My name is Andriy Vovkanych and I am 61 years old. I was born in the west of Ukraine in the city of Lviv, my father - Stepan Vovkanych was a famous scientist in the field of economics and sociology, doctor of sciences, a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in the Vatican, my mother - a geologist, worked at the Research Institute of Gas Exploration. 

I studied at a school with in-depth study of the English language, received the qualification of a translator of English scientific and technical literature. In addition, I participated in student competitions in English and biology.

Since I liked biology, after graduating from school I entered the Faculty of Biology of Ivan Franko University, specialized in human and animal physiology, did internships in institutions of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, my Dyploma was about transmembrane ionic currents in the salivary glands of the chironomus larva. While studying at the university, I was engaged in archery, was a member of the university team.

After graduating from the university, I was hired to work at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the Department of Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism. After four years of work, I enrolled in graduate school (part-time) at the Central Institute of Physical Culture in Moscow. In order to be able to carry out research related to the study of the impact of repeated static loadings on the athletes of different specialties, I moved to work at the Institute of Physical Culture, where I have been working for 35 years.

I started working as a laboratory assistant at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, and after defending my PhD thesis, I became a lecturer. At that time, as a volunteer, I began working with a non-government organization of people with spinal cord injuries, became interested in the issues of training specialists in physical therapy, and, in fact, under my influence, my university was the first in Ukraine to start training specialists in this field. I was entrusted with organizing the Department of Physical Therapy, which I headed and managed for 18 years. I was repeatedly awarded with diplomas and awards from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, regional and city administrations.

I was the head of several projects in the field of training personnel in physical therapy, as well as recreational sports with the disabled in partnership with colleagues from Poland, Canada, Holland and Sweden. I repeatedly participated in international trainings, seminars and scientific conferences abroad and in Ukraine. Given my significant scientific experience and experience in establishing international contacts, I was appointed to the position of Vice-Rector for Science and International Relations, where served 2 terms (10 years). For my successful work, I was awarded the State Award - "Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine". I currently work as the Dean of the Faculty of Therapy and Rehabilitation.