The article is devoted to the study of the R&D sector directions development in the system of Russian medical higher education in the context of digitalization. The conducted research has made it possible to substantiate the timeliness and importance of solving problems of improving of medical services quality against the background of the need for medical professionals to systematically master breakthrough digital technologies in current medical practice. This makes it particularly important to ensure the effectiveness of R&D in the Russian higher medical education system in the context of digitalization. The main models of the organization of activities in the field of R&D are characterized, taking into account sources of financing and staffing. Based on online surveys of students in Google docs on the problem of attitudes towards the prospect of their further participation in R&D during and after graduation, a rather weak degree of students’ motivation to engage in R&D during their studies at the university was revealed, which is justified by the lack of clarity of the prospects for their monetary remuneration. Along with this, the research revealed a fairly high degree of interest among students in mastering breakthrough digital technologies in order to further apply them in medical practice together with the latest medical technologies.