Internal medicine in Košice underwent several major organizational changes over the course of less than five decades. In the original two faculty hospitals (“old” on Rastislavova Street and “new” on Trieda SNP 1), there were a total of four internal medicine clinics, and since 1977 also a Geriatric Clinic (FN Rastislavova). In 1989, following the societal changes of that time, the structure of internal medicine departments gradually evolved. The original 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic on Trieda SNP 1 was dissolved, and in 1991, a new clinic with the same name but a different focus was established on the premises of the former Geriatric Clinic—primarily oriented toward cardiology, and within it, arrhythmology (mainly for older and geriatric patients).
The heads of the Geriatric Clinic and later the 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic were Prof. Gizela Matejíčková, MD, CSc., and Prof. Jozef Pella, MD, PhD., under whose leadership arrhythmology significantly developed (e.g., the first electrical ablation of the atrioventricular junction in 1984, the first ICD implantations, and the first “physiological” cardiac pacing). Another head of the clinic, Prof. Peter Mitro, MD, PhD., remained in the position until 2009, when he left for the East Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (VÚSCH). Under his leadership, the clinic continued to develop its predominantly cardiological profile.
Another head of the clinic, Associate Professor Tomáš Hildebrand, MD, CSc., a significant Slovak gastroenterologist, contributed greatly to further developing the clinic into a recognized gastroenterology center with nationwide influence. During this period, the 1st Internal Medicine Clinic also became part of the Center for the Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis (Associate Professor Peter Jarčuška, MD, CSc.).
The 2nd Internal Medicine Clinic, headed until 1991 by Associate Professor Ján Mechír, MD, CSc., and later from 1999 to 2003 by Prof. Dušan Trejbal, MD, CSc., developed mainly in endocrinology, cardiology, and rheumatology. Under his leadership, a strong generation of Košice internists emerged (in alphabetical order: Prof. Ivica Lazúrová, MD, CSc.; Associate Professor Želmíra Macejová, MD, PhD.; Prof. Peter Mitro, MD, PhD.; Prof. Daniel Pella, MD, PhD.; Associate Professor Angela Szilasiová, MD, CSc.; Prof. Gabriel Valočik, MD, PhD.; Associate Professor Ivana Valočiková, MD, PhD.).
In 2003, as part of the reorganization of departments in the L. Pasteur University Hospital on Trieda SNP 1, both clinics were merged under the name 1st Internal Medicine Clinic of FNsP and the Faculty of Medicine of UPJŠ, and the Cardiology Center was established (later relocated to the newly built premises of VÚSCH, Košice). The head of the clinic became Prof. Ivica Lazúrová, MD, CSc. At that time, the dialysis center separated from the clinic. Under Prof. Lazúrová’s leadership, the clinic provided comprehensive medical, preventive, and scientific research activities in gastroenterology and hepatology. The clinic established a center for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, including biological therapy, and a Center for the Treatment of Viral Hepatitis. It also became an indication center for placing patients on the liver transplant waiting list. In endocrinology, the clinic provided complete diagnostics of endocrine disorders, often beyond the scope of the eastern Slovak region. It is also one of three centers in Slovakia for adult growth hormone treatment. In diabetology, it serves as a center for insulin pump therapy, and in rheumatology, it provides specialized care including biological treatment for resistant inflammatory rheumatic diseases and acute conditions in the region.
Further organizational changes occurred at the 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic on 15 June 2009, when the Clinic of Preventive and Sports Medicine, led at that time by Prof. Daniel Pella, MD, PhD., was incorporated. This department, with history dating back to academic year 1949/1950
(Institute of Sports Medicine, later the Clinic of Sports Medicine), experienced its greatest development under the leadership of Prof. Branislav Bohuš, MD, CSc., who served as head from 1986 to 2006. The emphasis on sports health care was strengthened with the establishment of the Center of Preventive and Sports Medicine, headed by Prof. Daniel Pella, MD, PhD., with deputy MUDr. Miloslav Klíma, during which major modernization of the department took place. To this day, the team annually provides medical care for many major international sporting events, including the oldest European marathon—the Košice Peace Marathon (among the most active are Prof. Branislav Bohuš, MD, CSc., MUDr. Jarmila Platová, and MUDr. Jozef Saba). The clinic also supported other endurance races, such as the International Non-Stop Wuppertal–Košice Run, world half-marathon championships, and cooperated with several international medical organizations responsible for endurance race events.
On 1 January 2010, the 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic moved to Trieda SNP 1, where a Coronary and Arrhythmology Unit was subsequently completed, along with several organizational changes that continued in 2012 with the establishment of the new 1st Internal Medicine Clinic as part of restructuring at the University Hospital L. Pasteur. De jure, the 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic was dissolved; de facto, the former 1st and 3rd clinics were merged.
The current head of the clinic is Prof. Ivica Lazúrová, MD, DrSc., FRCP.
Since 2008, the 1st Internal Medicine Clinic (as well as the former 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic, where the EU PROBIO project was conducted) has been part of the Center of Excellence for Atherosclerosis Research, and many of its staff are investigators in the CEVA I and II projects. The clinic is the guarantor of the accredited continuing education program in internal medicine and endocrinology and participates in postgraduate education in cardiology.
