The Donetsk Regional Council, in connection with the “Order of St. Panteleimon” award, is pleased to announce the winners of the regional selection round for the 2025–2026 season.
True medicine is not just about knowledge and technique; it is the ability to feel another person’s pain and have the will to walk the path of recovery alongside them. Today we introduce you to the winner of the regional selection, a nominee for the highest public award for medical professionals in the “Heart of Medicine” category, Dmytro Tarapaka, a senior nurse in the rehabilitation department of the Regional Clinical Traumatology Hospital.
Dmytro’s journey in medicine began in neurosurgery, where he worked with the most complex cases: strokes and brain surgeries. This challenge became the impetus to create something greater. Dmytro is not just a physical therapist’s assistant; he is one of the “architects” of the new 20-bed rehabilitation department. The physician took a personal role in building the team and setting up the space where patients get a second chance at a full life.
Over the course of his work, more than 400 patients have already received help from Dmytro. But the numbers aren’t what matters most.
“What inspires me most is the moment when a person who was bedridden gets up for the first time and starts walking on their own. Seeing those first steps is a feeling that nothing can replace,” Dmytro shares.
His daily work is a complex process that combines:
- Physical rehabilitation: restoring strength, coordination, and mobility.
- Working with families: teaching the patient’s loved ones how to provide proper care and perform exercises at home.
- Psychological support: motivating those who have lost hope, because the patient’s belief accounts for 50% of success.
The world of medicine changes every day, and Dmytro changes with it. Even as he completes his master’s degree and prepares to become a certified physical therapist, he is constantly learning. His repertoire includes dozens of courses: from tropocollagen therapy to the highly complex issues of rehabilitating military personnel under martial law.
Dmytro Tarapaka is an example of how the young generation of Ukrainian medical professionals combines an innovative approach with deep compassion. His work is a heart that beats in rhythm with every patient taking their first step toward recovery.
Based on materials from the Donetsk Regional Council of the Order of St. Panteleimon