SSMU was started as an academy and with high results and great performance; the government of Russia raised the level of SSMU from an academy to a university. So in the March 2015, the name of the organization was changed from "Smolensk State Medical Academy" to "Smolensk State Medical University". Smolensk State Medical University uses a curriculum which is designed as per the international standards. Russian degrees have gained global recognition, and topped UNESCO and WHO ratings.