Oleksandr Stakhovsky MD, Urologist shares his lifestyle and plans

What are your morning rituals? 

Ideally, a run and a quick workout, but that’s in a perfect world without the ongoing war. I still manage to go for a run sometimes, especially when traveling, where I even manage to run daily. However, I struggle to keep up with morning exercise. Coffee (not the healthiest choice either) before a quick five-minute planning session remains my only steady ritual, helping me start the workday with energy.

How do you recharge after a busy day? 

I try not to get overly exhausted, but of course, there are days with multiple treatment centers and dozens of people needing my help, which can be physically and mentally draining. For physical recovery, sports help a lot – recently, it’s been tennis. For mental recharging, I rely on my girls; they always give me a hug, a smile, and lean on my shoulder, and I feel almost fully recharged.

Where do you find inspiration? 

My work is a huge motivator. I’m fortunate to work in healthcare, where people are always looking for someone to guide them through challenging times in life. Supporting patients through diagnosis and treatment, sharing both good and not-so-good news, and celebrating their recovery – it all inspires me to keep practicing medicine despite the unique challenges of working in public healthcare. Of course, private practice now also has the honor of my presence. But it’s the sense of being needed daily, even on weekends, that keeps me going and inspires me to move forward for both my patients and myself.

What was a turning point in your career? 

I remember a particularly tough week during a two-year oncology-urology internship at a Canadian university clinic in Toronto. Misunderstandings with the local system and work relationships, combined with an entirely different culture, put me in a challenging emotional position. But then a simple thought – that Canada isn’t my country, and I’m here to take the best of it back to the society and country that shaped me – shifted my mindset to a positive one. I thought, "This is only temporary; I just need 18 more months of practice with Canadian patients before I can return to Ukraine." Realizing that experiences abroad only make me a better specialist back home gave me a new perspective and purpose. Looking back, I often smile and laugh at those "difficult times" abroad.

What role do travel and exploration play in your life? 

Travel is a way to recharge for both life and work. I love planning trips from start to finish, from route details to experiencing both new and familiar places. Of course, access to travel is limited now, but I believe that right after victory, my wife Alyona and our daughters will embark on a beautiful adventure together. When traveling, I try to immerse myself in local life, taste the food, and learn as much as possible about traditions and culture. As I get older, I pay more attention to how colleagues abroad balance work and family, how societal dynamics shape their free time, and how different cultures approach travel.

How do you find balance between personal and professional life? 

It’s probably the toughest question because, as I mentioned above, people constantly need my help. When you're a doctor, especially with a focus on treating oncology in the urinary system, people don’t hesitate to call after 8 p.m. on a random Saturday or Sunday. I understand their impatience and concerns, but weekends are my time to recharge so I can be effective come Monday. Occasionally, I may come across as curt with particularly persistent patients, but I know that most oncological issues don’t appear overnight or threaten lives in a day. Luckily, I now have an assistant who can screen calls for "life-and-death situations" and schedule appointments at regular times, ensuring everyone feels reassured and satisfied.

What advice would you give to those just starting in the medical field? 

Never stop and work hard. Constantly improve yourself and don’t give up; there will be tough times in a long medical career. There will always be "more successful classmates who are already directors," while you’re still interning. In our country, there is a lack of top-tier specialists, so there’s always an opportunity to become the best and most successful, especially when today’s youth is so focused on life quality, balance, and instant success. Medicine doesn’t happen overnight. I’m confident we’ll overcome the popularity of "Instagram doctors" and "TikTok influencers." When it’s time to trust a doctor with your life, it’s about their education, expertise, and experience – not follower counts. So work hard, learn from the best, especially now when the war has opened doors for Ukrainian doctors to global medical centers. But always come back because Ukraine needs you here, not somewhere else.

What book or podcast have you recently enjoyed and would recommend? 

I recently read This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, a great, humorous insight into the challenges of becoming a doctor in the British NICE system, the same system that influenced healthcare reform in Ukraine. It shows that "the grass isn’t always greener" and that every medical system has its challenges. Having returned from another training in one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world, the U.S., I can confidently say it’s not the best choice for our country. The British NICE model seems optimal for Ukraine, though after reading the book, you’ll see that "we’re all in for some pain" – doctors and patients alike.

What are your goals or plans for the future? 

Work less and spend more time with family. Travel more and watch my children grow. Patients will always be there, as practice shows, but moments that take your breath away with loved ones are worth filling the memory bank with more of than I currently have.