Victor Skumin

The University – one of the oldest University of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union – was founded in 1804, a decree about its foundation was signed by the Emperor of Russia Alexander I, and the first Statutes of the University were approved at that time.

In the Kharkiv University were laid high scientific standards.

Its history is connected with the names of the Nobel Laureates – Lev Landau, Simon Kuznets, Élie Metchnikoff – and other distinguished scientists.

Victor Andreevich Skumin (Ви́ктор Андре́евич Ску́мин, born 30 August 1948) is a Russian and Soviet scientist, psychiatrist, philosopher and writer.

Victor Skumin was born on 30 August 1948 in Penza Oblast, RSFSR, where his father – Andrew Skumin (Андре́й Ску́мин) – was an officer of MGB of the USSR.

He was the Colonel of Justice, WWII Veteran.

After the birth of Victor, the family moved to the city of Kazan, where his father was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Military Tribunal of the Internal Troops of the Volga Military District.

The family many times moved from one city to another, where Andrew Skumin was appointed to a new post.

These cities, in particular, were Penza, Chelyabinsk, and Petrozavodsk.

For this reason, he studied in various educational institutions.

Skumin studied medicine at the Kharkiv National Medical University.

The history of the higher medical school in Kharkiv is more than 200 years long and closely connected with the history of Vasily Karazin Kharkiv National University, because it sprang from its Medical Faculty.

This Institute was the first to conduct surgical treatment of heart diseases in the Ukrainian SSR (since 1955), the Institute began to conduct operations with extracorporeal circulation (1958), and mitral valve replacements (1963).

In 1961, Amosov was awarded Lenin Prize for the work of surgery.

Since a valve replacement is a heart surgical procedure, it requires placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass.

With a valve replacement surgery, there are some risks.

Skumin researched a neuropsychological and psychopathologic changes following open heart surgery, nonpsychotic mental disorders in patients with valvular heart disease before and after surgery, associated with mechanical artificial heart valve (MHV) implant.

An artificial heart valve is a device implanted in the heart of a patient with valvular heart disease, congenital heart defect, etc. When one or two of the four heart valves malfunctions, the medical choice may be to replace the natural valve with an artificial valve.

There are three major types of mechanical valves with many modifications on these designs.

This requires open heart surgery.

The mechanical valves are made from metal and pyrolytic carbon, and can last a lifetime.

All MHV function in the human body creating a unique sound effects and vibration.

He is known for inventing a popular term "Culture of Health" (1968).

Besides psychiatry and psychology, Skumin writes on healthy lifestyle, yoga, and philosophy.

He co-authored series of illustrated books and articles on Agni Yoga, Roerichism, Russian cosmism, transhumanism, and New Age.

He wrote books of fiction and lyrics for several songs.

In 1968, when he was still a medical student, he proposed the term Culture of Health (Культу́ра Здоро́вья), which has become widespread.

The main task of a Culture of Health is to implement innovative health programs that support a holistic approach to physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Victor Skumin is married.

He has two sons – Andrew and Maxim, as well as granddaughter Alice Skumina and grandson Alexey Skumin.

After graduating from the Kharkiv National Medical University in 1973, he became a psychotherapist in Kiev Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Skumin graduated the Medical University in 1973 with diploma with honours.

Skumin researched from 1976 to 1980 psychological and psychiatric problems of cardiac surgery under the mentorship of Nikolai Amosov, who was the founder and first director of the Kiev Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery.

In 1978, he described a new disease, the Skumin syndrome.

He introduced a method of psychotherapy and self-improvement based on optimistic autosuggestion for psychological rehabilitation of cardiosurgical patients (1979).

From 1980 to 1990, he was professor of psychotherapy at the Kharkiv Medical Academy of Post-graduate Education.

The main result of his scientific activity was the discovery of the "syndrome of the neurotic phantom of somatic disease" and a "concept of the mental constituent of a chronic somatic disease".

From 1990 to 1994, Skumin held positions as chaired professor of psychology and pedagogy, and of physical education and Health life at the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture.

In 1994, he was elected to the post of the President-founder of the World Organisation of Culture of Health (Moscow).

In 1995, Skumin became the first editor-in-chief of the journal To Health via Culture.