Ukraine to Monash: Sofia overcomes the odds to continue her medicine studies
Sofia Sorokina
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine student Sofia Sorokina’s medical career is finally back on track at Monash. Hailing from Ukraine, Sofia’s studies were first derailed by the outbreak of war in her second year of studies, next by a move to Australia to seek refugee status, and then by a detour into a biomedical science degree at ACU in Brisbane courtesy of a fully-funded refugee scholarship.
Now an Australian permanent resident and a Monash student undertaking Year 3B, Sofia can see the silver lining of her challenging journey so far. “I don’t take the opportunities I’ve been given in Australia lightly,” she said. “When I first started my medical studies in Ukraine, I couldn’t have dreamed that I’d soon be continuing them on the other side of the globe at one of the best universities in the world, and completing my clinical training in the Australian public health system alongside some of the world’s best doctors. I’m grateful that my life has taken this unexpected turn.”
Still, it hasn’t all been easy. Sofia is still settling into life in Melbourne, far from her mother and sister in Queensland, and even further from her father and grandmother, both of whom are still living in Ukraine.
“It’s my first time living away from home without my family, so there’s been a lot to figure out and adjust to,” she said. “But the best thing has been all the new people that I’ve met, and the fact I’ve started my clinical training, so I’m enjoying working with patients, learning from the doctors, and gradually feeling more confident.”
A challenging experience in her first clinical rotation in particular has had much to teach her about empathy, resilience and the realities of medical practice. “I was involved in caring for one young patient who unfortunately passed away,” she said. “It was hard and overwhelming, especially for an empathetic person like me. But the experience gave me a different perspective on life and how it can end at any time. It also changed the way I see my role as a medical student, and eventually a doctor, and the ways in which I might be able to help in the future.”
“It gave me an insight into how fragile human life can be and how important it is to listen to your patient's concerns to be able to give them timely care before it's too late, where it's possible of course,” she said.
Sofia has a clear goal to eventually specialise in dermatology, and has been volunteering at a dermatology clinic to learn as much as she can about modern medications and procedural techniques. “When I was 15 years old, I had one of the worst episodes of acne in my life, and it was embarrassing and depressing, ”she said. “I thought, 'I really need to do something about this - I’m going to go to medical school, study skin and then help myself and others’. Being a teenager with severe acne is very traumatic, I know what it’s like, and that’s an area in which I feel like I can make a difference.”
To Sofia, medicine has never just been about study or career success. “It’s always been about being connected to people and the community, and making something meaningful out of difficult experiences,” she said. “Having to adapt, rebuild and keep going has shaped the kind of person and future doctor I want to be.”
“The workload is intense, and I’m still learning to balance my academic and personal commitments,” Sofia said. “But what I've learned from the last year and what I'm continuing to learn is that change can sometimes be messy. You don’t have to manage it perfectly, you just have to stay consistent and continue showing up.”
“I hope that my story can show others coming from difficult circumstances, like a refugee from a war-torn country like me, or experiencing other tough challenges, that you can still find opportunities to pursue medicine, or any dream you may have,” Sofia said. “You don’t have to be the smartest person in class, it just takes a clear goal, dedication, and often not listening to what others say you can or can’t do - just keep following your path. If you keep going, eventually you’ll get there.”
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
For more news, visit Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences or Monash University.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES