History of the department

On December 24th, 1994, the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy was established at the Almaty State Medical Institute. The first Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy was Senior Lecturer Mayra Birlyanovna Satybaldina.

In the academic year 2007-2008, a course on general and clinical psychology and communicative skills was organized at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University under the Department of Psychiatry, with Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences M.A. Asimov appointed as the head of the course.

On October 28th, 2008, by the order of the rector of Kazakh National Medical University, Prof. A.A. Akanov, the course on general and clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and communicative skills was transformed into the Department of Communicative Skills, Fundamentals of Psychotherapy, General and Medical Psychology. Since then, the department’s staff has been replenished with young and talented doctors, psychologists, and educators.

By the decision of the Academic Council of Kazakh National Medical University on December 30th, 2008 (protocol No. 6), the Department of Communicative Skills, Fundamentals of Psychotherapy, General and Medical Psychology became a department comprising both theoretical and clinical disciplines. The clinical bases of the department include the S.D. Asfendiyarov Clinic of Internal Diseases, the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, and the Kazakh National Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Medicine.

The department provides education for undergraduate students from the 1st to the 5th year of all faculties, as well as for master’s students, doctoral students, interns, and residents in subjects such as “Psychology,” “Communicative Skills,” “Specialized Communicative Skills,” and “Health and Addiction Psychology.” Interactive teaching methods such as discussions, heuristic conversations, role-playing games, and training sessions are used, incorporating elements of problem-based learning.

In 2008, for the first time in the post-Soviet space, a textbook on the new fundamental discipline “Communicative Skills” was prepared and released. The authors of this textbook are Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences M.A. Asimov, Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences S.A. Nurmagambetova, and Ph.D. Y.V. Ignatiev.

In addition to teaching activities, the department conducts significant scientific work. In 2004, on the 10th anniversary of the department’s establishment, a Republican scientific-practical conference on current issues in psychology and pedagogy was held. In 2009, as part of the University Day, an International scientific-practical conference was organized dedicated to the problems of promoting a healthy lifestyle. In 2010, a master class was conducted with the participation of international specialists in communicative skills in medicine: Julia Draper (UK), and Beverly Dean (USA). All faculty members are actively involved in the creative scientific process. The department’s staff conducts scientific and practical work aimed at career guidance and professional adaptation of students at Kazakh National Medical University.

Since 2021, faculty members of the department have been participating in the ERASMUS international program. They have repeatedly hosted foreign delegations. From March 5th to March 11th, 2024, participants of the ERASMUS program from the Department of Communicative Skills – Fatima Arystanovna Bagiyarova, Sanam Khakimovna Madaliyeva, and Baatjes Alma Shakirovna visited the Medical University in Leeds, UK.

The professorial and teaching staff of the department constantly improves their qualifications. Faculty members regularly undergo training in their field and in modern educational technologies at qualification improvement courses both within the country and at leading foreign centers.

The department pays special attention to the implementation of the trilingual policy at the university, constantly enhancing proficiency in professional Russian, Kazakh, and English languages. Practically all teachers teach in three languages at a high professional level.

Each head of the department has contributed, and continues to make invaluable contributions to the development of the department:

From 2008 to 2018, the department was headed by Professor Marat Abubakriyevich Asimov, Doctor of Medical Sciences.

From 2018 to 2023, the department was led by Associate Professor Fatima Arystanovna Bagiyarova, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

Since 2023, the department has been chaired by Dr. Anar Yerikovna Tursynbekova, a PhD holder and cardiologist.

Currently, the department has a staff of 14 employees. The department’s team looks optimistically towards the future and puts all efforts into training doctors to meet modern standards.