Ekaterina Pismennaya spoke about her decision to become a doctor, the peculiarities of the profession and staffing prospects for graduates of Kursk State Medical University.
Ekaterina Pismennaya was appointed to this position at the end of 2021 at the age of 39, becoming the youngest head of the department in its history. Having graduated from Kursk State Medical University with honours, she was able to defend her PhD thesis before completing her residency. Teaching at the university, she got the position of an assistant professor of the department already at the age of 30. In her busy schedule, the minister was able to find time for us to talk about her career, the practical benefits her thesis has brought to science, and combining the role of a mother with a high position. And also to give advice to those who are just thinking of their future profession.
– How did you choose your specialisation?
– I am the first doctor in my family, there was no in-depth knowledge of what I would have to do. I just did what I liked. At the university, I was fond of attending surgical circles on topographical anatomy and operative surgery. I performed operations on animals and dreamed of becoming a surgeon. But in the process of training, when clinical subjects began, I found myself in the department of dermatovenerology. I got interested in this direction and went into it. I became a member of the council of the student scientific society, and later of the council of young students, where I was engaged in science. And before I finished my residency, I defended it. Not in two years, as it might seem, it was a long way – I emphasise, I worked on my topic since the fourth year.
– How did your career develop after graduating as a doctor?
– After defending my thesis, I was invited to work as an assistant at the Department of Dermatovenerology. Despite my red diploma and degree, it took me much longer to prepare for classes than my students. It was important for me to be able to answer any question that came in. For the first year, all my family asked me was, “Why are you studying 24 hours a day? And I enjoyed what I was doing and now I remember that time with special warmth. Students still want a lot from life, they are interested in everything. They ask questions you’ve never even thought about. Crazy energy. I devoted 5 years of my life to work at the department, having reached the rank of associate professor, combining it with practical activity. I was the head of cosmetology office in the polyclinic of KSMU. And on my weekends went to the sanatorium Marino, 120 kilometres from Kursk, where under my leadership was opened office and an additional type of activity. Thus, I worked round the clock and without days off. Not because of finances, I never tire of repeating that being a doctor is a way of life. I lived it, I could not breathe without it. And with such a rhythm, I was glad that I was paid a salary for my favourite work. I often told my students: if you find a job to your liking, you won’t have to work a single day. Then I received an offer from the medical institution where my department is located – I became deputy head physician of the Skin and Venereal Dispensary, and later acted as head physician.
– Is it to difficult to study at medical university?
– Learning is easy if you learn. In medicine, you can’t just learn. You have to get knowledge. In other universities they teach you where to find information, in KSMU this issue does not pass. From the operating table you won’t run to google where the nerve is. The first thing is that you should have a big baggage of knowledge. When testing the grade “satisfactory” can be obtained by answering more than 70% of questions correctly! The second, even more important, is to develop a clinical mindset. On the basis of your knowledge and the individual characteristics of the patient, you must flexibly select a treatment method. This approach is taught only by teachers of medical universities, in particular, KSMU. That is why, having clinical thinking, medical graduates achieve success in any sphere.
– Tell us about employment opportunities for graduates of KSMU, as well as about the programmes provided for young doctors?
– Young specialists are offered all vacant positions in medical organisations in the region. It is necessary to work at the chosen place for 3 years. Today 734 people, including students and residents, study at KSMU under the contract from the Kursk Ministry of Health.I would like to thank the management of the medical university for constant and active co-operation with the Ministry of Health of Kursk region.In 2023, 77 young target doctors were employed in Kursk region.In addition, to attract and retain medical personnel in central district hospitals, the Zemsky Doctor programme has been implemented since 2012 and the Zemsky Feldsher programme since 2017.They allow medical workers to receive lump-sum payments upon employment in rural areas and the obligation to work for 5 years: doctors – from 1 to 1.5 million rubles, and paramedics – from 500 to 750 thousand rubles.In addition, district municipalities also support young specialists – for example, in Oboyan they pay another 300 thousand roubles from the local budget.Support is also provided for the purchase of housing, payment of rent and utilities.Many districts provide service housing. Last year 24 doctors and 14 paramedics were employed under this programme.
– What advice could you give to applicants entering KSMU?
– I believe that doctor is the best profession in the world and I don’t know people who would regret their choice, so just go ahead!
Talked to Oksana SANITSKAYA