Evgeny Stupak does not like to be presented as a neurosurgeon-photographer, mixing different professions. Novosibirsk neurosurgeon rassk azal, how he combines the work of a doctor and a photographer
Evgeny Stupak works as a neurosurgeon at the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics named after Ya. L. Tsivyan. His parents are also doctors, besides his father is a famous neurosurgeon. Evgeniy is not only a doctor, but also a photographer, and this is his second job. You can meet a handsome young man with a camera at a large party and it is easy to think that he himself could be a model.
The medical columnist for the NGS Maria Tishchenko learned from him how to hang out at parties and weddings in the evenings and weekends, and on weekdays to carry out the most complex operations and correspond to dad.
Evgeny Stupak — neurosurgeon of the Department of Neurooncology of the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics named after Ya. L. Tsivyan, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Junior Researcher. Work experience — 5 years. Winner of the Scholarship of the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region in 2010. Winner of the UMNIK program of the Innovation Promotion Foundation in 2014. Winner of a grant from the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region in 2015. Member of the Council of Young Scientists under the Government of the Novosibirsk Region.
«I had no idea how hard it is.»
Evgeniy Stupak from a medical family. His father is a neurosurgeon, his mother is a physiotherapist, who dedicated their lives to NIITO (his mother no longer works there, and his father continues, — Ed.). Looking at his parents, Eugene decided to link his life with medicine. When he graduated from school, he firmly decided that he would enter the medical university — no one dissuaded him from this step. The life of the institute was interesting and varied, despite the fact that it was difficult to study at the medical institute. According to Evgeny, the base that he had at school did not correspond to what the institute demanded. At the same time, many of his classmates entered after specialized medical classes, which means that their preparation was better.
Eugene explains that many thought: if your parents are doctors, then they explain everything, but the training was entirely on him.
— Everyone told me: «It’s easy for you: you can ask your parents everything.» I did not ask my parents anything, I learned all the basics myself. Father was ashamed to ask some simple, at first glance, elementary questions, he had to figure it out himself, » he recalls.
Fears that people would compare him with the famous dad did not stop Eugene. He initially liked this specialty:
— There were more for than against. At that time it worried me, but now I try to be simpler about who said what. If my child wants to become a neurosurgeon, I will not, of course, dissuade him, but I will tell you about the pitfalls. Many subtleties were not told to me. And if I knew all the intricacies of working as a doctor, I would think well about this question! I saw that my father was not at home, he was at work most of the time, but I had no idea how hard it was.
Now his father is called Stupak Sr.
— Being the son of a professor is a big responsibility: if you have no famous parents and no one knows you, it is much easier to stumble. But when you have a «burdened history», everyone stares at you. Only the one who does nothing is not mistaken. All your mistakes can be discussed, — the neurosurgeon is sure.
Evgeny notes that he wants not just not to «disgrace the family», but to really correspond to his parents.
— When your parents have achieved something, this is a double responsibility: the public thinks: will you achieve something or not. But I have an example in photography: my dad is not a photographer, but in the city I already have a certain fame. I think that something will work out in medicine, — he says.
«If I worked only as a doctor, I wouldn’t have enough money.»
He liked taking pictures since childhood, but he began to do it more professionally in his third year, when he bought himself a DSLR. He started shooting parties, got a job at a site that deals with secular photo chronicles, and later began shooting for the federal portal Geometria.ru, as well as for the Sobaka.ru magazine.
— And now I continue to do this for two reasons: it brings money, by my standards, quite decent. If I didn’t do photography, but only worked as a doctor, I wouldn’t have enough money. Our coronavirus eloquently speaks of this: there was practically no filming in the spring and summer — it significantly hit the pocket, » notes Evgeny Stupak.
