War in Ukraine wins best article in SCOPE award

24/08/2023

AN article on the devastation being wrought by Russian forces in Ukraine on the country, its people and its cancer centres has won an award – with the money being donated to support Ukrainian cancer care providers.

‘Fighting on two fronts: War and cancer in Ukraine’ was the cover story on the autumn 2022 edition of SCOPE, the IPEM members’ magazine.

A group of 12 Ukrainian radiation oncology practitioners described in detail the horrors of the war being waged by Russia against the country and the devastating effect it was having on cancer centres.

Help Ukraine Group

The powerful, moving story has won the Keith Boddy Prize for the best article in the magazine in 2022, which includes prize money of £250.

One of the article’s authors, Dr Nataliya Kovalchuk, a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University, said she was delighted with the award.

She is one of a team of oncology practitioners in the USA and Australia who have organised the Help Ukraine Group, to provide medical supplies, software, training opportunities and educational materials for cancer care providers in Ukraine.

Dr Kovalchuk said: ‘It would be great if the prize money was donated to Help Ukraine Group fundraiser. We will use the funds for medical supplies for Ukraine or to train Ukrainian radiation oncologists and medical physicists.’

Dr Robert Farley, IPEM’s President, said: ‘We are all shocked and horrified by the war in Ukraine and this powerful article brought home the difficulties being faced not only by ordinary citizens but also by those who are trying to provide healthcare in the most challenging of circumstances.

‘I wish Nataliya and the rest of the Help Ukraine Group the best of luck with their fundraising effort.’