Pediatric surgeon Yuriy Kolivoshka experienced firsthand how domestic medicine falls behind systems like Canada’s. The Lviv-based doctor had the opportunity to train at SickKids, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals in Toronto. Upon returning to Ukraine, Kolivoshka implemented the knowledge he gained abroad. Thanks to this collaboration with SickKids, Lviv’s Municipal Children’s Clinical Hospital acquired advanced medical equipment. SickKids specialists also invite Ukrainian doctors for training and provide surgical care for Ukrainian children. This article explores Yuriy Kolivoshka’s journey to becoming a pediatric surgeon and the challenges he faced while training in Toronto. More on itoronto.
Who Is Yuriy Kolivoshka and How Did He End Up in Toronto?
Yuriy Kolivoshka was born into a humble family. His parents worked in a factory, and there were no medical professionals in the family. However, they supported their son’s aspiration to become a pediatric doctor.
As a teenager, Yuriy spent two years in the United States as part of an exchange program. There, he met a family of Ukrainian descent who lived in a small American town but spoke little Ukrainian. Yuriy often translated letters for them from Ukraine. The family’s matriarch, a nurse, promised to help Ukraine and kept her word. In 1997, the Municipal Children’s Clinical Hospital in Lviv received medical equipment from American donors. Sixteen-year-old Yuriy Kolivoshka served as a translator during the handover of equipment and observed surgeons at work. Inspired by their skill, he decided to pursue a medical career. He earned his degree in pediatrics from Lviv National Medical University named after Danylo Halytsky.
One day, Yuriy learned about a visit to Lviv by Dr. Myroslava Romakh, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She was proposing collaboration opportunities in Canada. Seeing a chance, Kolivoshka sought to contact her. Despite skepticism from his colleagues, his efforts paid off. After receiving a response from renowned neurosurgeon Dr. James Rutka, Yuriy left for training in Toronto in 2014.
Impressions of SickKids Hospital in Toronto
Yuriy’s initial training at SickKids lasted a month. During this time, he observed surgeries and studied every detail of hospital operations. One day, Dr. Agostino Pierro, the head of the department, approached him with an offer to return to Toronto for a year-long training program. Yuriy enthusiastically accepted the news and returned to Canada a year later.
This time, the preparation was more intensive, requiring numerous documents and approvals since he would now be allowed to practice medicine. During the training, Kolivoshka performed complex surgeries and gained hands-on experience from leading experts. Initially, he familiarized himself with the hospital’s procedures and later began performing surgeries under close supervision. His colleagues monitored his technique for drawing blood, interacting with patients, and preparing them for surgery. Gradually, restrictions were lifted as Kolivoshka proved his skills and successfully completed the first stage of his training.
After completing the program, Yuriy Kolivoshka received a postgraduate certificate from the University of Toronto. Equipped with extensive knowledge, he returned to Ukraine, where he now performs surgeries on young patients. He remains optimistic about the future of Ukrainian medicine. Toronto’s specialists taught him to love his work not for financial gain but for the sake of the children he serves.