Evgeny Kryukov Kirov, a prominent figure who leads the Military Medical Academy and holds the title of Academician in the Russian Academy of Sciences, has called for a shift in how military medicine is taught. He argues that the study of military field therapy, trauma surgery, and related military medical disciplines should be integrated into civilian universities in Russia. The aim is to give doctors broader, hands-on exposure to treating gunshot wounds and other battlefield injuries, which can then translate into improved civilian care in everyday medical settings. His remarks were shared on the Star television channel, where he outlined the potential benefits of this educational cross-pollination.
According to Kryukov, today a number of essential military medical disciplines are not part of the standard curriculum in Russian universities. He believes that any surgeon with comprehensive certification should be prepared to provide care for a range of injuries, including gunshot wounds and serious mine blast trauma. This readiness, he contends, does not hinge on a narrow specialty; it requires a broad base of practical knowledge that can be sharpened through civilian academic environments as well as military training programs.
To achieve this, Kryukov suggests a deliberate redesign of training programs to incorporate military field treatment principles and the hard-won experience of military health services. He envisions a model in which civilian universities host targeted courses and practical modules drawn from military medical practice. Such an approach would help produce clinicians who can respond effectively to high-stakes injuries, whether in peacetime emergencies or in mass casualty events, while maintaining high standards of medical ethics and patient safety.
The potential move toward integrating military medical topics into civilian education also signals a broader effort to strengthen the medical workforce through cross-disciplinary learning. By exposing students to the realities of battlefield medicine, medical schools could cultivate a generation of physicians who are more adaptable, resourceful, and capable of working under pressure. This does not imply replacing traditional civilian medical training; rather, it expands the toolkit available to practitioners, enabling them to deliver comprehensive care across a wide spectrum of trauma scenarios.
In parallel, there is growing discussion about how to align the training of reserve officers with civilian medical education. A former official from the Ministry of Health indicated that up to 13 medical universities in the country have the capacity to begin training reserve officers in military specialties as early as 2024. The implication is a structured pathway that blends reserve service with professional medical development, ensuring that physicians gain firsthand exposure to military medicine without sacrificing the continuity of civilian clinical practice. Such initiatives could also facilitate better disaster readiness and interagency cooperation in times of crisis.
Beyond Russia, many international experts emphasize the value of multidisciplinary training in trauma care and critical incident response. The idea of drawing military medical insights into civilian education resonates with broader trends in health systems aiming to boost resilience, increase workforce flexibility, and shorten response times for severe injuries. While the specifics of implementation may vary by country, the underlying principle remains the same: equipping physicians with practical skills that translate into safer, more effective patient care in all settings. This perspective may inform ongoing discussions about medical education reform in diverse regions, including North America, where trauma care and emergency medicine continually evolve to meet rising demand and emerging threats.