Sviatoslav Balaka

Interventional Radiologist, PhD, EBIR, President of the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine

Head of the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine (2020 - Present)

2022 - Present – Head of the Center of Interventional Oncology, MDC "Frankomed".

2022 - Present – Interventional Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise "Prykarpattia Clinical Oncology Center of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council".

2019 - 2022 – Head of the Department of Interventional Oncology, State Institution "Institute of Medical Radiology and Oncology named after S.P. Grigoriev of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine".

2014 - 2019 – Interventional Radiologist, Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Endoscopy, and Interventional Radiology, State Institution "Institute of Medical Radiology named after S.P. Grigoriev of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine".

2021 - 2022 – Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Radiology, Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education.

2016 - 2021 – Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education.

2010 - 2014 – Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery No. 2, Kharkiv National Medical University.

2006 - 2011 – Urgent Care Surgeon, Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital.

2012 – Deputy Responsible Secretary of the Admissions Committee, Kharkiv National Medical University.

Education

2016 – Specialization in Radiology, Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education

2011 – PhD defense: "Features of the Clinical Course of Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas and Their Surgical Treatment"

2011 – Specialization in Ultrasound Diagnostics, Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education

2006-2009 – Postgraduate studies in Surgery, Department of Surgery No. 2, Kharkiv National Medical University

2004-2006 – Internship in Surgery (Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital) and Master's degree in Surgery (Department of Faculty Surgery, Kharkiv State Medical University). Master's thesis: "Surgical Treatment of Secondary Pancreatic Infection in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis"

1998-2004 – Medical Faculty, specialty "Medicine", Kharkiv State Medical University. Graduated with honors

Additional Training

2024 – ESIR Course “Spine interventions: Established indications”, Athens, Greece

2024 – Training program "Improvement of Community Health and Medical Systems with Telemedicine Services through Case-Study of Advanced Telemedicine Region in Japan", Tokyo-Takamatsu, Japan

2023 – Internship in the Department of Interventional Radiology, Zentrales Röntgeninstitut, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland

2023 – ESIR Course “Non-liquid embolization”, Strasbourg, France

2023 – Internship in the Department of Radiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2023 – ESIR Course “Ablation from A-Z: Liver and kidney”, Strasbourg, France

2019, 2022 – ESIR Course “Reliability in Percutaneous Tumour Ablation”, Innsbruck, Austria

2019 – Internship in the Department of Interventional Radiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands

2018 – Internship in the Department of Interventional Radiology, National Cancer Institute, Tokyo, Japan

2018 – Internship in the Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

2018 – Internship in the Department of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

2017 – Training in Medical Management, Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for Managers, Celle, Germany

2016 – Internship at the Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Mittelbaden Hospital, Rastatt, Germany

2015-2016 – Internship in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Mittelbaden Hospital, Baden-Baden, Germany

2013-2015 – German language courses. Certified TestDAF (15 points, B1-C1)

2012 – Postgraduate courses for educators “Modern Teaching Technologies”, Kharkiv, Ukraine

2012 – Postgraduate courses “Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery”, Kharkiv, Ukraine

2012, 2009 – Course “Trauma and Emergency Surgery”, Open Medical Institute, Salzburg, Austria

2004-2012 – English courses (including medical English for educators) – B2

2010-2011 – Course “Young Higher Education Teacher”

2009 – Postgraduate courses “Emergency Surgery of Abdominal Organs”

2008 – Masterclasses “Laparoscopic Technologies in Modern Surgery”

Professional Achievements

Defended PhD dissertation
97 published scientific papers
Founded the Center of Interventional Oncology and the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine
Largest experience in Ukraine in the ablation of malignant tumors (over 1000 lesions)

Professional Interests

Non-vascular interventional radiology
Thermal ablation of malignant tumors

Language Proficiency

English: B2
German: B1-C1
Ukrainian: Fluent
Russian: Fluent

Sviatoslav Balaka is a renowned interventional radiologist with many years of experience. Since 2020, he has been the President of the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine. His professional path demonstrates deep dedication to medicine.

Sviatoslav graduated from Kharkiv State Medical University as a surgeon with top marks. In 2011, he defended his Ph.D. thesis titled "Clinical Features of Pancreatic Cavity Formations and Their Surgical Treatment". He has also specialized in ultrasound diagnostics and radiology.

Sviatoslav Balaka is actively engaged in scientific activities. He is the author of more than 97 publications in medical journals and has been awarded numerous grants. His professional interests are focused on interventional oncology, particularly on the thermal ablation of tumors.

Sviatoslav has taught at the Department of Surgery No. 2 of Kharkiv National Medical University, as well as the Departments of Radiology and Pediatric Radiology at the Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education.

Under the leadership of Sviatoslav Balaka, the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine makes a significant contribution to the development of interventional oncology in Ukraine. The organization regularly provides humanitarian aid to hospitals and promotes the implementation of advanced medical technologies.

During the war with Russia, Sviatoslav moved from Kharkiv to Ivano-Frankivsk, where he continues to provide innovative cancer treatment methods, making them accessible to patients across the country. His scientific work and clinical achievements are widely known in Ukraine and beyond, earning him great respect among colleagues and patients.

Sviatoslav Balaka continues to improve his skills and knowledge by participating in international internships and advanced training courses at leading medical centers worldwide. His experience and professionalism ensure the high quality of medical services under his leadership.

As the head of the Association of Interventional Oncologists of Ukraine, Sviatoslav Balaka actively promotes the development of interventional oncology in the country. Thanks to his leadership and efforts, patients receive the most advanced treatment methods, significantly improving their prognosis and quality of life.