The department started work at the therapeutic department (60 beds) of a hospital. The staff of that time consisted of five employees: the head, 3 assistants and a laboratory assistant. The assistant of the Department was M.G. Semenova, candidate of medical science, the former student of acad. EM Tareyev, as well as experienced practitioners Yu. Tsal and N.M. Vashkevych who later successfully defended their dissertations. Subsequently the first associated profesor of the Department became E.G. Barba, the follower of Odessa therapeutic school of acad. MA. Yanovsky. New admitted assistants were candidates of medical science M.G. Nesvyetov and O. Televiyak. Physician RK Odiychuk entered to clinical residency as the Department and after graduation worked as an assistant. The Department offers postgraduate degrees. The first graduate students were E.M. Starodub (now professor of the department of primary health care and general practice - family medicine) as well as AM Medved. Staff of the Department in the first decade increased twice, expanded its clinical base (till 110 beds). Prof. M.G. Masik published several works devoted to the diagnosis of heart defects. The laboratory department conducted research using electrophoretic apparatus, photoelectrocolorimeters, refractometers, capillaroscope that at the time was the latest word in laboratory diagnosis.

This was the period of formation and the simultaneous rise of the department. The staff developed the problems of hematology and hepatology.

Since 1966, head of Chair of Internal Medicine is Associate Professor and then Professor Vladimir Avetysovych Hryhor'yan, who led the department until 1985 and until 1990 worked as a professor of the same department. The department started work at the therapeutic department (60 beds) of a hospital. The staff of that time consisted of five employees: the head, 3 assistants and a laboratory assistant. The assistant of the Department was M.G. Semenova, candidate of medical science, the former student of acad. EM Tareyev, as well as experienced practitioners Yu. Tsal and N.M. Vashkevych who later successfully defended their dissertations. Subsequently the first associated profesor of the Department became E.G. Barba, the follower of Odessa therapeutic school of acad. MA. Yanovsky. New admitted assistants were candidates of medical science M.G. Nesvyetov and O. Televiyak. Physician RK Odiychuk entered to clinical residency as the Department and after graduation worked as an assistant. The Department offers postgraduate degrees. The first graduate students were E.M. Starodub (now professor of the department of primary health care and general practice - family medicine) as well as AM Medved. Staff of the Department in the first decade increased twice, expanded its clinical base (till 110 beds). Prof. M.G. Masik published several works devoted to the diagnosis of heart defects. The laboratory department conducted research using electrophoretic apparatus, photoelectrocolorimeters, refractometers, capillaroscope that at the time was the latest word in laboratory diagnosis.

This was the period of formation and the simultaneous rise of the department. The staff developed the problems of hematology and hepatology.

Since 1966, head of Chair of Internal Medicine is Associate Professor and then Professor Vladimir Avetysovych Hryhor'yan.

From 1966 to 1985 the department was headed by prof. V.A. Hryhor'yan, who in 1971 defended his doctoral thesis "Some immunological and biochemical deviations of patients with rheumatism in combination with endemic goiter” In the same year received the title of Doctor of medical sciences E.G. Barba, who was a student of prof. O.N. Yanovsky and in her scientific work preferred immunohematologic research in hepatology.

After graduation in residency and graduate school the following candidates of medical science worked as assistants at the department: E.S. Chornous, V.D. Pryshlyak, V.V. Loiko, V.S. Kushnir. From faculty therapy department came assistans M.A. Klantsa, but after some time he was promoted to associate professor and worked as a head teacher of the department. Candidate of medical sciences Vasilyuk came to thedepartment from Frunze town, Georgia. Candidate of medical sciences M.I. Bozhenka was invited to the department from practical medical medicine.

Candidate of medical sciences E.S. Chornous holds practice session

In 1972 Department was completed with young, energetic, enterprising faculty: candidate of medical sciences M.M. Chubatyy, candidate of medical sciences P.I. Bay, candidate of medical sciences A.M. Hrechuh, candidate of medical sciences M.O. Lemke, candidate of medical sciences I.I. Melnyk. After completing residency training candidates of medical sciences Tu.P.Kuzmich and B.H Buhai started to work as assistants of the department. Combining work as a senior lasboratory assistant with study in graduate school part-time, N.V. Zhurbenko and V.O. Lyhatska defended their theses and started to work as assistants of the Department.

