Vitebsk is one of the biggest cities of the republic and is situated in the north-east part of Belarus . It is 281 km away from Minsk . It is an ancient city which was founded in 974. About 400 thousand people live here. The city is surrounded by Lakes, beautiful gardens & country side. Vitebsk is located on the bank of one of the largest European rivers - the Western Dvina. Picturesque neighborhood of Vitebsk and its ancient streets was always attractive for painters.

The climate of the region varies from cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime. Vitebsk today is a major industrial, scientific and cultural center of the republic Belarus.

INTRODUCTION

Vitebsk State Medical University was established in 1934.

In 1940, Medical faculty was opened with 32 theoretical and clinical departments. 1981 teaching foreign students in Medicine & Pharmaceuticals faculties started. In 1984 the Faculty for Advanced Specialization in General Medicine was established. In 1999, for the experience in training physicians for Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, Vitebsk State Medical Institute was awarded with the Medal of Peoples Friendship by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Union.

The same year it was accredited to University status. Vitebsk State Medical University is ranked very high among the former USSR medical educational establishments. It has highest number of foreign students from all over the world, which makes it an international educational institution.

In WHO International ranking, VSMU holds 16 th position. Students from more than 50 Countries are pursuing their studies here, mainly from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Poland, England, Iran, China, Malaysia and Mauritius etc. At present, more than 4000 students are studying in VSMU out of which 200 are Indians.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

There is a Central Scientific Research Laboratory with modern equipment for training highly qualified specialists at the University.The University possesses faculties appropriate for training specialists at a higher school. The University is a large scientific center: 55 doctors and 204 candidates of science work in it.

The main directions of its research activities are: transplantation of tissue and organs , cardiovascular diseases, immune-deficient conditions, role of hereditary factors in the development of parasitogenic process, diseases of abdominal organs, arterial hypertension and the principles of its prevention, infections in surgery, development of minor invasive surgical methods, brain injury, development of technologies of new medicine preparations.VSMU publishes Magazines like Surgery News, Pharmacy News, Immunology, VGMU News, Motherhood & Childhood Protection and one Regular Newspaper “Medvuzovets”.