Documentary Exhibition: «BSMU: Century-Old Traditions — Modern Education»

On November 5–6, 2026, the Belarusian State Medical University (BSMU) hosted a scientific-practical conference dedicated to the institution’s 105th anniversary. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus prepared a documentary exhibition titled «BSMU: Century-Old Traditions — Modern Education».

The history of BSMU dates back to 1921; on April 18, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Byelorussian SSR issued a decree to establish the Belarusian State University, which included a medical faculty. On November 1, 1921, the dean of the medical faculty—Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Mikhail Borisovich Krol—delivered the first lecture, marking the beginning of medical education in the country. The first graduating class completed their studies in 1925, with 21 physicians receiving their diplomas. In 1930, the faculty was reorganized into the Belarusian State Medical Institute, and in 2001, it was renamed the Belarusian State Medical University, attaining the status of the leading medical university in the Republic of Belarus.

Over the course of 105 years, BSMU has trained tens of thousands of highly qualified physicians who safeguard public health and shape national healthcare policy—not only in Belarus but also in more than 100 countries around the world. While 105 years may be but a fleeting moment in the grand scope of history, for the university, it represents an entire era defined by selfless dedication and the education of successive generations of doctors.

The documents presented by the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus chronicle the 105-year journey of this flagship institution of medical education in our country. The exhibition features a collection of unique documents—including curricula from the 1920s, minutes from state qualification commissions, and the personal files of the first graduates—that vividly illustrate the exceptionally challenging historical conditions under which higher medical education in Belarus was established. Also on display are records of the selfless work of medical professionals during the Great Patriotic War and the subsequent restoration of the institute in Minsk, alongside photographs and personal files of the individuals who laid the foundations of the university. These documents, sourced from the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (NARB), offer a firsthand look at the origins of the enduring traditions of Belarusian medicine and the development of the Belarusian State Medical University (BSMU) into the institution it is today.

1. Documentary exhibition at BSMU

2. Event attendees examining archival documents

3. Event attendees examining archival documents