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Dr Vasily Pasichnyk

Pasichnyk Vasily

Areas of Interest

Health Care

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences, 2014

Biography

Dr Pasichnyk is a physician, researcher, humanitarian, and Director of the Centre for Social Rehabilitation of Disabled Children in Chernihiv, Ukraine, who gained an international reputation for his ability to treat children with problems caused by the after-effects of the Chernobyl disaster which happened in 1986.

In 1998 he was awarded the distinction of Honoured Doctor of Ukraine; in 2005 he was a recipient of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise; and in 2011 was awarded the Jubilee Medal - 20 Years of Independence of Ukraine.

Dr Pasichnyk's relationship with our region began in the mid-1990s through a link with local charity - Felsted Aid for Deprived Children - and later he was introduced to Anglia Ruskin through our chaplain, the Reverend Tony Cant, resulting in our own Mission Ukraine trip for students, staff and alumni, who spent two weeks volunteering in the centre in March 2013.



Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Dr Vasily Pasichnyk for the award of Doctor of Health Sciences, honoris causa.

Dr Pasichnyk is a physician, researcher, humanitarian, and Director of the Centre for Social Rehabilitation of Disabled Children in Chernihiv, Ukraine.

Born in a small village in the Volyn region of Ukraine, Dr Pasichnyk studied paediatrics at Lviv State Medical Institute and began his professional career as a district paediatrician in Volhynia. His practical work combined with research activities. Shortly after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Health Department of Maternal and Child Health in the Chernihiv region - a role in which he proved himself not only a skilled clinician, but also a highly efficient administrator. Motivated by his experiences working with children during the aftermath of the disaster, he and his wife began developing a revolutionary approach to caring for children with complex medical conditions, one that promoted care of the whole child.

In the early 1990s the husband and wife team turned their attentions to developing a holistic rehabilitation centre where children and their families could stay in a residential setting. It took five years for the Pasichnyks' vision to be realised, and they faced a great many challenges along the way, but in 1996 the first centre of complex rehabilitation in Ukraine was opened. Today, the centre has a staff of more than 100 trained healthcare professionals, including paediatricians, children neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, dentists and many other specialists focused on the care and rehabilitation of children.

Dr Pasichnyk has gained an international reputation for his ability to treat children with problems caused by the after-effects of the Chernobyl incident. He continues to deliver research papers at conferences around the world. His work has also been widely recognised in his own country. In 1998 he was awarded the distinction of Honoured Doctor of Ukraine; in 2005 he was a recipient of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise; and in 2011 was awarded the Jubilee Medal - 20 Years of Independence of Ukraine.

Dr Pasichnyk's relationship with our region began in the mid-1990s through a link with local charity - Felsted Aid for Deprived Children - and later he was introduced to Anglia Ruskin through our chaplain, the Reverend Tony Cant. The relationship has blossomed, resulting in our own Mission Ukraine trip for students, staff and alumni, who spend two weeks each year volunteering in the centre. The first trip took place in March 2013, and for both students and staff it proved to be a life-changing experience, with all involved agreeing that Dr Pasichnyk - or Dr P as he is affectionately known - is an inspirational role model.

Over many years, Dr Pasichnyk has had a significant, positive influence on the lives of thousands of disabled Ukrainian children and their families and he has achieved a significant reduction in infant mortality in the Chernihiv region. We are delighted to recognise his achievements, his tireless dedication and the sacrifices he has made and look forward to continuing to build closer links between Anglia Ruskin and the Centre for Social Rehabilitation of Disabled Children in Ukraine.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Dr Vasily Pasichnykfor the award of Doctor of Health Sciences, honoris causa."