“REBOOT” OF UKRAINIAN MEDICINE: CARPE DIEM

Abstract

Thoughts of Borys Bilynsky, a known Ukrainian oncologist, surgeon, and public figure, about medical transformations in Ukraine. He was born on 16 July 1933 in Zbarazh in a doctor’s family. In 1950, he finished School No. 8 in Lviv and in 1956 graduated from Lviv Medical Institute. He worked as a practical doctor – a surgeon – and as a research fellow at HematologyResearch Institute. Since 1967 he has held different positions at Lviv Medical University: of an associate professor, professor, head of the oncology chair, vice-rector for clinical work and research. In 1963, he presented his candidate and in 1973 doctoral dissertation. He completed post-graduate courses in Kyiv (oncology in 1957, thoracic surgery in 1963) and Moscow (medical genetics, 1967). As a visiting professor, he delivered lectures in oncology at the universities of Accra (Ghana, Africa), New-York, Philadelphia, Harvard (USA), and London (UK). He is an active member of the New York Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Higher Education of Ukraine, and Shevchenko Scientific Society. He bears such honorable titles as a “Merited Figure of Science and Technology of Ukraine”, and a merited professor of Kyiv Institute of Oncology and Lviv Medical University. He has participated in all Ukrainian National Oncological Congresses since 1957, in three World Oncological Congresses and in numerous national and international scientific meetings. Bilynsky is the author of 500 printed publications, among them 20 monographs including the first handbook of oncology in Ukrainian (1992). He has supervised 26 dissertations, among them 4 for a doctoral degree. During the struggle for independence of Ukraine, he took an active political position being a member of “Rukh”, and a member of the Regional Council (Lviv Rada). He has been decorated with several governmental and public orders. During the 2004 presidential elections, he was a confidential agent of Viktor Yushchenko. Now he is actively teaching foreign students of the oncology chair.

Keywords

• oncology, medical education, scientific school, postgradued education, research