BRIEF HISTORY

In 2011, Vasile Sofronie, doctor of medical science, was transferred from the position of chief physician of Edineț Public Health Center to the position of assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology. His doctoral thesis in medical sciences Optimizing epidemiological surveillance in rural areas, successfully defended in 2002, represents a pioneering work in national epidemiology. Since 2014 he has been working as Associate Professor responsible for teaching resident epidemiologists and students at Health Promotion and Health Education training course. V. Sofronie is the co-author of the Methodological Guide Postgraduate training through residency in Epidemiology (2015), the author of the Methodological Guide for training students at Health promotion and health education course, co-author of General Epidemiology textbook and Epidemiology practical works manual, academic adviser of graduation works, author of 36 scientific and didactic papers.

In 2002, after completing her residency program in Epidemiology, Angela Paraschiv started her doctoral studies at the Department of Epidemiology. In 2006 she successfully defended her doctoral thesis in medicine with the topic Epidemiology of nosocomial septic-purulent infections at the contemporary stage (based on Chisinau municipality model), and in 2007 was employed at the Department as assistant professor.

Since 2010 she holds the position of Associate Professor, and since 2011 - the position of head of studies at the Epidemiology Department.

Between 2007-2013 she is the scientific secretary of the Society of Epidemiologists and Microbiologists of the Republic of Moldova. Professor A. Paraschiv was awarded two bronze medals at INFOINVENT-2007 International Exhibition and PROINVENT-2009 International Exhibition, Cluj-Napoca.

In 2010-2011 she was the coordinator of Impact of risk factors on the development of acute viral hepatitis, chronic and liver cirrhosis in different population groups research project under Epidemiology of hepatitis and cirrhosis, prophylaxis and advanced methods of treatment State Program. Professor A. Paraschiv is the author and co-author of 25 scientific and didactic works, including a monograph, 3 textbooks, 3 methodological-didactic works, a patent, 22 publications. Since 2011 she has been an expert in the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation of medical institutions in the Republic of Moldova.

According to the assignment to particular positions by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova, in 1993, Luminița Guțu, a graduate of the Pediatrics Faculty of Nicolae Testemitanu University, is employed as assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology. In 1994 she was enrolled for a doctoral program at the Department. In 2009 Luminița Guțu defended her doctoral thesis in medical sciences with the topic Epidemiological and social aspects of HIV / AIDS infection in the Republic of Moldova. Since 2010, she has been working as an Associate Professor. Profesor L. Guțu is the author and co-author of over 40 scientific and didactic works.

In 1991, to complete the teaching staff, Adrian Cotelea, a graduate of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine, was assigned to the Department of Epidemiology as assistant professor.

Between 1992-1995 he carried out his doctoral studies at the Department of Epidemiology, and in 1999 he defended his doctoral thesis in medical sciences on the topic Contributions to the optimization of epidemiological surveillance in etiologically indeterminate acute diarrheal disease. In 1999, by order of the Ministry of Defense, Adrian Cotelea was enlisted in the National Army, where he worked under contract for three years as epidemiologist, head of the Epidemiology Department of the Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Defense.

In 2002 A.Cotelea returned to Alma Mater, where he served as a senior lecturer at the Department of Epidemiology, and since 2005 he has been an Associate Professor. During his activity at the Department of Epidemiology, he held the position of head of studies (2002-2010), inspector at the Teaching Department - responsible for the practical internship of students (2003-2016), vice dean responsible for training students in Public Health specialty (2006 -2016); since 2016 up till now he has been working as vice dean of Faculty of Medicine No. 1, responsible for the practical internship of students. Professor A.Cotelea is the author and co-author of 74 scientific and didactic papers, holder of the Diploma granted by the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova for Epidemiological Surveillance in Acute Diarrheal Disease cycle of scientific papers (1997).

