Soviet pilot-physician program

The program for training pilot-physicians was started in 1952. it was the f irst and the only one in the history of the USSR/Russia. Young military phy sicians from different military forces and graduates of the Saratov Militar y Medical Faculty were invited to participate in the program. Selected mili tary physicians were sent for 2 yr of flight training. Six graduates from O msk School became bomber pilots, while eight graduates from Chuguev School were appointed instructor pilots. Special positions and regulations for pil ot-physicians were not created. Some pilot-physicians continued their aviat ion career, and some returned to medicine. For a short time a limited numbe r 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 scientifi c degrees in medicine and made significant contributions to the development of aerospace medicine.