To the memory of professor Rafail Boyko - to 90 years anniversary

The article is devoted to the biography of professor Rafail Boyko, Doctor of medical sciences, histologist, endocrinologist, Learner of Professor Boris Alyoshin, who made a significant contribution to the teaching of histology, embryology and cytology in soviet medical schools in the second half of the 20th century. He headed the Department of Histology and Embryology of the Izhevsk State Medical Institute (1972-1977), the Department of Histology and Embryology of the Kursk State Medical Institute (1977-1980), the Department of Physiology of the Kherson State University (1981-1995). Professor Rafail Boyko had a significant impact on the development of scientific morphological research and the formation of the scientific community in Russia and Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to restore the history of the formation of Russian science and the scientific morphological school of the outstanding Russian histologists Boris Lavrentiev - Boris Alyoshin, analysis of the scientific works of Professor Rafail Boyko, determination of his contribution to the development of the scientific community of morphologists and endocrinologists in Russia and Ukraine and to the system of higher medical education. The subject of the research in the article was the scientific biography of the scientist, histologist, physiologist and endocrinologist Rafail Boyko, one of the representatives of the famous scientific morphological school of histology. The object of the study was the scientific work of Rafail Boyko in 60th - 70th of 20th century. The research methods are based on comparative-historical, biographical, historical-scientific and documentary-retrospective research methods. The authors of the article prove the contribution of Professor Rafail Boyko in the development of the scientific community of morphologists and endocrinologists in Russia and Ukraine, in the structure and function of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and peripheral endocrine glands, in the development of histochemical and immunochemical research methods. He became one of the first researchers who stained and described the structure of adenohypophysis cells synthesizing adrenocorticotropic hormone. Authors show the contribution of Rafail Boyko in the development of the system of higher medical education in Russia and research centers in Ukraine and that the results of published scientific research by Professor Rafail Boyko are relevant at the present time.