Taras Maslyak — the chief physician of the Central Clinical Hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk, who has been heading this multidisciplinary medical institution for over 15 years. His life path is a combination of medical mission and active support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Doctor at War: Frontline Doctor's Experience
Taras Maslyak spent four years in the zone of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, working as a surgeon, head of the medical unit, and deputy head of the hospital. "We saved very many lives of Ukrainian soldiers," — he recalls. During his years of service, he witnessed hundreds of cases of severe military injuries, which provided him with invaluable experience that he now applies in civilian medicine.
Central Clinical Hospital: Development and Challenges
Under Taras Maslyak's leadership, his hospital conducts from 14,000 to 16,000 operations each year, including about 300 open-heart surgeries. There is a transplantation department that already performs kidney transplants from relatives, and now they are preparing for the transplantation of a heart-lung complex.
"We are a small rural-city hospital," — jokes Mr. Taras, explaining that many residents of villages and internally displaced persons, who have not received quality medical care for years, are treated here. Also, 30% of the hospital staff serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, the facility has welcomed many medical professionals who moved from frontline regions and found employment here.
Partnership with the USA: Medical Cooperation
The war has significantly complicated healthcare funding in Ukraine, so the doctor is actively seeking international partners. He has been in the USA before: as early as 2013, he studied there in the field of health insurance and military practice.
"I want to establish contacts with clinics in the USA so that our doctors can undergo training. They have unique experience in treating military injuries, which will also be useful for American specialists," — says Maslyak. He also emphasizes the importance of developing cardiac surgery, transplantation, and rehabilitation in Ukraine.
Assistance from US Doctors
Mr. Taras recalls two major missions by doctors from Chicago and New York who worked in Ukraine. "These were plastic surgeons, cardiac surgeons, rheumatologists. One mission consisted of 12 doctors from various cities in the USA, including Washington," — he recounts.
Currently, Maslyak invites American colleagues to collaborate, as Ukraine faces a significant need for specialists and opportunities for experience exchange. "If there are volunteer doctors, we will gladly accept them. We handle many cases of military injuries, and we are ready to share our knowledge," — the doctor concludes.
Taras Maslyak is an example of a doctor who not only saves lives but also builds the future of Ukrainian medicine by creating new opportunities even in the most challenging times.
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