Leo Bokeria at the RUSSIA EXPO: "Society develops thanks to healthy people"

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Leo Bokeria, President of the A. N. Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, winner of the country's main educational award Knowledge.Award, delivered a speech at the RUSSIA EXPO as part of a meeting of the "Conversations about Important Things" series.

The famous cardiac surgeon talked to young people, spoke about the main principles of a healthy lifestyle and explained why taking care of one's health is a contribution to the future of the whole country. The meeting was held in the lecture hall of the "Knowledge" Society in Pavilion No. 34 "Space".

During his long medical career Leo Bokeria has become a legend of Russian cardiac surgery: he has saved thousands of patients with congenital and acquired heart and heart valves defects. According to the doctor, the main guarantee of a long and healthy life is upbringing in the family, because in the first years the child's health depends entirely on the parents, and then his habits are formed by the examples they see.

"The general health of people has improved noticeably in recent decades. I think this is due to the fact that information has become more accessible — there is television, the Internet, many publications that talk about healthy lifestyles, proper nutrition and so on. This is a very good trend, because society develops thanks to healthy people," said Leo Bokeria, President of the A. N. Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The speaker addressed the topic of medical progress. Leo Antonovich told how he started to perform the first operations in the Soviet Union in the baric operating room — for this scientific breakthrough the cardiac surgeon received the Lenin Prize. Later Leo Bokeria introduced into medical practice methods of treatment of patients diagnosed with life-threatening arrhythmia, for which he was awarded the State Prize of the USSR. But the doctor said that his main merit was not the invention of the method, but the spread of new medical experience throughout the country, because the replication of progressive medical practice has saved thousands of lives.

In continuation of the conversation, the cardiac surgeon emphasized modern technologies in medicine. The speaker noted that not many breakthrough discoveries are made today, but scientists are improving existing methods.

"In recent years, it has become much easier to operate. Thanks to modern technologies and tools, operations take less time and patients recover much faster. But no instruments can replace the surgeon's reliable hands. And reliable hands is when you perform at least two surgeries a day," said Leo Bokeria.

Summarizing his speech, Leo Antonovich noted the huge opportunities that are open today for young people who dream of a career in medicine.

"Today all doors are open for young people. I have worked in many countries around the world, and believe me, nowhere is there such a wide range of opportunities as in Russia. Try to enroll in a medical school somewhere in America if your parents don't have money. No, of course, there are quotas for talented children there, but much less than in our country. Today we live in an ideal world for young people who are looking for a path in healthcare," Leo Bokeria emphasized.

The weekly educational lectures "Conversations about Important Things" of the Russian Society "Knowledge" and the Ministry of Education of Russia are aimed at developing in the listeners a value-based attitude towards their Motherland — Russia, its citizens, its unique history, rich nature and great achievements.