Protopopov Boris Viktorovich (4 November 1901 — 9 August 1982) was a Soviet ophthalmologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, and Honored Scientist of the RSFSR. From 1931 he worked in Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky), and from 1950 to 1974 headed the Department of Eye Diseases at the Gorky Medical Institute, where he also served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine.[1]
Origins and education
Boris Viktorovich was born in the village of Rutka (now the Mari El) into the family of Viktor Alexandrovich Protopopov, a zemstvo physician who enjoyed wide renown in Kozmodemyansk Uyezd. His father died in 1920, having contracted typhus while fighting the epidemic; the hospital he had headed for many years was named in his memory. His uncle, Protopopov S. A., served as a naval physician and died near Tsushima aboard the cruiser Rusalka.[1]
In 1925 Boris Viktorovich graduated from Kazan University and remained in Kazan as a resident at the eye clinic. In those same years he took part in efforts to eliminate trachoma among the population of the Mari Republic, then carried out similar work in Central Asia.[1]
Scientific and medical career
In 1931 Protopopov began work at the Gorky Medical Institute. During the The Great Patriotic War (1941–1944) he served as acting head of the eye department of the Gorky evacuation hospital, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel of the medical service. His candidate dissertation was devoted to the allergic pathology of the eye; the subject of his doctoral dissertation was the treatment of shrapnel eye injuries, which were widespread during wartime.[1]
Under Protopopov's guidance, microsurgical operations for glaucoma were developed; he headed the All-Russian Society for the Fight Against Glaucoma. Another area of the department's work was ocular trauma: a combined method of local X-ray diagnosis of intraocular foreign bodies and a signal forceps for their removal were created. Protopopov twice gave presentations at world congresses of ophthalmologists — in Delhi and in Athens. Under his supervision, 3 doctoral and 14 candidate dissertations were defended.[1]
Recognition and awards
Boris Viktorovich Protopopov was awarded the honorary title of Honored Scientist of the RSFSR. Among his government awards were the Badge of Honour order (1945), the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1954), and a number of medals.[1]
Sources
- history.nizhgma.ru — Museum of History of NizhGMA — View Person