Soviet pilot-physician program.

Abstract

The program for training pilot-physicians was started in 1952. It was the first and the only one in the history of the USSR/Russia. Young military physicians from different military forces and graduates of the Saratov Military Medical Faculty were invited to participate in the program. Selected military physicians were sent for 2 yr of flight training. Six graduates from Omsk School became bomber pilots, while eight graduates from Chuguev School were appointed instructor pilots. Special positions and regulations for pilot-physicians were not created. Some pilot-physicians continued their aviation career, and some returned to medicine. For a short time a limited number of pilot-physician positions existed in the research institute in Moscow. Two graduates from this program were appointed to these positions. One of the pilot-physicians became a cosmonaut; and at least six obtained scientific degrees in medicine and made significant contributions to the development of aerospace medicine.