Inaugural Lecture by Academician Alexander Anisimovich Skoromets Held at KazNMU
On September 9, 2025, at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, a solemn inaugural lecture was delivered by Academician Alexander Anisimovich Skoromets — an outstanding neurologist, maestro of the Soviet and Russian neurological schools, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation, “Excellence in Healthcare” awardee, Veteran of Labor of the Russian Federation, Honorary Doctor of several medical universities in Russia and Ukraine, and a member of the Royal Medical Society of Great Britain.
An inaugural lecture is not just a scientific report. Such an event holds a special place in the scientific and cultural life of our community. It offers an opportunity to engage with profound ideas, historical milestones, and reflections on the future of science, society, and education. It is a moment of inspiration and contemplation, especially important in our era of rapid change.
The event was opened by a welcoming speech from the Dean of GMS 2, G.A. Shopaeva: “Today we have the honor of hosting in our university walls Academician A.A. Skoromets, an outstanding scientist and recognized leader in the field of neurology, whose lifelong dedication has been a true example of service to science and education. For students and young researchers, meeting such a distinguished personality is a unique opportunity to ask questions, broaden horizons, and perhaps outline new directions for their own scientific journey.”
Academician A.A. Skoromets has been leading for almost half a century the Department of Neurology he founded at the First Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg. He enjoys high international recognition, conducting fundamental and applied research in neurology. His major scientific contributions focus on vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord, demyelinating and spondylogenic disorders of the nervous system, and manual therapy.
Together with his students, A.A. Skoromets pioneered a new chapter in clinical neurology — vascular diseases of the spinal cord. He revealed the unique features of spinal cord blood supply, for the first time demonstrating the existence and clinical significance of both main and dispersed variants of the radiculomedullary arteries supplying the spinal cord. He systematized the pathogenetic factors leading to spinal cord ischemia and hemorrhagic strokes. His work has had a profound impact on the development of neurology, while his scientific and pedagogical activities have greatly contributed to training new generations of researchers.
He has published more than 1,000 scientific works, including 40 monographs, textbooks, and manuals. His reference book “Topical Diagnosis of Nervous System Diseases” has become an essential guide not only for students but also for practicing neurologists, neurosurgeons, and medical university lecturers. The book has gone through 17 editions! Academician Skoromets graciously donated to our university library his works on Vascular diseases of the spinal cord, Tunnel compression-ischemic mono- and multineuropathies, as well as two volumes on Cerebral angioneurology.
The lecture concluded with a photo session and a memorable autograph in the textbook of nervous diseases. Each participant of the meeting wished to preserve the joyful memory of profound impressions and new ideas.
The Department of Nervous Diseases expresses its sincere gratitude to Academician A.A. Skoromets for accepting our invitation and sharing his thoughts, experience, and scientific vision with us.
