The first defence of a doctoral dissertation in medicine under the new rules has taken place at St Petersburg University

The research supervisor of the investigation was Dmitry Shkarupa, Doctor of Science (Medicine), Assistant Director for medical care administration and Chief Urologist of the Pirogov Clinic of St Petersburg University.  The title of the study is ‘Personalised approach to the treatment of patients with stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.’ 

In 2016, St Petersburg University received the right to conduct dissertation defences under its own terms, and award academic degrees of candidates and doctors of science that are recognised by the state.

The health problems mentioned in the thesis title are widespread pathologies that affect up to 50% of women. They are not only obvious physiological problems, but also lead to social maladjustment and serious psycho-emotional problems. Conventional treatment does not always settle the problem effectively; and, according to statistics, more than half of patients experience a disease recurrence. Additionally, according to researchers, modern methods are expensive and sophisticated and are often accompanied by severe side effects, including those relating to fertility.

The task of the urologist was to search for new methods of surgical treatment of these diseases and the standardisation of techniques at all stages of work with the patient. The investigation led to the creation of a modern endoprosthesis, and to the development of a unique technique for hybrid surgical repair of the pelvic floor.

The dissertation council was represented by six world-class experts who are immersed in this topic and recognised all over the world. The main thing is that experts can determine whether there is innovation and discovery and whether this work is useful or useless for our society.

Yury Fedotov, Senior Vice-Rector for Medical Care and Director of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies of St Petersburg University 

The composition of dissertation councils for the defence of each particular dissertation at St Petersburg University is determined on an individual basis. It is formed from leading specialists in the field of the defended work. The chairman of the council was Sergei Popov, Doctor of Science (Medicine), Associate Professor of St Petersburg University, Chief Doctor of St Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution ‘Clinical Hospital of St Luke’.

The council also included: Mikhail Gvozdev, Doctor of Science (Medicine), A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry; Bakhman Gidaiat oglu Guliev, Doctor of Science (Medicine), North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov; Sergei Petrov, Doctor of Science (Medicine), Pavlov First St Petersburg State Medical University; Karl-Dietrich Sievert, PhD in Medicine, the Klinikum Lippe, Germany.

Peter Emanuel Papa Petros, PhD, a physician at St Vincent's Hospital, the University of New South Wales, Australia, joined the defence via videoconferencing.

Among the features of defences under the new rules at St Petersburg University are: the presence of foreign scholars in the council; and the mandatory translation of the paper into English. It is important that the defence is broadcast online on the St Petersburg University website, and the voting process is open and there is a roll call.

Talking about his work, the degree-seeking applicant Nikita Kubin said, ‘First of all, it is necessary to prepare a high-quality dissertation so that you can submit it to your colleagues, including foreign ones, without any reservations. Secondly, you have to make maximum efforts in advance to make up a council. This includes participation in international conferences and having international publications. All this will help to find the very members of the council who will subsequently take part in the dissertation defence.’

Based on the results of the defence, the dissertation council unanimously decided to award a degree of Doctor of Science (Medicine) in 'Urology’.