The department was created in 1922 on the basis of the therapeutic department of the 1st Soviet hospital in Minsk, now the 3rd clinical hospital named after E. V. Klumova. The first head of the department (1922-1934) was Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Professor Melkikh Sergey Mikheevich, a student of Professor Ostroumov A.A.
Subsequently, the department was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, prof. Siterman Lazar Yakovlevich (1934-1941); Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assoc. Kovalenok Mikhail Ivanovich (1944-1948); Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assoc. Novash I.E. (1948-1949); Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Professor Mishenin Ivan Dmitrievich (1949-1973); MD, prof. Danilov Ivan Petrovich (1974-1989); Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assoc. Milkamanovich Vladimir Konstantinovich (1989-1996). Since 1996, the head of the department is Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Tsarev Vladimir Petrovich. The department employs 15 teachers, including professors I. I. Goncharik and E. A. Dotsenko, nine associate professors, Ph.D. and three assistants, Ph.D.
The first head of the department was Sergey Mikheevich Melkikh (1877 - 1952), Honored Scientist of the BSSR, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor SM Melkikh. the staff of the department is 12 years old (1922 - 1934)
Under his leadership, at the department, methods of active treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis; was the first to suggest the use of intravenous sterophantin for the treatment of chronic heart failure; the role of Escherichia coli in the development of colibacillary sepsis has been proven. Under the supervision of S.M. Melkikh, 75 doctoral and 8 candidate dissertations were defended (M.M. Vladysik, R.E. Ginzburg, G.H. Dovgyallo, M.I. Kovalenok, E.L. Marshak, I.E. Novash , L.Ya. Siterman, etc.).
From 1934 to 1941 (for 7 years) the department was headed by a student of S.M. Melkikh - Lazar Yakovlevich Siterman (1894 - 1941), professor. Under the leadership of L.Ya. Siterman, methods of diagnosing the treatment of myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmias were developed. L.Ya.Siterman died untimely in the Minsk ghetto at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In June 1941, the medical institute was forced to suspend its activities. After the liberation of Minsk from the fascist invaders, on November 1, 1944, classes began at the medical institute at all faculties and courses.
In the period from 1944 to 1948. (4 years) the department was headed by Mikhail Ivanovich Kovalenok (1900 - 1958), Honored Doctor of the BSSR, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, student of S.M. Melkikh. MI Kovalenok supervised scientific research on the role of secretion and acidity of gastric juice for the diagnosis of gastric pathology; for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gallbladder and liver; studies were conducted on syphilitic lesions of the aorta and liver.
From 1948 to 1949 The duties of the head of the Department of Propedeutics of Internal Diseases were performed by Ivan Yemelyanovich Novash, Honored Doctor of the BSSR, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, student of S.M. Melkikh. Under the leadership of I.E. Novash, scientific research was carried out on the study of blood viscosity in diseases of internal organs. IE Novash is the author of the handbook «Introduction - a clinic of internal diseases».
In the next 24 years (1948 - 1973), the department was headed by Honored Scientist of the BSSR, Honored Doctor of the RSFSR, Academy of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Ivan Dmitrievich Mishenin (1899 - 1974). Under the leadership of I.D. Mishenin, scientific research was carried out on the role of focal infection in the pathology of the cardiovascular hepatobiliary systems and kidneys. Under his leadership, 3 doctoral and 50 master's theses were defended.
In the next 15 years (from 1974 to 1989), the department was headed by Ivan Petrovich Danilov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, a student of Academicians I.D. Mishenin and A.N. Filatov. Under his leadership, scientific research was carried out on the state of the state system in case of focal infection; for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood system. I.P.Danilov supervised the preparation of 2 doctoral and 18 master's theses.
1989 to 1996 the department was headed by Vladimir Konstantinovich Milkamanovich, candidate of medical sciences, associate professor, student of academician I.D. Mishenin and professor G.P. Matveykov. Under his leadership, scientific studies were carried out on the influence of the mutual burdening syndrome on the performance of patients with cardiological and pulmonological profile. VK Milkamanovich supervised the preparation of 2 candidate dissertations.
From 1996 to the present time (2009), the department is headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Vladimir Petrovich Tsarev, a student of Professor G.P. Matveykov. Under his leadership, the department conducted research (1996 - 2000) on the development of a clinical and immunological system for the differential diagnosis of the «norm» and «pathology» of the immune system in cardiological and broncho-pulmonary diseases. During the period of this scientific topic, 40 scientific works were published, one monograph and 1 patent was received, a candidate dissertation was defended.
2008 to 2011 V.P. Tsarev directed scientific research on the development of methods of medical, psychological and physical rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease. During this period, 154 scientific works were published, 7 patents were received, one doctoral and one master's thesis were defended. V.P. Tsarev supervises the preparation of 2 candidate dissertations in the framework of the planned scientific research.