My path towards my profession
I first thought about becoming a doctor at the age of 4. Then I lived in the historical center of St. Petersburg, near the Mariinsky Theatre. Not far from my house there was an incredibly beautiful children's regional dental clinic. It seemed special to me because of the wonderful doctor who worked there. After several vistis to her, I wanted to become a dentist. And that was the beginning of my path to medicine.
Until the 9th grade, I studied at a school with advanced studies of an English language, and after that I entered another one, where the program was focused on studying chemistry and biology and even included internships in a hospital. So, I was able to see the work of doctors in a very detailed way and got carried away with it even more. There was just one thing that worried me: to become a doctor, one has to study endlessly. And I was a little scared by the amount of information and the academic approach to teaching in higher medical schools. I have always been interested in having many areas for self-realization in my life, and it seemed that I would not be able to devote myself to one thing. Therefore, I decided not to become a doctor, but a nurse, and entered the college at the Military Medical Academy.
It was a very right decision, since all the studies there were held not only with the professors from the Military Medical Academy, but also right at the departments of the Military Medical Academy. During my studies and the next few years of work at the Academy, I deeply realized that medicine is about clarity, responsibility, and the urgent implementation of certain tasks. In a word, about discipline. The serious approach to learning, the respectful attitude towards students and a strong professional environment at the Academy gave me the opportunity to see medicine as an art, and the learning process as a very interesting journey.
I chose the direction of surgery, and surgery has become an important part of my life. After graduating from college, I continued to work at the Military Medical Academy, then I worked at the big public hospital in the emergency surgery department. There I got the opportunity to quickly enrich my knowledge with real practical experience.
Today I am sure that at the age of 4 I made the only right choice, having decided to give my heart to medicine...
The O.L.G.A. Clinic
I remember how I got into the clinic for the very first time, when it was under renovation, how I walked up the stairs, entered the rooms and opened an OR door. I experienced an incredibly pleasant feeling when we, together with the operating team, discussed what and where to place, and what else needs to be ordered. We still do it together 😊. But the biggest impression was ahead: meeting the team. These are amazing people, they still amaze me with their sensitivity and an endless desire to help. These are creative people and amazing personalities, full of positive energy.
Now I make sure that all the nurses in O.L.G.A. clinic have high quality of their work. Whether you find yourself in a blood collection room, in the operating room or come to for doctor's appointment, you will definitely meet a nurse there. And my role is to organize the quality work of the nurses’ team, as well as the effective interaction of the nurses with the entire team of the clinic. I work both with documents and with people, ensuring a quality process for our patients.
It inspires me that the staff of the clinic has an amazing talent — to build relationships with patients. It seems to me that each patient receives a very sensitive and individual approach in O.L.G.A. Clinic. And it does not depend on the number of patients in the clinic. It is amazing how many employees deal with an individual story of each patient. And when they send us photos of their beautiful newborns, I am surprised every time how many colleagues remember this patient and are sincerely happy to share her joy.
I am sure that my experience and enthusiasm are in the right place and fall into one step with the team and that we have a huge number of happy family photos with long-awaited babies ahead of us.
My education and further professional development
2008 — Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, specialty – nursing.
2015 — St. Petersburg "Center for advanced training of specialists with secondary medical education No. 1", specialty — surgery, qualification — scrub nurse.
2020 — Academy of Medical Education named after F.I. Inozemtsev, specialty — surgery (professional certificate is valid until 02.2025).
2021 — Center for Postgraduate Education of Medical Specialists, course "Management and economics in health care", specialty — nursing.
2021 — St. Petersburg State Pedagogical University "Center for Postgraduate Education for Medical Specialists", specialty — nursing administration (professional certificate is valid until 11.2026).
My professional experience
After graduating from college, I was invited to work at the Military Medical Academy. And some time later I ended up in the big public hospital at the emergency X-ray surgery department. The department was new, the team consisted largely of young professionals. Relations in the team were warm, and the work was really hard. There my character was really built and my desire to stay in medicine and to work as a nurse strengthened even more. That work required a quick reaction and a clear understanding of the process, since a lot depended on my actions. And there, I became familiar with the understanding of working as a single team, when I cannot let the surgeon and the team down with any of my actions.
Later, I decided to try myself in a large operating block, where almost everyone operates. The specifics of the work was different from my previous experience, since it was the largest private clinic in the city and many things were different there. I gave myself six months to realize and understand whether I could master all this. I passed all the tests, my natural stress resistance and meticulousness, friendly character and desire to learn helped me. And so began 3 important years of my work. Coming to the operating room early in the morning, each time I planned my work for the day so that everything was perfect: tools, equipment and its place in the operating room ... Then I realized how much I love to organize the process.
Therefore, when in 2019 I had the opportunity to become a part of O.L.G.A. Clinic team and was offered to build the process as a senior operating sister, I agreed without much hesitation. And I am glad that my talent is growing every day here and my patients and colleagues can benefit from that. Now the scope of my responsibilities is even wider, as I perform the duties of the Head nurse at O.L.G.A. Clinic and organize the work of the entire nurses’ team in the clinic.
My personal interests
I have had a wide range of interests since childhood. I am proud that these are interests not imposed by someone, but my own ones.
Despite the fact that I have never had a talent for drawing, I studied at an art school with pleasure for several years. I like it that my drawings still hang in the frames on my grandmother's walls.
I think that I never learned how to draw, but the art school helped me to truly love painting and art in general. I often admire works of art in the museums of St. Petersburg and during my journeys to other cities and countries. Every time I look at a painting, a sculpture or a historical building, I think about the process of its creation and about what these pieces of art have seen during their long life. And it's an incredible pleasure. For example, the painting “The Last Day of Pompeii” became significant for me, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence once made a goosebump impression.
Also, I love music. In the 6th grade, without telling anyone, I entered a music school: I asked my mother to go and sign the documents when my admission was almost done. Until the 11th grade, I studied at a music school and still love classical music, theater, opera... Sometimes I even work with classical music playing, if this does not interfere with my colleagues.
Another great love of mine is travel. At some point, I had the idea that I should see the world, plunge into the lives of other people and soak up their culture. Today I have warm memories of travelling to Italy. I even have the feeling that I lived there in my past life. And my current dreams are to see Portugal, Cuba, Canada…
I love to read. I am fascinated mainly by the detective stories, including the one and only Agatha Christie. But I enjoy reading books in other genres, too. For example, the book "Eat, Pray, Love" has taken a special place in my heart. This is a book that gives you a special state of mind. I can sometimes even read it in pieces, starting from any place in the text... I was also struck by the novel “Shantaram” by Roberts.
Today, my love of travel, music and the desire for independence are combined in the ability to drive a car. I get extraordinary pleasure getting in my car every weekend and going to discover new places during our little family trips...
