Why I decided to write this sketch? I would like, that going in life after us, after my generation, as much as possible felt more deeply, what worthy, the really gained moral relay race they receive from the fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers.

All my work way was devoted to medicine. Probably, that I now shall tell concerning the doctors, with the complete right many other people will tell about the trades - and that is wonderful. And I shall tell that: I'm convinced, that the doctor is more than trade, it, by the highest standards is way of life. Also it would be desirable to trust, that my sketch about the friend - doctor becomes one more grain, which will help to expand to a perfect garden of friendship and moral unity of generations.

Frequently we ask who your friend is and seldom have we reflected above meaning of this word. In life to me carried on the good people, present friends, which were near in pleasure and in grief, in successes and failures. I can not agree with concept "the best friend ". In my opinion, there is either friend, or, as at Vysotsky, " neither friend, and nor enemy, but - so."

September, 1955. On graduation from Dnipropetrovs’k medical institute me with the wife, Ludmila Zaslavskaya, have directed on a virgin soil. In Akmolinsk we arrived at the night. There is a fine, cold rain. In a premise of small station - hundreds people, basically stand. Lucky ones sit on half broken benches or on the suitcases. In the morning have reached up to regional health department and in one hour already send there from with assignments: me - manager of Makinsky district health department and regional surgeon, wife - regional oculist. We arrived to the regional centre - village Voznesensk. All hospital was placed in the old house with six rooms, where children, adult, infectious patients were treated. We were six doctors, three from which soon have left. We had no the surgical tool, sterile material, autoclave.

How to work? What to begin with? I've achieved the sanction to specialization in surgery on a workplace. I want to explain, what it is. There was no opportunity to leave from area for six months for specialization in institute of improvement, therefore have directed for 1,5 months to surgical branch of 1-st urban and sole hospital of Akmolinsk, she was simultaneously and regional hospital. The surgical branch on 40 beds was placed on the second floor of a small old wooden building. The surgeons - enthusiasts Olga Ermushkevich, Gilen Tzoy, Klaudia Ovsyannikova worked there.

Soul of branch was the young doctor Isaac Shtilman, graduate of Kiev medical institute, in love with surgery and traumatology. High, slim, affable, faultless in the help to the patient. He worked during 18 - 20 hours a day: day time work in hospital, watch on ambulance, night calls on emergency operations. The heaviest patients arrived from all area.

I can not forget the first acquaintance to the doctor I. Shtilman.

I have come in branch by 8 o'clock in the morning. In 20 minutes - call in reception rest to the patient with "a sharp stomach". Isaac speaks: "Let’s go; we shall begin your specialization in surgery ". I have looked the patient and have assumed that he has acute appendicitis. Isaac confirmed my diagnosis, and in 20 minutes we already stood at an operational table. Softly, with the large care concerning the patient he showed me the most sparing methods of operative intervention. The following patient was with a penetrating wound of a stomach, then - scheduled patients. We went out from operational room after four o'clock in the afternoon - tired, with feeling of deep satisfaction by the done work pleased with each other.

In breaks between operations we have got acquainted closer. He lived with the parents, wife (doctor - laboratory assistant Helena Weitzman) and son in a two-room apartment.

With the optimism Isaac infected both patients, and all surrounding. I each time was amazed, observing, as the heaviest patients changed, as there was at them a reliance of so recovery after survey them by this doctor and conversation with him.

We long reflected with him concerning each patient, choosing optimal variant of treatment. Both very much loved surgery, but were decided on operation only in a case, when other methods were inefficient.

Soon Isaac, as the highly skilled doctor, is nominated as managing surgical branch. His authority as expert was very high among the colleagues and population of city. Medpersonal very much respected and loved him for attention to personal problems of the employees valuable advice.

... Quickly have flown by 45 days of my specialization. Isaac has informed with me the poor surgical tool; one of autoclave has presented and has wished good luck in organization of the surgical help in area...

And our friendship proceeded. Quite often on the phone I consulted at him and received advice on a technique and treatment of the patients.

After three years of work in area I was transferred in Akmolinsk to a post of the board - surgeon of sanitary aircraft and surgeon - registrar in just opened 2-nd city hospital. In one year I headed surgical branch of regional oncological clinic. I received an apartment in one house with Isaac, to mutual pleasure. It pulls together our families even more. Children grew beside. The wives became the closest girlfriends, as if the sisters.

Our relations always remained friendly, irrespective of posts, which we occupied. The friendship forced us to be exacting to each other, at the same time we felt mutual support. The doctor Shtilman was known by the majority of the population of city. The patients tried to get to him, if there was a necessity for surgical treatment.

Such, a little bit sad, but rather indicative, case is recollected. In city in 50th there was a restless criminal condition. On night group of the hooligans could beat, plunder, undress any passer - by, put to him knife wound... Under New Year Isaac came back home late at night after emergency operation. Around was snowstorm. Suddenly he was surrounded with group of the men, which, threatening a knife, have required to give back a coat and cap. When he has taken off a cap, one of the gangsters suddenly has exclaimed: "Stop! It is our surgeon!" They have returned to the Doctor a coat and cap, followed up to his home and apologized.

Isaac Shtilman achieved restoration of health of the patients, constantly introducing last achievement of a medical science and engineering. One of many examples. In a medical seal the message has appeared that the application of metal cores accelerates accretion of fracture of bones, reduces invalidization of the patients. It was impossible to receive these cores, as they were let out by small laboratory at the Central institute of traumotology, in Moscow. The doctor Shtilman achieves reception of samples from Moscow and organizes release of cores from a special alloy at a local factory. He himself introduces this method of treatment and trains the regional surgeons of area to application metallofication of bones.

With creation of Virgin edge in Kazakhstan with the centre in city Tselinograd (former Akmolinsk) there was a necessity for the competent organizer of medical aid in city. Under my recommendation (That time I already worked as the first assistant manager of Virgin regional health department) I.I.

Shtilman was asserted as the manager of Tselinograd city health department. On this post his organizing abilities were most brightly showed. He achieves opening of many new modern sanitary-preventive establishments, creation of material base for them and already existing.

... On fault of the builders of a water pipe in city there is a flare infectious of hepatitis. The number of the patients is daily increased. On separate days were hospitalized up to 70 - 80 men. Under the direction of Isaac Shtilman the hospitals in the again constructed hostels, houses were developed. He accepts and places tens of doctors, nurses, special brigades from the next areas, Alma-Ata, Moscow. The flare was located, the distribution of an infection was prevented.

Only such man, resolute, active, firmly asserting the correctness and requirements before Soviet-party bodies (and in that time for this purpose was needed courage) and thus sympathetic and sensitive to needs of the patients and medical workers, it was possible to entrust liquidation of flare of this artful infection. He coped and with it. Isaac Shtilman was awarded with the governmental awards, was "Excellent worker of public health services ". By the decision of Tselinograd city soviet he is conferred a rank "Honorable citizen of Tselinograd ".

And outside of work he was soul and conscience of our friends, ringleader of cheerful evenings, trips for city.

... The heavy, wearisome work for the boon of the patients has undermined health of Isaac Shtilman. Diabetes mellitus has destroyed his weakened organism. Began gangrene. Attempts to rescue him remained unsuccessful....

Buried him by the whole city. In my heart he for ever remains alive, life-asserting optimist, irreplaceable friend.

Today we are treated by the young Russian doctors of New York. And in Kazakhstan relay race of my generation - in hands of those who is younger. I believe, that the generations of the doctors following, in businesses will be always worthy of a moral position of such remarkable devotees, as was the doctor Isaac Shtilman.

Efim Shabash
(New York)