October 2016
In recognition of his international career and his outstanding achievements, the European Society of Radiology has invited Professor Oleg J. Atkov to deliver the Opening Lecture at ECR 2014.
Oleg J. Atkov is professor of medicine and head of the instrumental diagnostic methods department of the Russian National Research Medical University. He is also vice-president of Russian Railways with responsibility for healthcare.
In 1973, Prof. Atkov graduated from I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and later received his doctorate in cardiology from the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. He gained early recognition in his career for his work developing the ultrasound diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. In 1984, his career reached new heights when he travelled to the Soviet Salyut-7 space station to spend a record-setting period of 273 days in space as a cosmonaut-researcher. He performed medical research projects using ultrasound equipment during his time on the space station.
After returning to the Earth, Prof. Atkov began working at the Russian Institute of Clinical Cardiology, where he became head of the department of new diagnostic methods. He has also been working with the International Space University in Strasbourg, France as a visiting professor since 1989. Throughout his career Prof. Atkov has been dedicated to realising the major potential of telemedicine, and he served as a president of the Russian Telemedicine Association since 2000. In 2002, he became head of the Russian Railway Ministry’s department of health, and continued working as head of medical care after the Ministry was reformed to become JSC Russian Railways. He was then later promoted to vice-president with responsibility for healthcare. Under his supervision, Russian Railways established a mobile telemedicine project; using special medical trains to deliver healthcare to remote areas which have no access to conventional facilities. This innovative project has vastly improved the quality of life for many Russian citizens and so it was awarded a special prize from the Russian Government.
Prof. Atkov has authored more than 150 articles and several monographs. He has 15 inventions and seven patents to his name. He has supervised more than 30 Doctor of Medical Science candidates in Russia and five candidates for a master’s degree in space studies at the International Space University. Furthermore, he has delivered more than 100 invited lectures around the world and received an honorary doctorate from the Humboldt University of Berlin. At ECR 2014 Prof. Atkov will present theOpening Lecture entitled ‘Études of space radiology’.
myESR