Education & Career

Medical Education

1990–1995: Faculty of General Medicine, Ternopil Medical Institute (now Ternopil National Medical University named after I. Ya. Horbachevsky). Graduated with honours (red diploma).

1997–1998: Internship in General Surgery at the National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology (Kyiv).

2005–2006: Advanced training at the Institute of General and Emergency Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkiv).

International Training

• Intensive Care — Ottawa, Canada.
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — HFI Clinic, Toronto, Canada.

Academic Degrees & Titles

• 2006: Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine (PhD) (specialty: Surgery).
• Honoured Doctor of Ukraine.
• Associate Professor — academic title (attestation certificate pending from client for full verification).

Doctoral Studies (2024–2025)

Since 2024–2025, enrolled in doctoral studies at Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine (NUOZU). Specialty to be confirmed.

Scientific Bibliography (2025) — Reconstructive Surgery Series

Seven peer-reviewed publications in 2025 in Ukrainian specialist medical journals; each with DOI. Topics — reconstructive surgery of the face and head: scars, neurofibromas, eyelids, rhinophyma, nasal dorsum, facial nerve paralysis.

1. Valikhnovski R. L. Methods for improving treatment outcomes in patients with keloid scars on the face. Clinical Anatomy and Operative Surgery, 2025, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 20–26.
   DOI: 10.24061/1727-0847.24.2.2025.20 · PDF
2. Savolyuk S. I., Valikhnovski R. L. Correction of scar deformity of the frontal region: surgical methods and results of own research. Hospital Surgery. Journal Named After L. Ya. Kovalchuk, 2025, No. 2, pp. 83–89.
   DOI: 10.11603/2414-4533.2025.2.15396 · Article
3. Valikhnovski R. L. Clinical case of lower eyelid ectropion treatment using polypropylene mesh materials. Bukovinian Medical Herald, 2025, Vol. 29, No. 2 (114), pp. 80–90.
   DOI: 10.24061/2413-0737.29.1 · PDF
4. Valikhnovski R. L., Savolyuk S. I., Brodovska N. B. Combination of electrosurgical and laser methods in the treatment of rhinophyma. Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 2025, Vol. 24, No. 2 (92), pp. 82–89.
   DOI: 10.24061/1727-4338.XXIV.2.92.2025.12 · Article
5. Valikhnovski R. L., Savolyuk S. I. Surgical tactics and treatment outcomes of head neurofibromas: clinical experience. Achievements of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2025, No. 3, pp. 85–95.
   DOI: 10.11603/1811-2471.2025.v.i3.15555 · Article
6. Valikhnovski R. L. Efficacy of static reconstructive methods in the treatment of long-term facial nerve paralysis. Hospital Surgery. Journal Named After L. Ya. Kovalchuk, 2025, No. 3, pp. 18–29.
   DOI: 10.11603/2414-4533.2025.3.15623
7. Valikhnovski R. L., Savolyuk S. I. Features of surgical tactics in nasal dorsum reconstruction. Clinical Anatomy and Operative Surgery, 2025, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 36–42.
   DOI: 10.24061/1727-0847.24.3.2025.38 · PDF

The disciplinary core of the series is reconstructive surgery of the head and neck: topics range from basic scar deformities to more complex neurogenic and oncological cases. Four of the seven articles are co-authored with S. I. Savolyuk; one with N. B. Brodovska.

Surgical and Institutional Career

• 1998: Founded Valikhnovski Surgery Institute (Kyiv).
• 2004: Joined the team of Ukrainian physicians treating President Viktor Yushchenko after dioxin poisoning.
• 2005–2010: Personal physician to President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko.
• 2008–2010: Deputy Head of the State Administration of Affairs of the President of Ukraine.
• 2010–2012: Adviser to the Minister of Emergency Situations of Ukraine, Head of Emergency Medicine Department and "112" System Implementation at the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine.
• From 2012: Head of Valikhnovski M.D. medical holding, continues to lead the Surgery Institute.

Public Medical Activity

• Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (VAPREKH).
• Organizer of Kyiv Global Surgery Congress.
• Development of the law on the "112" emergency response system (period 2010–2012).

International Professional Connections

• Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard) — joint operations for Ukrainian children with cleft palate ("cleft lip") and research on this pathology (since 2019).
• Discovery Channel BODY BIZARRE — partnership since 2013. Valikhnovski's team, among other cases, cured a patient with rare Madelung syndrome.
• MASC Congress — "diamond partner" status.

