Maryna Sokolovska, MD, PhD | Ukraine

Maryna Sokolovska, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of
Radiation Oncology
LISOD-Hospital of Israeli Oncology, Kyiv

Maryna Sokolovska, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the LISOD-Hospital of Israeli Oncology in Kyiv, Ukraine. She describes the wonder and horror of her current plight: “Being a radiation oncologist in Ukraine is both rewarding and incredibly challenging. On the one hand, the ability to help patients through such a critical part of their journey is fulfilling. The medical community is highly committed to providing care, even in the most difficult circumstances. However, the ongoing war has dramatically impacted our work and personal lives. Some of our staff members have relocated, and patients are traveling long distances from the frontline regions, sometimes interrupting their treatment due to air raids or blackouts. Despite this, we continue to treat patients during air alerts, and our equipment works thanks to generators during power outages. The constant air raids, day and night, as well as the shelling of hospitals and residential areas, take a toll on both patients and medical staff.”

The threat of mortal danger is never-ending. Occasional lulls in the miasmic tension can be pierced by jolting, disturbing reminders of a frightening reality. One day Dr. Sokolovska arrived at work to see that her clinic had been hit by stray bullets overnight, when a drone was shot down nearby. Had that happened during the day, her story might have a different ending.

Dr. Sokolovska’s department treats about 70 patients daily with external beam radiation therapy, plus a few brachytherapy procedures. There are two Varian linacs: a Clinac 2100, used for 3D and electron treatments, and a Halcyon with CBCT for advanced VMAT treatments. The staff includes four radiation oncologists, two medical physicists, six radiation therapists, and three nurses. The workflow is supported by three administrative assistants who coordinate scheduling and documentation. The department treats all tumor types except pediatric cases. Brachytherapy is primarily performed for gynecological cancers in both definitive and adjuvant settings. Before the war, the clinic actively participated in international clinical trials, including several radiotherapy trials, all of which were halted following the full-scale invasion.

On the second day of the war, Dr. Sokolovska decided to take her two daughters, aged 12 and 14, to a safer region, to her parents’ home in Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. Her home was in a district of Kyiv closest to Bucha and Irpin, which bore the brunt of the fighting. She and her daughters managed to leave in time, but she couldn’t immediately return to Kyiv as the roads were blocked by enemy forces, and cars were being shot at.

Patients with cancer in Ukraine suddenly found themselves in very challenging situations. At the beginning of the war, many doctors left the country with their families, while patients relocated to safer regions. Many patients did not have medical records with them, and some had radiation therapy courses abruptly interrupted. Western regions became overwhelmed, resulting in treatment delays and overloaded equipment. Not all centers had linear accelerators, so some patients had to continue their treatment with cobalt machines.

Dr. Sokolovska was given remote access to her own clinic at LISOD and, together with a colleague who remained, contacted all their patients, reassured them, and helped them with the necessary documentation and information for those traveling to other places. For the remaining patients, they worked with the medical physicists to adjust their plans to more hypofractionated regimens, if possible.

While staying in Ivano-Frankivsk, in the first week, she also volunteered to the war effort, helping to gather supplies for soldiers, knitting camouflage nets, and preparing food for the military. She also contacted the local cancer center to see if she could assist with their high patient flow and became part of their team for the next six months. As that center was less advanced, during that time Dr. Sokolovska helped them improve the treatment planning processes and started performing brachytherapy under sedation. When the situation in Kyiv stabilized, she returned to LISOD.

In her personal life outside the clinic, Dr. Sokolovska finds moments of peace and joy with her family. Although she is traveling less, she enjoys exploring western Ukraine when she can. She loves visiting museums, watching theater, and immersing herself in nature. Sports are also an important part of her life, whether in the gym or swimming with her younger daughter.

In safer times, her family shares a passion for hiking in the mountains and horseback riding, as well as mushroom picking. But these days, simple pleasures have become more valuable — like a quiet walk in the park, enjoying coffee with a friend, watching a movie with family at home, cooking a delicious pizza together, and spending time with loved ones.

In Dr. Sokolovska’s words, “These moments remind me of the beauty of life and help me stay grounded amidst the challenges. War is a time of great personal and professional upheaval, but it also strengthened our resilience and ability to adapt in the face of extreme challenges. The war has shaped my experience as a radiation oncologist, but it has also underscored the importance of hope, solidarity, and continuous care — no matter the circumstances.”