This article commemorates the 75th anniversary of Professor Bekbolat Zholdin, a distinguished alumnus and long-serving faculty member of Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University. Since 1979, he has devoted his career to the university, progressing from assistant and associate professor to Dean of the Faculty of Physician Training, and ultimately to Head and Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine No. 2.
Professor Zholdin has made substantial contributions to both medicine and medical education. He earned his PhD in Moscow in 1998 and was awarded the academic title of professor in 2007. He played a key role in establishing Kazakhstan’s first regional cardiac surgery center and has actively participated in the leadership of professional medical societies. Over his career, he has trained more than 100 medical residents, fellows, and PhD students. As Principal Investigator, he has led several international studies, including the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, EUROASPIRE V, and the ESC EORP Heart Failure III Registry. His scholarly output includes more than 300 scientific publications, some of which have appeared in prestigious journals such as The Lancet and Nature. He is ranked among Kazakhstan’s top 1,000 scientists and, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national science and intellectual development, he was awarded the "Parasat" Order by Presidential Decree in 2023.
Now approaching his 75th birthday, Professor Zholdin remains actively engaged in clinical, educational, and research activities. He continues to conduct daily clinical rounds, mentor residents, master’s and PhD students, and lead the EUROASPIRE VI study on chronic coronary syndrome epidemiology. He is also spearheading the development of heart failure and acute coronary syndrome registries in the West Kazakhstan region. As Director of the Aktobe Branch of the Kazakhstan Society of Cardiologists, he organizes regular master classes and workshops for practicing physicians, leaving a lasting legacy in Kazakhstan’s healthcare and medical education landscape.
Keywords: Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University, history, anniversary, Zholdin