Since June 1990, the Department of Epidemiology had been led by Viorel Prisacari (1946) - Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences, university professor, corresponding member of the Romanian Medical Academy and corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, graduate of the first Class of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine, a disciple of Professor Eli N. Shleahov, author of over 400 scientific papers, including 12 textbooks and 10 monographs, 35 patents. He has been an active participant in the liquidation of the cholera epidemic in 1995. Since 1990 he has been the President of the Scientific Society of Epidemiologists and Microbiologists of the Republic of Moldova, member of the Extraordinary Anti-Epidemic Commission of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, main specialist of the Ministry of Health in the field of epidemiology (1990–2012), member and vice-president of the Scientific Council, and since 1995 - member of the Senate and of the Administrative Council of Nicolae Testemitanu University. Between 1993-1998 he was president of the Specialized Scientific Council for PhDs in Preventive Medicine, between 1996 -2008 - chairman of the Republican Commission for the Attestation of Epidemiologists, since 2008 - member of this commission, since 1997 - member of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Council, since 2000 - member of the Presidium of the Council of Experts of the Ministry of Health, in the period 1999-2001 - member of the Supreme Council for Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Moldova. Since 2004 he has been a member of the Medical Division of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), since 2009 - a member of the Bureau of the Medical Division and the ASM Assembly, and since 2016 - vice-president of the ASM. Between 2012 -2017, he was the Chairman of the CNAA Expert Commission in Fundamental Medicine, Interdisciplinary Medicine and Health Sciences. During 23 years (1991-2013), he holds the position of vice-rector for scientific activity of Nicolae Testemitanu University. In 2001 he was elected deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the 15th Legislature, (2001 - 2003). Honorary Citizen of the State of Nebraska – the USA (2002) and of his native village Gașpar (2016).

Honorary Member of Romanian Society of Epidemiology (1994) and of the National Association of Specialists in Surveillance and Prevention of Infections of the Russian Federation (2016). Laureate of the Grand Prize of AGEPI (2004), the Golden Heart Award (2005), the Government of the Republic of Moldova Award (2009), the ASM Award (1996, 2007) for outstanding achievements in medicine. In 2009, the ASM awarded him the honorary title Scientist of the Year. Holder of the honorary title Scientist Emeritus of the Republic of Moldova (1999) and the honorary title Outstanding Inventor, he was decorated with the gold medal WIPO, Geneva (Switzerland) for new antibacterial and antifungal substances (2002). Knight of the Order Glory of Labour (2010). Holder of medals Civic Merit (1995), Dimitrie Cantemir (2006), Nicolae Milescu-Spătarul (2016). Member of the editorial boards of specialized scientific journals: AKADEMOS Journal of Science, Innovation, Culture and Art (Chisinau); Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Medical Sciences (Chisinau); Medical Courier (Chisinau); Public Health, Economics and Management in Medicine (Chisinau); Medical-Surgical Magazine (Iasi); Journal of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunobiology (Moscow); Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Journal (Moscow); Medical Almanac Journal (Nizhny Novgorod); Mediali Journal (Nizhny Novgorod), Moldavian Journal of Health Sciences (Chisinau). Author of the textbooks General Epidemiology (2012) and Special Epidemiology (2015). Since 1975, the teaching of epidemiology has also taken place at the faculties of general medicine and pediatrics. Therefore, starting with 1975, epidemiology has been taught at all faculties, except for the Faculty of Pharmacy, the main task of the department remaining the training of epidemiologists.

In 1981, the refresher medical training course in immunology for doctors was opened at the Department of Epidemiology and Immunology with the contribution of Professor E.N. Shleahov. It should be mentioned that this is the second immunology course organized in the former Soviet Union, after the one in Novosibirsk, set up by the famous immunologist, academician Rem Petrov. Lucia Andrieş, PhD, Associate Professor, was responsible for the immunology course. Currently, L.Andrieș is Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences, university professor.

In 1986, the immunology course was transferred to the Faculty of Refresher Medical Training, led so far by university professor Lucia Andrieş, author of 360 scientific and teaching papers, including 20 textbooks and compendiums. For fruitful didactic-scientific activity, Lucia Andrieș was decorated with the Nicolae Testemitanu medal and Dimitrie Cantemir medal. Emeritus honorary title was bestowed on professor L.Andrieș in recognition of her merits.

