| Summary: | Abstract The paper describes the development of neurology as a newly established discipline at the medical faculty of the Oulu University and the early years and broadening of neurological hospital care in the northern half of Finland. The period under observation is the years from 1948 to 1990. The first hospital wards especially for neurological patients at the main hospital of the Oulu mental care district were opened in Oulu during the early 1950's and continued operating until 1991. The new head of the hospital from 1949 onwards considered neurology to be an important part of the biologically oriented neuropsychiatric working principle. Two neurological wards were opened, laboratory and other facilities for examinations needed were arranged. The first professor of neuropsychiatry of the Oulu University was in 1965 authorized by the special state committee for the specialities in medicine to train young physicians in neurology as well as in psychiatry. During the years 1965–1969 three neurologists were trained in this way, they all started successful scientific work and also completed their doctoral thesis. In 1969 the discipline of neurology and the hospital work connected to it started at the Oulu University. The paper describes the basic teaching in neurology for the medical students, the specialist training both in neurology and in clinical neurophysiology for the young physicians, and the scientific postgraduate training. Continuing education courses for specialists in neurology working in the northern half of Finland were also arranged regularly and they are described here. The research and the scientific activities are outlined, including the most important connections to the international scientific community. By the year 1990, 31 specialists in neurology and six specialists in clinical neurophysiology were trained at the department. During this period, 22 young physicians received scientific postgraduate training at the department and finished successfully their doctoral thesis. The staff index at ...
|
|---|