Borys Ledoshchuk M.D., P.h.D

Professor Borys Oleksandrovych Ledoshchuk, Doctor of Medicine, died after a long and serious illness on Friday, aged 76. He devoted his entire life to his profession, to scientific research, educational, and professional activities. His road map started from post-World War II birth on the island of Sakhalin. He graduated from a higher medical institution in Blagoveshchensk (Amur Region, ex-USSR). As a medical professional and as a talented and promising researcher he asserted himself through his clinical residency and postgraduate medical university studies. He got internship and practice training in the best medical institutions of the former USSR, including Institute of Gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital of the Fourth Main Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Health, Leningrad Institute for Professional Upgrading of Doctors (GIDUV), Kyiv Institute of Postgraduate Education, Institute of Biophysics, Leningrad Radiation Protection Institute, Kyiv Bohomolets Medical Institute.

Professor Ledoshchuk has spent most of his creative life holding various posts - starting from a hospital physician, head of hospital department, Head Doctor of Regional Hospital in the City of Mykolaiv (Ukraine), and up to Deputy Head of Chief Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, and Head of Directorate of Medicine and Sanitation for Nuclear Power and Uranium Industry of Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy. He successfully combined his medical research studies with educational activities. Borys headed a laboratory at the Radiation Medicine Research Centre of Ukrainian Academy of Medical Science for 17 years, and he led the Department of Professional Upgrading for Top Public Health Managerial Personnel at Bohomolets National Medical University in Kyiv, Ukraine.

His path is not strewn with roses; instead, it was hard everyday work, a long and difficult journey, and Borys was creative at every stage of his life; his originality of approach to scientific research and education programs led him to great results and original solutions. Each new stage of his life changed the usual style and security of his living.

We felt confident under his care and protection, behind his mighty shoulders, in his reliable strong hands. Professor Ledoshchuk did not avoid hot spots and hottest events. He was an active researcher of the problems concerning adaptation of Baikal-Amur Railway construction workers as well as residents of north regions to extreme living conditions. He also headed scientific research expeditions of the USSR Academy of Medical Science along the route of Baikal-Amur Railway in Siberia.

Borys introduced new methods of medical diagnostics, he created endoscopy centres in Amur and Mykolaiv Regions of the country. Further, he was an active promoter of medical information technologies, and his Internet lectures have been translated into many languages of the world.

As a professional who participated in mitigation of Chernobyl disaster consequences from the first day Professor Ledoshchuk did a lot of good for minimization of Chernobyl medical effects. Jointly with his colleagues. Borys designed and developed schedules for purposeful screening and medical

examination as well as fundamentals for rehabilitation of injured Chernobyl disaster relief workers and residents. For more than 10 years he headed a Ukrainian epidemiology team within the framework of joint US-Ukrainian ‘Leukemia’ Project; the project was based on professor’s understanding of radiation medicine, the effects of ionizing radiation on Chernobyl disaster ‘liquidators’. What is more, in the post-Chernobyl period Professor Ledoshchuk made a great contribution to creation of All-Union (subsequently Ukrainian national) Register of Chernobyl Victims and medical monitoring. For many years he was an expert in international projects, a member of Academic Councils, approbation councils, editorial boards of research and practice journals. Borys participated in many research projects and international conferences in Vienna, Tokyo, Tbilisi, Washington, New York, Berlin, Dusseldorf, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Dushanbe. He published more than 200 scientific research publications, including ten monographs; he is an author of more than 50 innovative proposals and patents. He continued to study and surprise his peers with new knowledge at any age.

It has been a long and difficult journey, and Professor Ledoshchuk proved his worth through his high level of personal responsibility. Whenever he worked he made long lasting friends among the workers and staff. Further, he was a caring, loving husband, Dad, and Grandad.

This is a huge loss to his family and loved ones. Although he is no more among us, he will live in our minds and hearts forever as an example of courage, love to the native land Ukraine, and total devotion in all circumstances.