Ulana Suprun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ulana Suprun
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Уляна Супрун
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| Acting Minister of Healthcare | |
| In office 27 July 2016 – 29 August 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Volodymyr Groysman |
| Preceded by | Viktor Shafransky (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Zoriana Skaletska |
| Deputy Minister of Healthcare | |
| In office 22 July 2016 – 27 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | Volodymyr Groysman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ulana Nadia Jurkiw
30 January 1963 Detroit Michigan, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
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| Spouse | Marko Suprun |
| Residences | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Alma mater | Wayne State University (BS) Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MD) |
Ulana Nadia Suprun (born January 30, 1963) is a Ukrainian-American doctor and activist. She also helps people by giving money and time to good causes, which is called philanthropy. From 2016 to 2019, she was the acting Minister of Healthcare in Ukraine. Before working for the government, Suprun led humanitarian projects for the Ukrainian World Congress.
Suprun started a group called Patriot Defence. This group teaches people how to give first aid in emergencies. It also helps develop medical care in Ukraine. In 2013, she moved from the United States to Ukraine. She then became the Director of the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Ukrainian Catholic University. In 2015, she started advising the Health Committee of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament). In July 2016, she was named First Deputy Minister of Healthcare. A week later, she became the acting Minister of Healthcare.
In July 2015, Ukraine gave Suprun citizenship. Ukrainian officials have said many times that her citizenship is valid.
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Early Life and Education
Ulana Suprun was born on January 30, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents, George Harry and Zenovia Jurkiw, were of Ukrainian descent. She has a sister named Lydia. Ulana went to Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic School. When she was young, she was part of a Ukrainian scouting group called Plast.
After high school, Suprun went to Wayne State University. She earned a degree in biology in 1985. She then studied at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In 1989, she became a doctor. She completed her medical training in Detroit and New York City. She also did special research on mammography and tomographic radiology. She is certified to practice radiology.
Her Career and Helping Others
In 1995, Suprun started working at a medical imaging center in New York City. She later became a leader at the center. She left this job in 2009.
While in the United States, Suprun was very active. She helped many medical and Ukrainian-American groups. She was on the boards of the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital. She also worked with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. She led the Council of Humanitarian Aid for Ukrainians. From 2000 to 2009, she was president of the Ukrainian American Civil Liberties Association.
In 2013, Suprun and her husband moved to Ukraine. They helped during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Suprun provided medical care to people hurt during the Euromaidan protests. Because of this, she became the Director of Humanitarian Initiatives for the Ukrainian World Congress.
Suprun also started Patriot Defence. This is a nongovernmental organization (NGO). It teaches tactical medical skills to Ukrainian soldiers. It also gives them NATO first aid kits. After her work during Euromaidan, Suprun helped start and direct the School of Rehabilitation Medicine. This school is at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.
Minister of Healthcare
On July 12, 2016, President Petro Poroshenko supported a plan. This plan was to make Suprun First Deputy Minister of Healthcare. She had been advising the Health Committee since 2015. After serving for only a week, Suprun became the acting Minister of Healthcare.
In November 2016, the Ukrainian government made important decisions. They adopted ten plans to improve the Ukrainian healthcare system. These plans focused on how healthcare is paid for. They also aimed to create a national health plan. The government also set aside over ₴867 million for healthcare changes.
On April 1, 2017, the government started the "Affordable Medicines" program. They gave ₴500 million to this program. It helped patients get medicines for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and asthma for free or at a low cost. By July, over 6,000 pharmacies were part of the program.
In June 2017, the Verkhovna Rada passed a new law. This law changed how healthcare would be funded in Ukraine. It became law on January 30, 2018.
Some people did not like the medical reforms. They even called Suprun "Dr. Death" as an insult. She left her position on August 29, 2019. Zoriana Skaletska then became the new Minister of Healthcare.
Personal Life
On July 11, 2016, President Petro Poroshenko gave Ukrainian citizenship to Suprun and her husband. Poroshenko said that her "efforts saved thousands of lives." He believed giving her citizenship was "in the state's best interests."
