in a hall on the territory of the October Revolution Hospital (Oleksandrivska Clinical Hospital). Track and field classes were held at the “Red Stadium” (NSC “Olimpiyskiy”). In 1936, two sports halls were equipped at 37 Lenin Street (Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street), and an outdoor court for team sports was arranged in the courtyard.

In the years 1944–1952, the combined Department of Physical Education with a course in medical control and therapeutic physical training was headed by Associate Professor I. A. Elhard; in 1952–1955, by Associate Professor M. V. Korabliov; and in 1955–1956, by Associate Professor V. V. Petrovskyi. Beyond academic classes in physical education, the department conducted extensive sports and mass participation work in coordination with the sports club. In 1950, regulations were developed and approved for an annual comprehensive Spartakiad across sports disciplines, which became a tradition for our University starting in 1951.

A major milestone for the department and the institute was the construction of a stadium and sports fields adjacent to the morphological building during the 1957–1958 academic year. Additionally, a sports and health camp was established in a picturesque suburb of Kyiv through the efforts of student sports activists. From 1957, scientific and mentoring work at the department expanded significantly under the leadership of Professor G. I. Krasnoselskyi. Students were actively engaged in scientific research by participating in the student scientific circle.

Due to the expansion of the department’s operations in training highly qualified physicians specializing in sports medicine and therapeutic physical culture, alongside the growth of research, sports, mass, and wellness activities, it became necessary to divide the department into two independent units: the Department of Physical Education and Sports, and the Department of Sports Medicine and Therapeutic Physical Culture. This reorganization was executed via a special decree of the Ministry of Health and Higher Education of the Ukrainian SSR in 1960.

Since 1961, the Department of Physical Education and Health at NMU has possessed its own indoor sports facilities: a sports complex that includes an indoor game hall, a weightlifting gym, fitness gyms, and an aerobics hall. Over the years, the department was led by Associate Professor Mykola Semenovych Babets; Heorhiy Kostiantynovych Cherevyshnia (research interests: morphological characteristics of human cell chromatin); Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Mykola Petrovych Pohuliai (research interests: formation of vestibular stability in athletes); Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Hennadiy Leonidovych Apanasenko (research interests: methodology and methods of human health management); Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Vitaliy Petrovych Murza (research interests: the use of physical exercises in treating patients with tuberculosis and congenital heart defects); Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Mykhailo Mykhailovych Filippov (research interests: studying the functional reserves of physical performance and the genesis and compensation mechanisms of exertional hypoxia); and Candidate of Sciences in Physical Education, Associate Professor Taras Petrovych Husiev (research interests: characteristics of physical perfection in medical university students). Today, the department is chaired by Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor Yuriy Volodymyrovych Shcherbyna (research interests: utilizing biological rhythms and kettlebell lifting methods for developing physical qualities).

The scientific developments of the department include: studying the effect of physical exercise on mental activity, forming professionally applied physical preparation for physicians, and developing physical education content for female students factoring in the phases of the menstrual cycle, among others.

The department is well-known for its athletic achievements. In the 1970s, the Kyiv Medical Institute (KMI) varsity team in rhythmic gymnastics was a multi-time champion of the city of Kyiv and of All-Union competitions among medical higher education institutions. In the 1980s, the varsity teams in basketball, handball, and volleyball triumphed over the varsity teams of many USSR cities. Splendid achievements were also recorded by track and field athletes and cyclists, who became champions of Ukraine and medalists of the USSR among medical higher education institutions. Over the past decade, medical athletes have consistently become champions and medalists of Ukrainian and World Championships in kettlebell lifting.

Throughout its history, the department has changed its name multiple times, yet the core of its activity has remained steadfast. Alongside training healthcare specialists through physical education, extensive work is conducted within sports improvement groups across sports chosen by students. Among these, volleyball, badminton, kettlebell lifting, table tennis, basketball, association football, dance sports, and cheerleading are exceptionally popular. Swimming warrants a separate mention: although the university does not own its own swimming pool, students eagerly train in city public pools and show outstanding results at competitions. The athletes engaged in these sports have repeatedly become winners and medalists of competitions of various tiers, ranging from Kyiv City Championships to world forums.

Currently, the faculty and staff of the department number 6 individuals, including: 1 professor, 2 associate professors, 3 candidates of sciences, 1 Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine, 1 Honored Coach of Ukraine, 1 international category referee, and 2 Masters of Sports. Over the past twenty years, prominent individuals of our country have worked and continue to work at the department: Associate Professor N. L. Tymoshkina—Honored Master of Sports, two-time Olympic Champion in handball (XXI-XXII Olympic Games), three-time World Championship medalist, seven-time winner of the European Champions Cup, eleven-time Champion of the USSR, and an honorary member of the NOC of Ukraine; as well as Professor Yuriy V. Shcherbyna—Guinness World Records holder, Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine, Honored Coach of Ukraine, international category referee in kettlebell lifting, and President of the International Kettlebell Lifting Federation.