Kyiv Medical Society

Kyiv Medical Society (Київське товариство лікарів; Kyivske tovarystvo likariv). The first society of physicians in Ukraine, established in 1840 to promote medical research and health care in Kyiv. Research papers were read and discussed at its meetings. Its members organized public vaccinations, lectures, and educational campaigns to fight infectious diseases, and founded hospitals, medical laboratories, night shelters, and a health-statistics office in Kyiv. In 1881 the society was the first in the Russian Empire to promote emergency house-call services at night. It published educational pamphlets and a serial collection of research by its members and records of its meetings. The society ceased functioning during the First World War. Among its presidents were V. Karavaiv, C. Hübbenet, Nikanor Khrzhonshchevsky, Yulii Matson, Petro Peremezhko, Grigorii Minkh, Volodymyr Vysokovych, Mykola Volkovych, and K. Tritshel.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 2 (1988).]