Leo Bokeria at the RUSSIA EXPO: "Society develops thanks to healthy people"
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.
Hosted festive events dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Association of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East of the Russian Federation, and the 95th anniversary of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra.
The international campaign "Victory Dictation" took place in Moscow on April 25 across 497 venues.
Essayist participating in the Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth" took a guided tour of the interactive exposition "Journey Across Russia".