Education & Career

Medical Education

1990–1995: Faculty of Medicine, Ternopil Medical Institute (now I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University). 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 Fellowships

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

Academic Degree & Title

• 2006: Candidate of Medical Sciences (specialty: Surgery).
• Honoured Doctor of Ukraine.
• Associate Professor — academic rank (attestation certificate pending client verification for full documentation).

Doctoral Studies (2024–2025)

Since 2024–2025, enrolled in the doctoral programme at Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine (NUOZ). 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. Savoliuk S. I., Valikhnovski R. L. Correction of scar deformity of the frontal region: surgical methods and results of original research. Hospital Surgery. L. Ya. Kovalchuk Journal, 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., Savoliuk 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., Savoliuk S. I. Surgical tactics and treatment outcomes for 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-standing facial nerve paralysis. Hospital Surgery. L. Ya. Kovalchuk Journal, 2025, No. 3, pp. 18–29.
   DOI: 10.11603/2414-4533.2025.3.15623
7. Valikhnovski R. L., Savoliuk 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 this 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. Savoliuk; one with N. B. Brodovska.

Surgical and Institutional Career

• 1998: Founded the Valikhnovski Surgery Institute (Kyiv).
• 2004: Joined the Ukrainian medical team 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" emergency system implementation at the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine.
• Since 2012: Head of Valikhnovski M.D. medical holding; continues to lead the Surgery Institute.

Public Medical Activity

• Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (UAPRES).
• Organizer of Kyiv Global Surgery Congress.
• Development of legislation for the "112" emergency response system (period 2010–2012).

International Professional Affiliations

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

Educational Activity — Valikhnovski Academy

Since the start of the full-scale war, Rostyslav Valikhnovski launched Valikhnovski Academy (valikhnovski-academy.com) — an online educational platform for physicians. Audience: medical students, interns, practicing physicians.

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

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

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

Named Scholarship at TNMU (since 18 November 2025)

On 18 November 2025, Rostyslav Valikhnovski signed an agreement with Ternopil National Medical University named after I. Ya. Horbachevsky establishing the Dr. Valikhnovski Named Scholarship — for students with the highest academic achievements whose parents died for Ukraine. Scholarship recipients additionally receive complimentary participation in Valikhnovski Academy, practical experience through observation and assisting, and preparation for international examinations.

Public Medical Activity

• Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (UAPRES).
• Organizer of Kyiv Global Surgery Congress. In 2017, he held the first presentation in Ukraine of European protocols and standards of surgical care; top surgeons from 12 countries participated.
• Development of legislation for the "112" emergency response system (Draft Law №9074 dated 26 August 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 physicians in Volyn.
2. Education in Ternopil (1990–1995) — medical institute with honors.
3. Shalimov period (1997–1998) — internship in general surgery in the capital.
4. Canadian fellowships — intensive care (Ottawa) and plastic surgery (HFI Clinic Toronto).
5. Institute founding (1998) — private reconstructive specialization as primary brand.
6. Presidential medical team (2004–2010) — entered state elite medicine through treatment of President Yushchenko.
7. Government 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 Hospitals for Children Boston.
9. Educational engine (2022+) — Valikhnovski Academy / SurginomX.
10. Social mission and spirituality (2019–2025) — deacon 2019, archpriest 2020, "Spiritual Immunity" project, scholarship at TNMU.

President Viktor Yushchenko's Team — Details

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

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

• The clinic's official website states that Valikhnovski, together with an international team, performed approximately 30 plastic reconstructive surgeries on the President's face.
• In a 2016 interview with BUG, Valikhnovski said: "After Yushchenko's poisoning, I performed six facial reconstruction surgeries on him" — referring to 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, verifying his involvement in the scientific aspect of this case.

State Service 2008–2012

During Viktor Yushchenko's presidency, Valikhnovski held positions in state institutions:

• 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 the highest state officials.
• 2010–2012 — after the presidential transition, he joined the Ministry of Emergency Situations: advisor to the Minister on emergency medicine, head of the department implementing the "112" system. This is the Ukrainian analogue of the American "9-1-1" service, implemented nationwide (Law №9074 of 26 August 2011, passed by the Verkhovna Rada). According to clinic records, by 2012 the "112" system was operational in Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv oblasts during Euro-2012.

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