Candidate of medical sciences M.O. Lemke holds practice session

Since 1975 A.V.Yepishyn started to work as assistant professor of the Department. In 1984 came from practical health care system to the Department and worked as an assistant SA Kuzmenko, candidate of medical science.

Department staff studied the problems of rheumatism, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis. The study are held upon the effect of anabolic steroids on electrolyte metabolism and blood coagulation system in hypertension and atherosclerosis. In coronary heart disease there were explored antycardial bodies and blood enzymes.

In pedagogical process the great importance was paid to the lectures. Lectures by prof. A.V. Hryhor'yan and Assoc. professor E.G. Barba attracted the attention of physicians of the city.

In 1984 teaching of the course on therapeutic patients care was started at the Department. The organizer of this section was associated professor M.O. Lemke. Teaching in clinical residency and tnternership at the Department was started since 1972

Under the leadership of V.A. Hryhor'yanwere prepared and defended candidate thesis of E.S.Chornous (1981), B.H.Buhai (1985), I.L. Busko (1975), N.O. Yepishyna (1978). Ass. professor Y.A. Tsal improved gastric tube for biopsy of the stomach and duodenum, reconstructed the trocar for abdominal puncture. Education work had being held as well, was interestingly working student group. Almost every year, students received prizes at the conferences, reported research results at other universities

In the pedagogical process great importance was paid to lectures. The lecture course was big enough. Lectures were visited by young teachers and young doctors of city clinics.

Students scientific society

From June 1985 to September 2003 as the head of the department was a doctor of medical sciences professor. AV Yepishyn, whose work as a talented scientist, educator and physician awarded the honorary title "Veteran of Labor", numerous certificates and election in 1995 a full member of the New York Academy of Sciences.

With the advent of the chair professor. A.V. Yepishyn the immunological laboratory was organized, and single line of research was formed, which was aimed at developing immunopathology in various diseases. There were investigated immunological reactivity of patients with chronic inflammatory lesions of the hepatobiliary system for its immune correction. There were developed clinical and laboratory criteria for diagnosis and pathogenetic therapy of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the hepatobiliary system using different groups of immunomodulators angioprotectors, ​​reparants, antihypoxants, antioxidants, hepatoprotectors and unconventional therapies.

In the 1985-1986 there were issued guidelines for students with patients care (it was one of the first guidelines on this subject in the Ukraine) and Internal Medicine Propaedeutics in 4 parts. In 1989 there were issued "Guidelines for students to self-practical lessons on general care", in 1993 - "Guidelines for patients management and writing of case history", which were reprinted in 1998.

With the advent of the chair professor. A.V. Yepishyn the immunological laboratory was organized, and single line of research was formed, which was aimed at developing immunopathology in various diseases. There were investigated immunological reactivity of patients with chronic inflammatory lesions of the hepatobiliary system for its immune correction. There were developed clinical and laboratory criteria for diagnosis and pathogenetic therapy of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the hepatobiliary system using different groups of immunomodulators angioprotectors, ​​reparants, antihypoxants, antioxidants, hepatoprotectors and unconventional therapies.

Lectures is delivered by prof. A.V. Yepishyn

Actively started to be involved in scientific work various graduate students, clinical residents, practitioners, senior laboratory assistants I.A. Svider, V.E. Grytsiv, I.M. Markiv, T.Y. Chernets, N.M. Ruda, N.Y. Vereshchahina, P.Y. Sherstiuk, A.O. Bob, N.I. Babyak, N.A. Bilkevych. Doctoral dissertations are performed by S.A. Kuzmenko, V.M. Vasylyuk, S.M. Andreychyn.

Students of II-VI courses also were covered with scientific work. The results of their activity were published annually in the collections of student research papers of International Congress of Medical students and young scientists and were discussed at conferences where students get prizes.