In 1978, Mr. Valeriu Chicu joined the Department staff after ten years of activity as senior lecturer. In 1984, he successfully defended his PhD thesis in medical sciences with the topic Epidemiological assessment of anthrax vaccination by stimulating the immunogenic process with levamizole and, subsequently, obtained the academic title of Associate Professor.

Valeriu Chicu, Associate Professor at the Department of Epidemiology, had also held the position of dean of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine (1989-1995); later of deputy director and general director of the National Center for Public Health (1995-1997), deputy minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Moldova (1997-2001).

Between 2001-2014, Valeriu Chicu served as vice-rector for international relations of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and afterwards – as consultant in promoting international cooperation.

He published 112 scientific papers, including monographs, manuals, guides and participated actively in the development of national programs for the prevention and control of infectious diseases of public health importance in the Republic of Moldova. Was the Knight of the Order Glory of Labour. Associate Professor Valeriu Chicu passed away on September 27, 2016.

From 1975 to 1992, the specialization and refresher medical training course for doctors was held by Mihai Barabaş (1934-2013), PhD, Associate Professor, graduate of the Faculty of Preventive Medicine in Odessa (1958). As chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health between 1965-1975, he made a considerable contribution to improving the sanitary-epidemiological service in the Republic of Moldova, especially to the organization of the health protection of the territory from the import of conventional infections. He was an active participant in the elimination of the cholera epidemic in Karakalpakia (1965) and Moldova (1970). In 1971, M. Barabaş defended his doctoral thesis on the epidemiological efficacy of measles vaccination, elucidating the experience of mass vaccinations against measles in the Republic of Moldova, in which he took an active part. In the period 1996-2011, Associate Professor M. Barabaş was responsible for training the resident epidemiologists. He is the author of about 130 scientific papers in epidemiology, including 2 monographs, 3 textbooks and several methodological guidelines for residency training. Professor M. Barabaş holds the honorary title of Emeritus of the Republic of Moldova, the badge Emeritus of Health Care and the medal Nicolae Testemitanu.

In 1972, a specialization and refresher training course for doctors in the field of epidemiology was set up at the Department of Epidemiology. Between 1972-1975, doctor of medical sciences G. Obreja (1941) was appointed responsible for conducting the course. Later he served as head of studies at the Department of Epidemiology, and between 1980-1983, under the auspices of the WHO, he worked as a consultant professor at the Institute of Medicine in Laos, where he founded the Department of Epidemiology and Parasitology with initial teaching in French. After the textbooks developed by him had been published, the teaching continued in Laotian. He is the author of over 100 scientific and methodological-didactic works in the field of epidemiology. In 1992, the training course for doctors-epidemiologists was included in the Faculty of Refresher Medical Training, and in 2014 it was transferred back to the Department of Epidemiology. From 1992 up till now, the course has been led by Associate Professor G. Obreja.

According to higher education requirements, an Epidemiology Course should be conducted by a well-trained scientist-epidemiologist. Thus, Professor Eli Shleahov was elected, who, after graduating from Tashkent Medical Institute of Medicine, between 1942-1945, served as epidemiologist in Karakalpakstan Republic, then between 1945-1950 - as Deputy Head of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Directorate of the Ministry of Health of the MSSR. In the period 1950-1974 he had worked at the Institute of Scientific Research in Hygiene and Epidemiology of Moldova, at first as head of the Laboratory of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, and later, during the years 1960-1974, as deputy director for Science of the Institute. Since 1967, professor Shleahov had led the course, then - the Department of Epidemiology of Chisinau State Institute of Medicine part-time, and between 1974-1990 - as Head of the Department.

Therefore, at the time of the founding of the Department, Professor Eli Shleahov already had a rich scientific-practical experience in epidemiology. He had been leading the Department for 23 years. After having trained a group of epidemiologists, scientists and educators, he retired at the age of 70 (May, 1990) and settled in Israel, where he worked in epidemiological science area (Department of Infectious Diseases of Sheba Medical Center of Tel-Hashomer) until the end of his life. University professor Eli Shleahov, prominent figure in national and world science, talented epidemiologist and educator, Doctor Habilitated in Medical Sciences, Scientist Emeritus of the Republic of Moldova, active member of the New York Academy of Sciences, passed away on July 28 2005, in the town of Netanya (Israel), at the age of 86.

