Nazarii Krulyk: “I Cannot Find the Right Words to Express Appreciation to Our Army”

At the beginning of 2024, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Medicine Nazarii Krulyk became the winner in the nomination “For active volunteering”. Nazarii Krulyk is the organizer of the projects “Saint Nicholas will not forget about you” for families in difficult life circumstances and families of IDPs, “I am a donor ” aimed at popularizing donorship among students of TNMU and the “Box of Courage” (aid for little patients of the haematology department of the children’s hospital). He is also an active member of the team of our university students who make trench candles. In the interview, he spoke in more detail about his volunteer activities.

How did you become the winner of the “Best Student of TNMU 2023” competition?
Last year ,I tried to work effectively in this direction, because I understand that for a future doctor it should be an integral part of education. We should help people not only with medicine (it helps them to recover), but the doctor’s heart should also be open and kind. That is why volunteering is extremely important. I was involved in such projects as “Blood donation”, “Helpers of St. Nicholas”, “Box of courage”, “Trench candles” and various charity fundraisers for our military.
How important is blood donation?
Actually, I have been interested in blood donation for a long time. It was before adulthood. I knew that one donation saved not one, but three lives. The full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine increased the load on the blood system, because donor blood began to be needed not only by civilians suffering from various diseases, but also by military personnel and other civilians who suffered combat injuries as a result of missile attacks during hostilities, which were accompanied by massive bleeding. We organized a lecture, the main purpose of which was to popularize blood donation among young people, to interest them and show how important it is. We invited a therapist of the Ternopil Regional Blood Donation Service, a haematologist, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine No. 1, and regular blood donors so that they could share their impressions of what inspired them and motivated them to become donors. I have been donating blood since I was 18 years old. In addition to being important, it also has a positive effect on my body as a donor because it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Tell us more about the production of trench candles at TNMU, please.
The purpose of trench candles is to warm the soldiers in the cold season and to give them this light and warmth. They are extremely simple to make, and absolutely everyone can participate in it. We make candles from improvised materials that everyone has: these are used cans, paraffin, candle ends and cardboard. The TNMU candle shop is constantly open. Our students and teachers join this charitable cause to help our military.
How did you get involved in the “Box of Courage” project?
From the moment I entered the university, I realized that I wanted to participate in this project. I love children very much, and even more so, realizing that these children are cancer patients and they need our support and help. To support, we raise funds in various ways. This is the organization of charity concerts, lotteries, etc. With these funds, we buy gifts and put them in a box, from which the children can take the gift they liked the most. Regarding gifts, we are regularly in touch with the senior nurse of the oncology department of the Ternopil City Children’s Hospital in order to understand how old the children are, what they have wishes for, what exactly they need (either colouring pages or toys, or marker pens etc.). We try to buy exactly what is necessary for children.
What is your part in the “Helpers of St. Nicholas” project?
“Helpers of St. Nicholas” is also one of the charity projects. All children believe in miracles. They believe in Saint Nicholas and believe that their wishes will come true. In fact, children make up ordinary things. The first thing they write in their letters that reach us is peace, tranquillity, harmony, and then they mention some kind of toy. Our goal is to support children in difficult life circumstances who are forced to leave their homes and temporarily live in Ternopil. Some of the children’s parents died as a result of combat wounds. We also organize fundraisers and buy gifts. When you realize that you fulfilled the wishes of the children that they wrote in their letters, and you gave them this miracle, it inspires you to do more.
Is a team of like-minded people important in volunteering?
Without teamwork, there would be absolutely nothing. If there is no one to work with, then the work slows down, it is more difficult to arrange fundraisers. I am grateful to fate that there is an extraordinary team in every project in which I participate, with which I work with joy. Every person on the team is inspiring and has something to learn. And without their work, without such common understanding, there would be absolutely nothing.
Is helping the military very important to you?
Unfortunately, among my acquaintances, friends, and colleagues there are those who have already died, who gave the most precious thing they have – their lives, so that we could study, work, live and help them. We have no right to give up and back down. We have to do everything to help them because we live here because of them. I am extremely happy when fundraisers are closed very quickly. What is 50 hryvnias? One cup of coffee. But a cup from each person is someone’s saved life. We collect funds for cars, evacuation vehicles. I wonder if I lost those 50 hryvnias, would I even understand that lose? Probably not! But when we help, when we donate, of course, it warms the soul. And you understand that these funds will be used for the needs of our military. When I see the military, I understand that thanks to these people I live, thanks to them I have the opportunity to study, volunteer, help the others, go to work, work for the good of humanity. It is impossible to find words to express gratitude to our military. They are our heroes, they do an extremely important thing, without which all this simply would not have happened.
Does volunteering interfere with studies?
I try to effectively combine studies and volunteering. Studying at TNMU is hard and you need to rest somehow. And everyone is looking for the way that is preferable to their soul. And everyone is looking for something that would bring them pleasure. I chose volunteering. This is communication with people, the ability to support… There is a saying: not only medicine heals, but also a good attitude, a kind word.
How about a research paper?
I am also involved in TNMU scientific clubs, and I am engaged in research work. I started my scientific activity last year at the Department of Microbiology. We investigated the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms. The goal of treatment is the rapid recovery of patients and it is necessary to understand what could delay patients in the hospital. Such studies help to choose an effective treatment. Now I attend a scientific club in neurology, where I am engaged in scientific work. For me as a future specialist, in whatever field I choose, all this knowledge will be needed. This knowledge is somewhat deeper than the knowledge obtained in class.
Have you already thought about your future specialization?
Now it is difficult to decide on a future specialty, because no matter which department I go to, I like everything and I want to try everything. Why so? Because I feel that they want to teach us and show us. We visit patients, master practical skills on mannequins. I cannot say about the choice of specialization for now, but I am sure that it will be related to some urgent conditions. I like work that requires concentration and quick action.
Why have you chosen our university?
I come from Khmelnytskyi. When I had to decide which higher education institution I should apply to, I looked at an extremely large number of different institutions and realised what I needed to focus on. The first thing I focused on was the advice of friends who graduated from Ternopil National Medical University. They responded extremely well and told how the study is going, what the students are doing not only during the study period, but also in extracurricular time. Another indicator is high rating indicators. TNMU is one of the best medical universities in Ukraine. This was also an important reason for choosing the university.
Did you quickly adjust to studying at TNMU?
It was easy to adapt, although the first thoughts when I entered that the study was difficult. And this is correct, because the profession of a doctor is a great responsibility for the life and health of people. In the first days, all my doubts were dispelled, because all the teachers at TNMU not just do their job, but put their hearts into our education and try not only to explain the material, but also to lay out everything in such detail on the shelves that we understand every topic and why we need it.
Your wishes to the students of TNMU…
I want to wish the students good health and a peaceful sky above their heads. And I want to say: enjoy the moment, enjoy life, but don’t forget to help others. Don’t forget to help our defenders, our heroes. And also, do not forget to take care of your emotional state and mental health. Find something that makes you happy. And remember: nothing is impossible. Everything depends only on us!

TNMU Press Secretary, Yanina Chaikivska.

Technical support by Ihor Havryshchak.

Photographs by Mykola Vasylechko.