This article presents a historical overview of the evolution of the academic degree institution–from ancient traditions to the modern Russian attestation system. The transformation of the status of doctor and master is traced from medieval European universities to the formation of the hierarchical system in the Russian Empire, its adaptation during the Soviet period, and its subsequent development in the post-Soviet era. Using the Great Patriotic War as an example, the article highlights the special role of the dissertation as an act of intellectual courage and civic service. Based on data from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat, 2010–2024) and the dynamics of doctoral dissertation defenses in medical specialties (Higher Attestation Commission, 2015–2024), systemic problems are identified. Special emphasis is placed on the specialty ‘Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics’ which, despite medical-technical and scientific progress, demonstrates a steady decline in the number of doctoral defenses. The historical examples cited are not merely facts of the past but reflect current trends. Russia's two-hundred-year history of academic accolades deserves continuation, for the institution of professorship exists not for the accumulation of titles but for the education of the next generations. Without this institution, the academic environment loses its meaning.
Oleg N. Budadin – Dr. Sci. (Tech.), Chief Researcher, JSC ‘Central Research Institute of Special Engineering’ (Khotkovo, Moscow Region). State Prize laureate, twice Government Prize laureate, Academic Secretary of the HAC Expert Council, Khotkovo, Moscow Region, Russia.
Maria A. Supriago – Expert of the Center for Evaluation of Medical Devices at the Public State-funded Institution ‘National Institute of Quality’ of Federal Agency for Supervision in Healthcare, Moscow, Russia.
Zhanna Yu. Sapozhkova – MD, PhD; Academic Director at the International Cytology School & Innovatory Medical School; Head of the Cytology Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Physician at the Moscow Regional Oncological Clinical Center, Moscow, Russia.
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DOI: 10.14489/lcmp.2026.03.pp.026-035
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