Priorov, Nikolai

Born May 29 (June 10), 1885, in the city of Shenkursk, now in Arkhangel’sk Oblast; died Apr. 15, 1961, in Moscow. Soviet orthopedic traumatologist. Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR (1957), Honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1942). Member of the CPSU from 1946.

In 1912, Priorov graduated from the medical faculty of the University of Tomsk. In 1921, together with Professor V. N. Rozanov, he founded the Institute of Therapeutic Prosthesis, which in 1940 was renamed the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics. Priorov headed the institute from its creation until his death, and in 1971 it was named after him. In 1931 he became head of the subdepartment of traumatology and orthopedics of the Central Institute for the Advanced Training of Physicians. From 1945 to 1947, Priorov was deputy minister of public health of the USSR and chairman of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Public Health of the USSR. His principal works were on the organization of traumatological and orthopedic care, arthroplasty, prevention of traumata of the locomotor system, prosthetics, military field surgery, and rehabilitation. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.