Tanya was born in 1978 in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, during the waning years of the USSR.

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She grew up in a family of scientists, with her mother a philologist and her father a physicist. The family did not support Soviet ideology, fostering an atmosphere of intellectual freedom at home.

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​With her parents often busy with dissertations and scientific papers, Tanya frequently stayed with her grandparents in a small Belarusian town near the Dnieper River. This place and people shaped a small girl's character. 

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​Tanya grew up exploring the nature around her. She often brought home frogs, treated injured pigeons, collected plants from nearby forest. On the way to kindergarten, it was necessary for her to pet all the street cats. Tanya was madly in love with works of naturalist Gerald Durrell, especially the novel ‘My family and other animals’. She aspired to all living creatures, dreaming of one day becoming a veterinarian. It was already clear that biology would be one of her future passions. 

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Tanya’s teenage years coincided with Perestroika (reconstruction) and the collapse of the Soviet Union, a period that appeared to be very influential for her personality:

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‘It was a time of real and complete freedom. Everyone felt as if there are infinitely many opportunities and a clear path to the future. For Belarus as a nation it was almost an alternative reality. I believe this taste of freedom has shaped my self-awareness’.

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During this time, Tanya attended the Lyceum of the Belarusian State University, studying at the Faculty of Chemistry. She pursued her education with enthusiasm, aiming for the career of her dreams. Tanya recalls this period with a genuine great smile, describing it as the best time of her life. My mom inspired me to attend the Lyceum too, and I’m incredibly grateful for this advice and experience. I think this school is a small UWC community in Belarus.

 

Tanya eventually enrolled at Belarusian State University. Her grandparents convinced her that people are more interesting than animals, leading her to choose the Faculty of Medicine. Tanya regretted this decision later due to the extensive cramming and overwhelming night shifts in the ambulance, but it soon changed by finding a new passion.

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In the third year of university, Tanya was shown an MRI machine. As she said, ‘it was love at first sight’: 

‘I was immediately captivated by the opportunity to explore something real, it was a big contrast to my previous university experience. Being a radiologist was like living in an ‘Orient express’ by Agatha Christie’.

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In 2001, Tanya graduated and began working at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center "Cardiology." She was dedicated to her work, continually improving her skills and seeking new approaches. She played a pivotal role in modernizing Belarusian medicine, adapting outdated Soviet methods to world standards. By the time I grew up, Tanya was the Head of the Cardiology Department.

 

In 2020, protests against the dictatorship erupted in Belarus, which were brutally suppressed. Any show of solidarity with the protesters led to fines and arrests. Tanya, who always advocated for freedom of rights and speech, was fired from the Research Centre after being seen at the protests. She faced multiple arrests and fines but continued working in Belarus, doing what she loved and helping people.

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Despite my mom’s immense courage, I see how scared she is. Even after 5 years people are still repressed. I am incredibly proud of her, her bravery, honesty with herself and the world, openness and dedication. She is my infinite inspiration and support. 

 

My mom always says: ‘Do what seems right- and come what might’. Being honest and trusting yourself are truly the most important things we have in this world.

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