Svetlana Vasilievna Yakovleva

When a family faces with a serious illness of a child, then the whole world turns upside down and changes beyond recognition. Not only sick children become vulnerable, but also their parents. Often, it is parents who need support, information, advice and attention from specialists. These are things we cannot do without the participation and sensitivity of the attending physician.

Svetlana Vasilievna Yakovleva is a Dermatologist/Venereologist of the Republican Cabinet of Genetic Skin Pathology on the basis of the Municipal Clinical Dermatovenerologic Dispensary. Svetlana Vasilievna has been cooperating with the foundation since 2017 under the program “Helping children with epidermolysis bullosa”. Under this program, children receive comprehensive care: necessary skin care products and medicines, consultations of medical specialists. Implementation of such programs helps to make life easier for both sick children and their parents. Consultations and training sessions with parents are an integral part of Svetlana Vasilievna Yakovleva work at the “School of patients with congenital epidermolysis bullosa” on the basis of the “City Clinical Dermatovenerologic Dispensary”.

How many years have you worked in medicine?

I have been in medicine for over 10 years. Dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood. I finally decided on the choice of specialization in the third year of the university, when I came to the Department of Dermatovenereology. Thanks to the teachers, I became interested in the subject, started attending a scientific circle at the department, and after graduating from the university I entered the residency in this specialty.

What features are in your work? What is its uniqueness?

I work as a dermatologist at the Republican Office for Genetic Skin Pathology, providing medical care to patients with genodermatoses, including epidermolysis bullosa. Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare genetic disease with a frequency of 1 in 50 thousand newborns or less. The skin of such children is so thin that any touch can injure it and cause severe pain. That is why these children are called “butterfly children”. There is no pathogenetic treatment for this disease yet, symptomatic treatment is used: skin and mucous membrane care, surgical interventions, thanks to which it is possible to live the most fulfilling life. All of my patients are unique and require special, specialized care.

Where do you get your strength? What inspires you and helps you recover after a working day?

When I see the result of my work, it gives me strength. Communication with loved ones, walks with the family helps to recover. In my free time I do needlework: embroidery, quilling, knitting.

What is the Chance Foundation for you?

Almost all dressings and special skin care products for butterfly babies are of foreign origin. Medicines and dressings provided free of charge on prescription are not sufficient for quality skin care. The Chance Foundation provides an opportunity to significantly improve the patients’ quality of life, including those with rare genodermatoses.

The children of the Foundation and their parents thank Svetlana Vasilievna for her sensitive attitude to their fragile lives, attention and constant care!