Professor E. Shleahov's contribution to medical theory and practice is significant. He studied zooanthroponosis in all its aspects, developed the ecological classification of infectious diseases, accepted and later applied both in the country and abroad. Moreover, Professor E. Shleahov promoted the study of anthrax pathogenesis and immunology. In the field of applied science, he led the process of developing the immunological diagnostic preparations Anthraxin and Tetanus, preparations that have found a wide application not only in medical practice in the country, but also abroad. The works in the area of epidemiology of respiratory and digestive infections, immunostimulation of the vaccination process, staphylococcal infection, vertical transmission mechanism, developed under the leadership of Professor E. Shleahov, are highly appreciated by specialists.

In addition to theoretical research, E. Shleahov had actively participated in the organization and promotion of various anti-epidemic actions on site and staff training activities. He trained 19 PhD and Doctors Habilitated in medical sciences, as well as a large number of specialists-epidemiologists, who currently work in virtually all centers of preventive medicine in Moldova and within Nicolae Testemitanu University.

The editorial activity of Professor E. Shleahov is particularly fruitful. He has published over 400 scientific papers, including 23 monographs and textbooks. His Practical Epidemiology guide-manual, published in 5 editions in the country, translated and published in France, was very popular among doctors and students during three decades.

For more than a quarter of a century (1964-1990), the renowned epidemiologist E. Shleahov had led the Scientific Society of Epidemiologists, Microbiologists and Parasitologists, as well as the Society of Immunologists of the Republic of Moldova (1978-1990). For 45 years (1946-1990) he had worked as an expert member of the Extraordinary Anti-Epidemic Commission of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Moldova.

Professor Eli Shleahov also held the positions of vice-president of the Medical Scientific Council of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova (1960-1990), deputy editor-in-chief of Health Care journal (currently Medical Courier) between 1977 -1990, member of the Editorial Board of the journal Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunology (Moscow). During 1967-1990, he was the Chief Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova. For several years in a row (1974-1990), he headed the Republican Commission for Professional Certification of Epidemiologists, Microbiologists, Immunologists and Parasitologists of the Republic, was a member of several Scientific Councils of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, a member of the Republican Center for Terminology of the ASM, member of the Board of the USSR-France Friendship Society.

As a polyglot scientist, Prof. E. Shleahov gave lectures on epidemiology in several countries (France, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Guinea, Senegal, Gabon, etc.), being a permanent lecturer of international courses of epidemiology at Louis Pasteur Institute in Paris, as well as a member of the Vaccinologists of Lyon (France).

For his performance in science, training of medical staff and prodigious public activity, Professor E. Shleahov was awarded the gold medal at Plovdiv International Exhibition, the gold and silver medal at EREN (Moscow), and several other medals. He was an Honorary Member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the MSSR.

Due to his special attitude towards professional and scientific obligations, his erudition and tact as a teacher, his organized way of life and personal qualities, Professor Eli N. Shleahov was held in high esteem by his students, colleagues and friends everywhere.

In 1992, at the III Congress of Hygienists, Epidemiologists, Microbiologists and Parasitologists of the Republic of Moldova, he was elected Honorary Member of the Scientific Society of Epidemiologists, Microbiologists and Parasitologists of the Republic of Moldova, and in 1997 he participated in the IV Congress of Hygienists, Epidemiologists, Microbiologists and Parasitologists of the Republic of Moldova (Chisinau). In 1998, professor Shleahov participated in the International Training Courses for Epidemiologists in Immunoprophylaxis, held in Chisinau.

In September 2000, as a guest of honor, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, Eli Shleahov was honored by the entire Society of Epidemiologists and Microbiologists of the Republic of Moldova. It was a well-deserved opportunity for Professor Eli N. Shleahov to take a deep breath and receive sincere congratulations and thanks for his achievements and dedication from his compatriots. We would like to mention that the anniversary ceremony took place at Nicolae Testemitanu University where the famous scientist had a fruitful 23-year career and educated several generations of epidemiologists.