Ukrainian Doctors Find New Life In Pei As Permanent Care Workers

Olena Yevchenko, 29, and Yehor Polusmiak, 28, were vacationing in Africa when the war in Ukraine broke out. Polusmiak’s parents moved to PEI five years ago, so the couple decided to come to the island instead of returning to Ukraine. “In Ukraine, we have a very good life. We have a good job. We have a family and we have an apartment. We have cars and everything was fine,” Yevchenko said. “I like our life in Ukraine. But here we have another life. It is a new life.”

Stay in healthcare

The couple started looking for a job on the Island, hoping to stay in health care, but also knowing that they could not work as doctors. “We have to confirm our diplomas. It is a long and expensive process, so we need some time to confirm our credentials and our degrees, to give some exams and then some studies,” said Polusmiak. “We decided to try ourselves, of course, in healthcare. And there were options in long-term care. So we chose long-term care.” The couple relaxes at their home in Stratford, PEI, after work. (Ken Linton / CBC) Polusmiak is trained as an ophthalmologist, Yevchenko as an emergency physician, which in Ukraine is very different from North America. “In Ukraine, emergency doctors work in an ambulance and we save people elsewhere, at home, on the street, in the car,” Yevchenko said. “It’s an adventure. I love my job.” Yevchenko is training as an emergency physician, which in Ukraine means traveling by ambulance to provide care. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said the job she now does at home in long-term care is very different. “But it’s healthcare. We help people, we help the people and the people of Whisperwood Villa are very funny, very cute,” Yevchenko said. “We like them, and they like us. It’s nice.” Polusmiak trained to become an ophthalmologist in Ukraine before coming to PEI (Submitted by Yehor Polusmiak) The care manager at Whisperwood Villa said the feeling is mutual. “It was amazing. They both come with a wealth of knowledge,” said Samantha Thorpe. “They are hard workers, they want to work. They are so passionate about healthcare and we are so happy to have them here.”

Away from family

Moving to PEI was particularly difficult for Yevchenko, as her parents and siblings are still in Ukraine. He talks to them on video call several times a day. “They are happy for me because I am safe. But they are worried because it is a new life for me,” Yevchenko said. “But they are happy to be safe. It’s very important to them.” Moving to PEI was particularly difficult for Yevchenko, as her parents and siblings are still in Ukraine. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said she was concerned about her family and friends and their country. “Oh, it is terrible and it is very difficult for us. I see so many deaths and so many children dying,” Yevchenko said. “Young, old, everyone. I’m very sorry. For my country. My people.” Yevchenko says she is worried about her family and friends and their country. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said that many of the residents of Whisperwood Villa ask them about the situation in Ukraine, which, as she said, the couple appreciates. “It is a very beautiful country, because we have a very beautiful nature. We have beautiful people … It is our country. It is our homeland. And of course, we love it,” Yevchenko said. “I think all people ask us about Ukraine and support us. It is good that people know the situation in Ukraine.”

title: “Ukrainian Doctors Find New Life In Pei As Permanent Care Workers " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Charles Adkins”

Olena Yevchenko, 29, and Yehor Polusmiak, 28, were vacationing in Africa when the war in Ukraine broke out. Polusmiak’s parents moved to PEI five years ago, so the couple decided to come to the island instead of returning to Ukraine. “In Ukraine, we have a very good life. We have a good job. We have a family and we have an apartment. We have cars and everything was fine,” Yevchenko said. “I like our life in Ukraine. But here we have another life. It is a new life.”

Stay in healthcare

The couple started looking for a job on the Island, hoping to stay in health care, but also knowing that they could not work as doctors. “We have to confirm our diplomas. It is a long and expensive process, so we need some time to confirm our credentials and our degrees, to give some exams and then some studies,” said Polusmiak. “We decided to try ourselves, of course, in healthcare. And there were options in long-term care. So we chose long-term care.” The couple relaxes at their home in Stratford, PEI, after work. (Ken Linton / CBC) Polusmiak is trained as an ophthalmologist, Yevchenko as an emergency physician, which in Ukraine is very different from North America. “In Ukraine, emergency doctors work in an ambulance and we save people elsewhere, at home, on the street, in the car,” Yevchenko said. “It’s an adventure. I love my job.” Yevchenko is training as an emergency physician, which in Ukraine means traveling by ambulance to provide care. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said the job she now does at home in long-term care is very different. “But it’s healthcare. We help people, we help the people and the people of Whisperwood Villa are very funny, very cute,” Yevchenko said. “We like them, and they like us. It’s nice.” Polusmiak trained to become an ophthalmologist in Ukraine before coming to PEI (Submitted by Yehor Polusmiak) The care manager at Whisperwood Villa said the feeling is mutual. “It was amazing. They both come with a wealth of knowledge,” said Samantha Thorpe. “They are hard workers, they want to work. They are so passionate about healthcare and we are so happy to have them here.”

Away from family

Moving to PEI was particularly difficult for Yevchenko, as her parents and siblings are still in Ukraine. He talks to them on video call several times a day. “They are happy for me because I am safe. But they are worried because it is a new life for me,” Yevchenko said. “But they are happy to be safe. It’s very important to them.” Moving to PEI was particularly difficult for Yevchenko, as her parents and siblings are still in Ukraine. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said she was concerned about her family and friends and their country. “Oh, it is terrible and it is very difficult for us. I see so many deaths and so many children dying,” Yevchenko said. “Young, old, everyone. I’m very sorry. For my country. My people.” Yevchenko says she is worried about her family and friends and their country. (Submitted by Olena Yevchenko) Yevchenko said that many of the residents of Whisperwood Villa ask them about the situation in Ukraine, which, as she said, the couple appreciates. “It is a very beautiful country, because we have a very beautiful nature. We have beautiful people … It is our country. It is our homeland. And of course, we love it,” Yevchenko said. “I think all people ask us about Ukraine and support us. It is good that people know the situation in Ukraine.”