Scientific school and academic work of V.I. Molchanov. To the 150th anniversary of the birth of the scientist

Abstract

The life and scientific heritage of Professor V.I. Molchanov are presented. The article noted that in 1923–1950 he headed the Department of Children’s Diseases of the 1st Moscow State University (since 1930, the 1st MMI). It was emphasized that in 1909 he defended his doctoral thesis on the topic: «The adrenal glands and their changes in diphtheria.» One of the first to study the state of the nervous system in acute infections, particularly scarlet fever, which allowed him to study the pathogenesis of the «scarlet heart», white dermographism in scarlet fever. It is shown that he was the first in the world (1932) to establish a pathogenetic link between scarlet fever and rheumatism. The merit of V. I. Molchanov is the development of a clinic for a number of endocrine disorders in childhood. In his monograph «Disorders of growth and development in children» (1927), a classification of endocrinopathies is proposed, recognized both in the USSRand abroad. Vasily Ivanovich was the first chairman (since 1936) of the committee for the study of children’s rheumatism, chairman of the Moscow Society of Pediatric Physicians since 1941. The pedagogical activities of Professor V.I. Molchanov. The prominent national pediatric school founded by him with some bright representatives of it is covered. Many of the students of Molchanov later became heads of the departments of pediatrics at medical schools in the country and prominent scientists. The article highlights the merits of some of them. It is shown that the image of this extraordinarily talented person, who glorified Russian pediatrics outside of Russia, and now is for the younger generation a vivid example of disinterested service to science.