Sona Abdul gizi Akhundova-Bagirbekova (1886 – 1982) was an Azerbaijani and Soviet ophthalmologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor (1952), Honored Doctor of the Azerbaijan SSR (1960), Honored Scientist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1964).

Early life and education

Sona Akhundova was born in 1886. Having graduated from the Medical Faculty of the

Moscow State University M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU; russian: Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова) is a public research university in Moscow, Russia and the most prestigious ...

in 1923, she started to work at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute for Ophthalmology first holding the position of Head of the eye injury department and then Deputy Director of the Institute for scientific work.

Career

Akhundova-Bagirbekova was considered a highly qualified specialist of the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute. She was also a professor at the department of eye diseases at the Azerbaijan State Institute for Advanced Training of Doctors named after

Aziz Aliyev Aziz Mammad Karim oghlu Aliyev ( az, Əziz Məmməd Kərim oğlu Əliyev; 20 December 1896 – 27 July 1962) was an Azerbaijani, Dagestani, and Soviet politician, scientist, and member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He was the father-in-law of ...

. In the 1940s, Akhundova-Bagirbekova completed qualification courses in

keratoplasty Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (the graft). When the entire cornea is replaced it is known as penetrating keratoplasty ...

at the Odessa Research Institute of Eye Diseases and in subsequent years maintained close scientific ties with this institute. Many of her scientific works were devoted to the problems of keratoplasty,

trachoma Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium ''Chlamydia trachomatis''. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of ...

and tissue therapy of eye diseases. Being a student and follower of the famous academician

Vladimir Filatov Vladimir Petrovich Filatov (russian: Владимир Филaтoв, 15 .S. 27February 1875 in Lyambirsky District, Mikhaylovka, Penza Governorate, Russian Empire – 30 October 1956 in Odessa, Ukrainian SSR) was a Russian Empire and Soviet oph ...

, Akhundova-Bagirbekova was the first in Azerbaijan and the

Transcaucasia The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Arme ...

to apply the methods of keratoplasty and tissue therapy for a number of eye diseases. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Akhundova-Bagirbekova was among the doctors who on the basis of clinical hospitals provided treatment and rehabilitation of the wounded and was awarded the country's highest award – the

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration b ...

. In 1951, Akhundova-Bagirbekova defended a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences at the Azerbaijan Medical Institute on the topic “

Corneal transplantation Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (the graft). When the entire cornea is replaced it is known as penetrating keratoplasty a ...

with homogeneous and heterogeneous tissues” proposing a new way of corneal transplant and a more accessible method of eye preservation. Akhundova-Bagirbekova was an active promoter of the development of ophthalmic surgery in Azerbaijan and did a lot to raise ophthalmic surgery in the republic to the level of advanced ophthalmological centers. She also made a substantial contribution to the elimination of trachoma in Azerbaijan. For many years Akhundova-Bagirbekova worked as an ophthalmologist in the Baku

leper colony A leper colony, also known by many other names, is an isolated community for the quarantining and treatment of lepers, people suffering from leprosy. '' M. leprae'', the bacterium responsible for leprosy, is believed to have spread from East Af ...

. Akhundova-Bagirbekova played an important role in the development and improvement of ophthalmology in Azerbaijan. Under her guidance many doctoral and candidate dissertations in the field of ophthalmology were defended. Akhundova-Bagirbekova was awarded several orders and medals, as well as the title of Honored Scientist of Azerbaijan. Sona Akhundova-Bagirbekova died in 1982.

Awards and honors

Awards

* Honored Doctor Azerbaijan Republic – 1960 * Honored Scientist of Azerbaijan – 1964

Orders

* Lenin – 1946 * Red Banner of Labour – 1960

Medals

* For the defense of the Caucasus – 1944 * For valiant labor in the Great Patriotic War – 1946 * In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin – 1970

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhundova-Bagirbekova, Sona 1886 births 1982 deaths Second convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Azerbaijani ophthalmologists Azerbaijani women scientists Soviet ophthalmologists Soviet women physicians