Professor Alexander Alexandrovich Limberg (1894–1974) (on the 130th anniversary of his birth)

Abstract

Outstanding maxillofacial surgeon, scientist and teacher, one of the founders of the Russian dentistry and creator of the first large school of Soviet maxillofacial surgeons and dentists, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (1945), laureate of the USSR State (Stalin) Prize (1948), honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1963), Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Alexander Aleksandrovich Limberg was born on January 24 (February 6), 1894 in the family of the Limberg medical dynasty, famous in St. Petersburg – leading specialists in the field of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. In 1916, A.A. Limberg graduated from the Vongle Dental School, and in 1919 – the Military Medical Academy and began to specialize in the field of maxillofacial surgery. In 1924, he was approved as head of the Department of Odontology (until 1936) of the State Institute of Medical Knowledge (2nd Leningrad Medical Institute (1930), Leningrad Sanitary and Hygienic Medical Institute (1947), since 1994 – St. Petersburg State Medical Academy named after I.I. Mechnikov). In January 1935, A. A. Limberg headed the first organized Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Leningrad Institute of Advanced Medical Training and directed it until the end of his life. From 1943 to 1945, he was the Professor at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Leningrad Pediatric Medical Institute, and from 1946 to 1956, he headed the Department of Surgical Dentistry at the Leningrad Medical Dental Institute. The name A. A. Limberg is closely connected with the organization and development of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery not only in Leningrad, but also in other regions of the USSR, in which, on the initiative of Alexander Alexandrovich, specialized departments and clinics were formed in medical institutes, as well as departments of maxillofacial surgery in regional hospitals. A. A. Limberg was the author and co-author of 150 scientific works, including 4 monographs, 2 textbooks on surgical dentistry, and individual chapters in 10 manuals. Under his leadership, 36 candidate and 9 doctoral dissertations were prepared. Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor A. A. Limberg died in December 1974 and was buried in Leningrad at the Bolsheokhtinskoye cemetery. The name of A. A. Limberg was assigned to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Surgical Dentistry of the North-Western State Medical University (now St. Petersburg State Medical Academy) named after. I. I. Mechnikov in St. Petersburg.

Keywords

• history of medicine
• maxillofacial surgery and dentistry
• professor alexander alexandrovich limberg