In parallel with the common direction of the research problems of endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology are studied. In 1995 were issued: the manual "Laboratory diagnosis of immunological disorders in the clinics," newsletters "Immunomodulatory drugs in complex treatments of certain diseases," "Antioxidants in treatment of chronic diseases of the hepatobiliary system and acute pneumonia." The investigations of 25-30 scientific works were published in scientific papers annualy. Abstracts are published in the International Conference on Esperanto, as well as in France. 54 research proposals to improve the treatment, diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases, endocrine and respiratory systems are introduced into the practice of health care institutions. The department received seven patents for invention, 30 innovations. Assoc. professor S.M. Andreychyn and Assoc.professor M.O. Lemke became an authors of "Handbook paramedic" under the general editorship of prof. M.A. Andreychyn (1997). In 1998 there were published "Guidelines for self preparation for practical training in Internal Medicine Propaedeutics (curation of patients and writing a case history)," and in 1999 - methodological recommendations for extracurricular students' independent work on II-III courses.

Under the general editorship of Head of Department, professor A.V. Yepishyn it was published textbook "Propaedeutics of internal diseases with care of therapeutic patient" ("Ukrmedknyha", 2001), which was recommended by the Central methodical cabinet of high medical education, MHP of Ukraine as a textbook for students of higher educational institutions III-IV accreditation levels, and was marked with diploma at 8-Ukrainian conference of publishers. Simultaneously it was created educational CD-controlling program "Propaedeutics of internal diseases with care of therapeutic patients. Part 1. Diagnosis of internal diseases".

Main scientific achievements of the department: during this period it was investigated the state of immunological reactivity of patients with chronic diseases of hepatobiliary system, developed clinical and laboratory criteria of diagnosis and pathogenetic therapy using different groups of imunomodulators. It was investigated the influence of mineral water of Zbruch deposit in the course of diabetes mellitus and diseases of hepatobiliary system, developed the criteria of differential approach to the treatment of peptic ulcer, acute pneumonia, chronic bronchitis. It was studied clinical and imunologic changes in patients with pathology of thyroid gland in the eddemic area. During this period, 10 Ph.D. and 3 doctoral dissertation were defended.

Department staff in 1997

Employees of the department consulted annually in the clinicsi about 2,500 patients, conducted scientific and practical, patalohoanatomical conferences, they were the members of Ukrainian therapeutic endocrinologic societies. Participated in activity of city department of health protection. In practical medicine it was introduced more than 100 new methods of treatment and diagnostics developed at the department.

For training of precinct therapists of city hospitals "University precinct therapist" was organized by initiative of prof. AV Yepishyn which functioned during 4 years.

Employees of the Department provided advice to all employees of Ternopil garment factory and refrigerated carload depot (3500 people) on the base of scientific research performed in these organisations.

Guides were popular among city hospitals stuff: "Guide to the classification of internal diseases" and "Diagnosis and treatment of emergency conditions in the clinic of internal medicine."

Since September 2003 the department manages Doctor of medical science, professor. S.M. Andreychyn.

Department staff are constantly working to improve teaching work. In particular, there are issued "Methodical advice to students on Supervision of patients and writing of academic history" in Ukrainian and English. Methodic recommendations for students from all disciplines are constantly improved.

The directions of scientific research are gastroenterology and cardiology. Other important areas – research devoted to the treatment and diagnosis of secondary pulmonary emphysema, diabetes mellitus.

Department staff is working on a research work on "The role of chronic diseases of pancreatoduodenal zone in development of osteopathy and the program of its treatment and prevention,". Within this rogram the issues are held on prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of secondary osteoporosis in clinics of internal medicine.

Department staff in 2003

Employees of the Department take part in scientific and practical conferences. Prof. S.M.Andreychyn passed training in gastroenterology clinics of Medical University, Bratislava (Slovak Republic).

Department staff annually advise the clinics about 2,500 patients, conduct research and practical clinical and pathological conferences, they there are members of the Ukrainian Society of Physicians, endocrinologists.

Professors and associate professors weekly exercise routine rounds in the clinics and lead the consultative reception. By department employees forces there are held regional association meetings and courses for physicians of Ternopil region.