Kateryna Turenko’s world was turned upside down on February 24, 2022. It’s a day she remembers vividly, and it still brings tears to her eyes. The 21-year-old Ukrainian dental student was studying at Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi, Ukraine when Russia invaded her country.
“I first heard of the attack on Telegram, and immediately called my family,” she said. Turenko pleaded with her mother and father to leave their home city of Odessa to come to stay with her in Chernivtsi, a smaller city on the southwestern edge of the country close to the Romanian border. She rushed to get money out of an ATM and stock up on food, only to find a line stretching for blocks to withdraw cash and empty store shelves at the grocery store. Days of panic and uncertainty followed.
Turenko, her mother, and 14-year-old sister took shelter in a basement and slept in their street clothes, ready to run at a moment’s notice. Air raid alarms sounded constantly, and gun shots rang out on the streets. While her father, a physician, had to stay in Odessa to keep treating patients, the women fled Ukraine and crossed the Romanian border by bus. They relied on the generosity of German volunteers who eventually transported them to Munich, Germany and housed them there before Ukrainian relatives in the U.S. purchased plane tickets for them to come to Boston.
“We are very lucky to have relatives here, but my father, uncle, grandparents and friends are still over there,” Turenko said.
Her first few weeks in the U.S. were trying. While she was thankful to be safe, she was glued to her phone following the war and checking in on relatives and friends. Her mom cried every day. Turenko’s dental school classes were paused indefinitely, and while her concerns were foremost with those she cared about in Ukraine, she also feared she would lose all that she had learned in her training. “I don’t want to forget my skills,” she said.
In 2019, Turenko had received a diploma as a dental laboratory technician and then enrolled in a dental (stomatology) degree program at Bukovinian State Medical University. She has just over a year remaining in the program to receive her degree and complete a residency to become a physician-stomatologist—the equivalent of a dentist in the U.S.
A response to a social media post would lead Turenko to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). The connection, made through a member of the Harvard Longwood Medical community, set off a fortuitous chain of events.
In late February, Jeff Karp, distinguished chair of anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, posted an offer on his LinkedIn feed to help to any Ukrainian students.
“Looking to identify Ukraine Students/Postdocs interested in BioMedical Engineering/BioEngineering,” Karp said in the post. “We are very interested (in taking) students/postdocs from Ukraine in my lab in Boston — The Brigham and Women’s Hospital is happy to help (make) this happen.”
Out of hundreds of reactions and responses, came one from Turenko. Karp reached out to Dean William Giannobile at HSDM, and an effort began to bring Turenko to the School to give her the opportunity to continue working and learning.
In May, Turenko joined HSDM as a visiting scholar, a role that gives her the chance to observe and assist in various areas of the Harvard Dental Center including the preclinical labs. She helps organize dental materials for upcoming classes, attends lectures by visiting speakers, and observes clinical procedures.
“She is doing great and fitting right into the dental school environment and the HSDM family,” said Myra Majewski, director of the Harvard Dental Center. “She has been through so much, we want to make sure her time spent at HSDM is a positive, uplifting, and worthwhile experience.”
Turenko’s dental school classes have begun to resume in an online format. Her instructors remain in Ukraine and teach through spotty internet connections providing a semblance of routine learning. Some of her classmates have returned to Ukraine, however some cannot because their villages have been destroyed, and others have fled to neighboring countries.
Turenko, now living in Milton, MA with cousins, comes into HSDM every Friday. Being at the School gives her a chance to stay connected to her career aspirations in dentistry.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting everyone, and helping in the labs,” Turenko said. “I don’t take anything for granted.”
She longs for a day when she can return to Ukraine and be reunited with her father, relatives, and classmates. It is her dream to be a part of rebuilding her country. She knows the need for her skills will be in high demand as so many fundamental health concerns of the population have been left untreated amidst the ravages of war.
“I want to be useful to society and treat the people of Ukraine who need the most help,” Turenko said. She is also interested in teaching the next generation of Ukrainian dental students as a clinician and instructor. As the war rages on, she holds out hope that a resolution will come.
I love my home and I want to be back there,” she said. “I hope with all my soul that it will be soon.”
