One of the most important professions is a doctor. To study for a long time, to work hard, the responsibility is enormous. But there are people for whom this is not just a profession, but a vocation. For the surgeon of the Zhytomyr Regional Children’s Hospital Dmytro Shevchuk to save children – the mission and the meaning of being
“I would not say that since childhood I knew for sure that I would be a doctor. In fact, I’m the first in a family who went to medicine. Somewhere in high school, some teachers in the classroom of biology said: “It would have been nice if you went to medicine!” And so it was thought to me that in 1996 I entered the medical faculty of the Uzhhorod National University”
“I came from Zhytomyr region, but grew up in Lviv region, I studied in Transcarpathia, and I returned to Zhytomyr region, where I was born. After studying, they were sent to the Olevsk Central Hospital as a children’s surgeon, but since there was no base for pediatric surgery, I passed an internship in Zhytomyr Regional Children’s Hospital. So then here and there “(Smiling)

“Surgery is an alternative to creative medicine. After all, here their knowledge can be applied not only in theory, but also in practice: you know, diagnose and implement it – this is an extraordinary process! In general, I like operating surgeries in general. Physically, I’m tired when I work, but my thoughts are all in the work, and from this I get enormous satisfaction. Another, of course, adds strength when everything happens to you, because the right conditions are created: there is special equipment, the necessary support, and of course, a good professional team with whom you work. In this we are fortunate enough”
“Children’s surgery is most grateful among surgical specialties. I do not mean the material side. Material, apparently, is on the last place. I’m that when you did everything correctly, then this baby will rise and play after the operation. And for us it is the best sign that everything is done right”
“The smile of the patient is the most appreciated. That’s the day he came to his patient, greet him with his arm (an adult boy he was seven years old!) says: “It’s you!” – And he gives me a bracelet made by myself specifically for me. Of course, it’s nice! And drawings are often painted. And the main thing is everything from the heart, from the pure heart”

“We are always trying to establish friendly relations with our young patients. The main thing is that the children are not afraid of you, because often parents themselves scare doctors: “From now on you will have a prick!” And they are already coming frightened that they will offend them now, to hurt. And when you masturbate with them, they will tell you anything, and then it’s much easier to diagnose the disease. Of course, pediatrics and pediatric surgery are much more difficult in terms of diagnosis, because it is not always a child, and even less so, it tells what symptoms, as the disease began and developed”
“I had several patients, who crossed in other medical institutions. Their parents also said: “You do not do nonsense, these children will not do anything, they will forever remain disabled!”. And when these children eventually come to us, on their feet, are good at school, active and fun, then, of course, it is very happy to see it. And it inspires. You understand that your efforts did not go away for anything, but you managed to do something that someone seemed impossible“

“The rhythm is enormous, it’s impossible to plan your day. I always come to work; I leave it later, every Saturday I’m here. If it is a complicated operation, then I can come to the child in the daytime and at night! Of course, I have to sacrifice my family, but my wife also has a doctor, my daughter in the future, like me, wants to be a child surgeon, so they are accustomed to my schedule, and they know that work is in my first place ”
“Education at a medical university is 6 years, after that internship. When I graduated from the university, internship in pediatric surgery was a year and a half, and now three. In Poland, for example, there are seven. But again, in Europe, internship is at least longer, but the social security of the intern is much higher than ours. Therefore, now in medicine there are only fans of their business, people who are in love with medicine”

“Unfortunately, now the main financing goes to maintenance, not to the development of state medicine. It is wages, utilities. And all maintenance, repairs lay on our shoulders: somewhere we ourselves, somewhere the parents will help, sometimes benefactors. As they say, with the world on the thread »
“In medicine, standing in place means moving back”

“I now communicate with many foreign doctors. Their level, related to the technical features of the provision of children’s surgery, has rapidly jerked forward. Transplantation – this is no longer considered a higher aerobatics. Practically everything is transposed. In each country, each surgical center that respects itself has a transplant department. Similarly, robotic surgery: when the surgeon is not at the patient, and is sitting next to the office, he has a special device, and he, as in a computer game, controls the joysticks, and on the screen sees what he is doing. It’s physically easier. And now It’s no longer supernatural! Therefore, on this background, we are lagging behind. It is sad that our progress is tumultuous in place. But with all this, our region is a leader in laparoscopic and non-invasive interventions. We are among the first in Ukraine who started doing it. At our base, the branch of the Department of the Kyiv Academy of Postgraduate Education was first opened, and then we reorganized into the clinical base of the Department of Pediatric Surgery of NMAPE. Doctors from all over Ukraine come to us and we work with them together in the field of laparoscopy”
“Zhytomyr is, first and foremost, calm. When I come to Kyiv for business, this crazy rhythm of life … I want to resolve all issues as soon as possible and return to my hometown. You come, and here is a completely different life: calm, measured. I do not say it’s a province. No! But here’s just another rhythm of life”
P.S. Best wishes and greetings from the Day of Health Worker to all the representatives of this noble profession! Sincerely, Zhytomyr.Travel
Translated by Aliona Matushevich