Educational Activity — Valikhnovski Academy

Since the onset of full-scale war, Rostyslav Valikhnovski has developed Valikhnovski Academy (valikhnovski-academy.com) — an online educational platform for physicians. Audience: students, residents, practicing doctors.

Format: online + offline, continuous access, daily live broadcasts from the operating room. Content: surgeries, lectures, preparation for international exams (USMLE, PLAB, ATLS).

Public metrics (as of November 2025 — according to the statement at the signing of the agreement with TNMU):

• ~1,000 academy participants during the full-scale aggression;
• 200 surgical webinars in English;
• Broadcasting on 5 international platforms for citizens of 40 countries;
• Subscription rates: ₴2,100–3,100/month depending on access duration.

Named Scholarship at TNMU (from 18 November 2025)

On 18 November 2025, Rostyslav Valikhnovski signed an agreement with I. Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University on the Dr. Valikhnovski Named Scholarship — for students who have the best academic performance and whose parents died for Ukraine. Scholarship recipients additionally receive free participation in Valikhnovski Academy, practical experience through observation and assistance, and preparation for international exams.

Public Medical Activity

• Vice President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (VAPREKH).
• Organizer of Kyiv Global Surgery Congress. In 2017, for the first time in Ukraine, presented European protocols and standards of surgical care; participants included top surgeons from 12 countries.
• Development of the law on the "112" emergency response system (Draft Law №9074 dated 26.08.2011, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada).

Career Arc

The traced path of Rostyslav Valikhnovski is not a linear medical career, but a transition through several professional modes:

1. Medical dynasty (1973–1990) — identity formation in a family of doctors in Volyn.
2. Education in Ternopil (1990–1995) — medical institute with honors.
3. Shalimov period (1997–1998) — residency in general surgery in the capital.
4. Canadian fellowships — intensive care (Ottawa) and plastic surgery (HFI Clinic Toronto).
5. Founding of the Institute (1998) — private reconstructive specialization as the core brand.
6. Presidential medical team (2004–2010) — entered state elite medicine through treatment of President Yushchenko.
7. Public service (2008–2012) — Deputy Head of State Administration, then leadership of the "112" system at the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
8. Institutional scaling (2012+) — Valikhnovski M.D. medical holding, new building 2017, KGSC, Harvard/Shriners.
9. Educational engine (2022+) — Valikhnovski Academy / SurginomX.
10. Social mission (2022–2025) — charitable surgery, military reconstruction, named scholarship at TNMU.

President Viktor Yushchenko's Team — Details

In 2004, Valikhnovski was selected to join the team of Ukrainian physicians who treated President Viktor Yushchenko after dioxin poisoning (2,3,7,8-TCDD toxin). In 2005, he was appointed as the President's personal physician; this role continued until 2010.

According to the clinic's data and Valikhnovski's own statements:

• The clinic's official website states that Valikhnovski, together with an international team, performed approximately 30 plastic reconstructive facial surgeries on the President.
• In a 2016 interview with BUG, Valikhnovski stated: "After Yushchenko's poisoning, I performed six facial reconstruction surgeries on him" — this represents his personal contribution to a specific subset of interventions.

Scientific context: on 3 October 2009, The Lancet published the article "2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) poisoning in Victor Yushchenko: identification and measurement of TCDD metabolites" (Sorg O., Zennegg M., Schmid P., Fedosyuk R., Valikhnovskyi R., Gaide O., Kniazevych V., Saurat J.-H., Lancet 374(9696):1179–1185, DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60912-0). Valikhnovski is a co-author of this international peer-reviewed publication, which verifies his involvement in the scientific aspect of this case.

Public Service 2008–2012

During Viktor Yushchenko's presidency, Valikhnovski served in government structures:

• 2008–2010 — Deputy Head of the State Administration of Affairs of the President (Decree №11/2008). A position combining political trust with medical expertise in serving senior government officials.
• 2010–2012 — following the change of President, he transitioned to the Ministry of Emergency Situations: Adviser to the Minister on Emergency Medicine, Head of Department implementing the "112" system. This is the Ukrainian equivalent of the American "9-1-1" service, implemented at the national level (Law №9074 of 26.08.2011, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada). According to the clinic's data, in 2012 the "112" system was operational in Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Lviv regions during Euro-2012.

This phase is significant because it combined private surgical practice with national emergency medicine infrastructure. In Valikhnovski's public profile, this forms the context for his current role — reconstruction + public health + physician education.