Novgorod Celebrates 1150 Years!
The early Chronicles say that the city of Velikiy Novgorod had its beginnings in 859 A.D, and now, just 1150 years later, the city has celebrated this jubilee event. The Board of Directors of the Novgorod Alliance, Lloyd Kramer, MD, Mark McDowell, George Long, MD, Judy Kramer and Judy Canyock embarked on a journey to Russia and Velikiy Novgorod on September 9, 2009. Judy Kramer brought along three west coast Florida artists – –Joanna Coke, Susan Cooper and Susan Covert. The artists’ exchange program included joint exhibitions with Novgorod artists, visits to artists’ studios, Master Classes with Novgorod children and visits to special art exhibitions in Velikiy Novgorod.
Two days of medical conferences were held with presentations by both American and Russian doctors.Mark McDowell, whose specialty is Cardiovascular Technology, presented “Acute Coronary Syndrome – from a Cath Lab Viewpoint”. He wowed the audience with real time video catheter studies. The conference was well attended and many good questions were posed.
The HIV/AIDS facility in Velikiy Novgorod was the location for the lecture “HIV/AIDS: Diagnosis and Treatment”. George Long, MD, Emergency Medicine physician and several Russian physicians presented lectures. There was good interaction among the participants.
Each day, Lloyd Kramer, MD, Neonatologist, conducted an experiment demonstrating how disease is spread through hand contact. Lloyd shook hands with conference attendees using fluorescent powder on his hands. An ultraviolet light was used at the end of the conference to demonstrate how the powder is transmitted from person to person. He then donated the supplies to the HIV/AIDS clinic for staff training.
The Alliance Board met with Novgorod Medical Alliance President, Dr. Svetlana Lugina to discuss the status of both organizations and to evaluate the need for continued cooperation between our organizations. Svetlana said that several physicians on the staff at the Central City Hospital were interested in being a part of this joint venture. Dmitry Lobko, a pediatric orthopedist and translator for the medical conferences, will be asked to join the Alliance as well.
Svetlana suggested several topics for future conferences: cardiac stints, physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation following cardiac procedures. Several ideas are being explored to continue this education process. Information could be exchanged by e-mail or by Novgorod physician and therapist’s visits to Fairfax Heart Institute in Virginia. These physicians and staff would have to speak English and know medical jargon for the program to be successful.
Last year’s recipient of the Novgorod Alliance Medical Scholarship, Ekaterina Kuzina, completed her one year psychology program in St. Petersburg and received a certificate of completion.
Members of the Alliance visited a Children’s Home on the outskirts of Velikiy Novgorod. Fifty children from age 18 months to 7 years are housed in this facility. We were greeted by excited young children who were well dressed and appeared healthy. While the facility is subsidized by the Russian government, vitamins, medications and influenza vaccines require outside funding. The Novgorod Alliance decided to donate $2100 to the Children’s Home for the coming year. Svetlana Lugina offered to be the administrator of our funds to the Children’s Home. She will keep us informed of the expenditures as they occur.
The City Celebration in Velikiy Novgorod on September 19 and 20 was an exciting experience. Millions of rubles were spent cleaning, painting and repairing the core of the city. Work continued on projects right up to the opening day ceremonies. Performances were continuous on stages around the city, craftsmen were demonstrating everywhere, and an agricultural area highlighted the specialties of the Novgorod Oblast. Food venders were everywhere cooking shashlik and offering other traditional Russian foods.
A fireworks and laser show brought huge crowds to the Volkhov River on Saturday and Sunday nights. Sky divers and flyovers by vintage planes graced the skies over the river area on Sunday.
In spite of the size and scope of this celebration, our Novgorod hosts were successful in incorporating our visit and programs into the realm of the celebration. It was an honor to be a part of this event. Many of our events were covered by news media and shown on Russia TV.
It can honestly be said that Velikiy Novgorod has come a long way since 850 A.D. and the members of the Novgorod Alliance are proud to have been part of its 1150th Jubilee.
Lloyd Kramer, President, Novgorod Alliance