The article presents the biography of Heinrich Khristoforovich Aue, the founder of the Department of Operative and Clinical Surgery with Topographic Anatomy named after S.A. Simbirtsev at North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov. H.Kh. Aue began his career as a senior clinical assistant, implementing a special surgical training program. Its distinguishing feature was a detailed analysis of each stage of the operation on corpses with the necessary anatomical explanations. On 22-nd of September 1920 along with the opening of the «Department of Operative Surgery with operations on the corpse» H.Kh. Aue became its first head. Throughout his entire career, in addition to active scientific work, he put into practice the idea that surgical anatomy should be taught by a surgeon. Present days the staff of the department continues to maintain the high standard of medical education set by Heinrich Khristoforovich Aue.