Evolution of the medical profession: from the history of its formation

On October 6, 2026, International Doctor's Day will be celebrated. Throughout history, the concepts of “medicine” and “doctor” have been inextricably linked. Medicine has long been viewed as a craft, art, science, practice, faith, and culture combined. The doctor was identified as a key figure in defining terms such as “health,” “disease,” “birth,” “life,” “death,” etc., serving as a confessional authority on these matters. A special chapter in medical history concerns the training of doctors, which involved passing down accumulated knowledge from generation to generation: from father to son or teacher to student, and eventually led to the establishment of medical traditions and professional culture. Over time, there was an important transformation from the category of “philosopher-doctor” to that of “master-doctor,” reflecting the evolution of core contradictions within primary medical issues. This article outlines research findings regarding the formation and development of the medical profession against the backdrop of societal evolution.