The Department Today
In July 2024, a new department was established through the merger of the Department of Epizootology, Microbiology and Virology with the Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine. The merged structure was named the Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Animal Health, headed by Associate Professor Volodymyr Vasyliovych MELNYK, Candidate of Veterinary Sciences. This merger combined the experience and scientific achievements of two strong academic units and became an important step in the development of modern veterinary education and science.
The newly established department integrates three key fields — microbiology, epizootology, and parasitology, which cover a wide range of issues related to infectious animal diseases. The department’s academic staff provides training for students from the second to the sixth year of study, helping them acquire solid theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for their future professional careers.
Teaching in the microbiology block is carried out by highly qualified scientists — Professors T.V. MAZUR, L.M. VYHOVSKA, and M.L. RADZYKHOVSKYI, as well as Associate Professors M.V. MELNYK, G.V. KOZLOVSKA, M.V. IHNATOVSKA, and O.V. DYSHKANT.
Courses of the epizootology block are taught by Head of Department, Associate Professor V.V. MELNYK, Professors V.O. USHKALOV and V.V. NEDOSIEKOV, and Associate Professors N.G. SOROKINA, V.A. SYTNYK, V.M. SHEVCHUK, O.G. MARTYNIUK, Senior Lecturer M.O. ZHUKOVSKYI, and Assistant O.B. Shevchenko.
Teaching in the parasitology block is provided by Professors N.M. SOROKA, M.V. HALAT, and S.A. NYCHYK, Associate Professor S.L. Honcharov, and Assistant O.V. FILIPENKO.
The mission of the department is to train highly qualified specialists in veterinary medicine who are capable of effectively addressing the challenges of prevention, diagnosis, and control of infectious and parasitic animal diseases. The department provides students with both fundamental and applied knowledge in microbiology, virology, biotechnology, epizootology, and parasitology, and offers training programs for Master’s, PhD, and Doctor of Science degrees.
The main priorities of the department include organizing and conducting educational, scientific, and outreach activities at a modern level, researching current issues in veterinary medicine, and implementing innovative technologies in programs aimed at the prevention and eradication of infectious animal diseases.
The Department’s key priority areas include the following:
• Organization and implementation of educational, scientific, methodological, and cultural-educational activities with full-time students, as well as with participants of the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining for Specialists in the agro-industrial and environmental sectors. The Department’s activities are carried out in close cooperation with other structural units of the University that support the educational process.
• Training, retraining, and professional development of specialists in veterinary medicine and academic staff in accordance with the Department’s profile and areas of expertise.
• Providing students with fundamental knowledge and applied skills in microbiology, virology, biotechnology, epizootology, and infectious diseases of animals, and developing competencies essential for professional practice in the field of veterinary medicine.
• Establishment and continuous modernization of educational and laboratory facilities, improvement of research methodologies, implementation of advanced teaching technologies, and digitalization of the educational process.
• Organization of an effective educational process aimed at preparing highly qualified specialists who combine comprehensive theoretical knowledge with practical skills, possess a broad worldview, high culture of thinking, and demonstrate the ability for self-development and teamwork.
• Study of current issues related to animal health, the quality and safety of livestock products, and identification of pathways for improving the system of veterinary supervision and control.
• Organization and implementation of innovative, scientific, research, and publishing activities aimed at advancing veterinary science and integrating its achievements into practical application.
Alongside teaching, the Department’s academic staff are actively engaged in addressing the most urgent issues of veterinary medicine, including the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases of animals, birds, fish, and bees, as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in young animals and infectious pathologies in companion animals. Particular attention is devoted to the search, development, design, and introduction into production of new antimicrobial and biological preparations and disinfectants that comply with the contemporary standards of veterinary practice.