NMRRC in persons. Elena Grigorievna Novikova

Elena Grigorievna Novikova, MD,  Deputy Head of the Department of Tumors of Reproductive and Urinary Organs of the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – branch of the FSBI NMRRC of the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation.

“My patients are mothers, or future mothers. And everything rests on them!”

Elena Grigoryevna has decided to be a doctor at school yet, and therefore she read a lot not only what was asked, but also various literature about medicine. Although the parents were far from this science. Dad is the head of a large metallurgical plant; mom is the director of a music school. An example in the profession was my own aunt, a pediatrician.

  “I was somehow very close to her attitude to the profession and to children,” remembers Elena Grigoryevna. – Once I came across an amazing trilogy about doctors by Yuri German “The Cause You Serve”, and the choice became final.

In 1968, having successfully passed the only exam, a gold medalist from the small Georgian city of Rustavi became a student at The First Medical Institute Named After Sechenov (now – “Sechenov Institute “). She chose her specialization in her second year and dreamed of becoming a pediatric gynecologist. However, fate did not separate her from the favorite direction in medicine, but made its own adjustments.

In her last year of residency, she was noticed by Natalya Ivanova Shuvaeva, professor, head of the department of oncogynecology of the P. Hertsen MORI, who persuaded Elena Grigorievna to go to her as a junior researcher.

  “The day I came to work at the institute, I turned 25,” says Professor Novikova. – I didn’t know whether to talk about the birthday or not, and Natalya Ivanovna asks: well, tell me, Lenochka, what are you fond of?

  – I began to talk about my articles, about foreign magazines, and she says: well, this is understandable, but out of work?

  “I like to bake,” I said, confused.

  “So why didn’t you bake anything for us?”

Everyone laughed, and the next day the department tasted pies from Lena Novikova and learned the secret about the birthday.

  — Natalya Ivanovna could create a favorable, friendly atmosphere in the team, and this is an essential condition for such a profession as oncology. After all, we work in the team,” explains Elena Grigoryevna.

She has only one entry in her workbook. Passed all the stairs from junior researcher to the head of the department, which she headed in 1988, and she is one of the leading specialists in gynecological oncology in Russia. Under the leadership of Elena Grigoryevna, new types of treatment for cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer were developed, which allowed young patients to realize reproductive function after cancer treatment. With the direct participation of Professor E.G. Novikova original highly effective schemes of combined and complex treatment of disseminated forms of malignant neoplasms of the female genital organs were introduced into clinical practice, including the use of the latest methods of antitumor effects and modern chemotherapeutic drugs, for which she was twice awarded State Prizes. In 2008, for special achievements in the development of new organ-preserving approaches in the treatment of oncogynecological diseases, Professor Elena Grigorievna Novikova and the staff of her department were the first at the Institute to be awarded the National Prize “Vocation”.

  – What is the most important thing in the profession? – Elena Grigorievna notices. – Maybe you will be surprised to hear the answer from the surgeon: sympathy, compassion for the patient. Especially for patients like mine. This is a mother, or an expectant mother. And everything rests on them in life. And we simply have to do everything reflects help them stay this way.”

Elena Grigoryevna is the author of more than 450 publications, 15 copyright certificates. Over the years of her pedagogical activities, hundreds of specialists have passed through her hands and today they are successfully working in various medical institutions. And remember her science: compassion for patients. Professor Novikova’s department has always been covered with photographs of happy women with children in their arms, which were born thanks to Elena Grigoryevna.

Press Service of National Medical Research radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation