One hundred years of endocrinology in Russia. From the history of pediatric endocrinology in Saint Petersburg

Endocrinology, one of the most dynamically developing branches of medicine, has existed as a separate discipline for a little over 100 years. The author of one of the first guidelines on endocrinology in Russia and the founder of the Leningrad School of Clinical Endocrinology was Professor Vasily G. Baranov (1899–1988). In 1926, an endocrinology department was opened at the Department of Therapy of the Leningrad State Institute for Advanced Medical Training under the leadership of Vasily Gavrilovich. Later, in 1963, Professor V.G. Baranov founded the Department of Endocrinology at this educational institution, which currently bears the name of the scientist. V.G. Baranov paid special attention to the issues of endocrine diseases in childhood. Together with academician A.F. Tur, he initiated the creation of an endocrinological service in pediatrics. It was only in 1998 that a new specialty “pediatric endocrinology” was added to the already existing training programs for doctors in the specialty “endocrinology”, opened by order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. However, the development and formation of pediatric endocrinology as a separate medical discipline took place before official recognition. A special role in the history of this formation belongs to the doctors of St. Petersburg.