When Eugene was finishing his studies, he wondered if he should devote himself to photography completely. Because while studying in residency, he earned more filming than as a doctor:
— This is generally a break in templates. My studies are six years at the institute, one — in internship and two — in residency, that is, nine years. Some spend another three years on graduate school. This means 12 years at the doctor! And as a photographer I was already employed, but this does not mean that the work of a photographer is easy. You are on your feet all the time, and the shooting can be all day. You constantly communicate with the client, and after the shooting you process the photos.
But still, after graduating from the institute, interest in neurosurgery did not dry out, and he went to residency at NIITO — he was actively engaged in scientific activities.
During this time, Evgeny received two grants, remained to work at NIITO and continue his scientific activities. He is working on the topic of PCR diagnostics of glial tumors using the analysis of the expression level of micro-RNA. That is, with the help of molecular technologies, it is possible to determine the type of tumor, the degree of its malignancy and the prognosis of the patient’s survival.
This year, the doctor also applied for a grant to study not only brain tumors, but also blood, so that it would be possible to analyze and make a prognosis in such patients without surgery. This will allow you to determine the type of tumor, the degree of its malignancy, as well as the recurrence of the disease. But Evgeny does not despair and will continue to seek funding.
«Profession, to put it mildly, is not easy, this is not to go for bread»
— When I started working as a neurosurgeon, it was really hard: this profession, to put it mildly, is very difficult, it’s not to go for bread. It’s one thing when you study and watch, and it’s another when you are responsible for the condition of patients. You can spend all day on one neurosurgical patient, the surgeon explains.
He adds that there are no templates in neurosurgery: all patients are different, and operations are long and energy-intensive, because life is at stake — operations are performed on functionally significant areas, the impact on which can lead to neurological deficits and disability.
— You spend a lot of time in the operating room and the same amount of time for paperwork. You need to keep everything in your head. Every day, surprises can lie in wait for you. You will never forget a single patient of yours, even after discharge you will remember what happened to him. I am worried about the correct observance of all the recommendations that were given to the patient upon discharge, — notes Evgeny Stupak.
Most people, the doctor believes, are irresponsible to their health, they think that if they were operated on, then everything is over and they have recovered. Many people do not undergo follow-up examinations and check-ups after surgery, although it is best not to do this.
— And in this whole routine I have a hobby. Although it is a difficult question what a hobby is. I see photography as my second profession, which I also take quite seriously. And I have other hobbies. Honestly, it is difficult to combine scientific, medical and photography work, because in most cases I do not refuse to shoot. I have a certain sporting interest: I need to embrace the immense, — shares the neurosurgeon.
«My little outlet is a wedding photography»
True, there is something for which there is not enough time: he does not advertise himself, does not conduct Instagram properly, although he believes that his conduct is an integral part of the life of both a photographer and a doctor.
— It turns out that your work week is scheduled as follows: in the morning you are at work, in the evening you can go somewhere to take pictures, on the day off you are on duty, and on the second day off you process photos. They ask me how I do everything. It is not simple. My little outlet is wedding photography. Probably, as a wedding photographer I am not perceived strongly, more as a reportage photographer, but I like this genre in photography most of all.
He is sure that if a person does his job well, then it takes a lot of time and effort:
— At the moment I am where I am, and I like it. I enjoy the fact that the operated patient has movements in his arms and legs, that the tumor is completely removed, when the patient cries and says thank you. It costs a lot. This gives you the strength to get up early in the morning and come home late in the evening over and over again.
Eugene admits that he loves to sleep and tries to take time to get enough sleep:
— I will sleep better than the next day I will be broken, and there will be no efficiency. Because healthy sleep is the key to everything. If you recover from work, you will not get sick. But, of course, you want more time for sleep. But when you get used to such a schedule, you have developed a regime, it is not difficult. It’s good that my personal life is arranged, but my other half also requires attention.
Those close to him are used to his schedule and treat him with understanding.
“But I don’t know how long they will understand me. This is a very serious question. They understand that I am not on vacation: if I am not at home, then at work. I don’t see my friends very often. Unfortunately, friends often take offense at my being busy, with the exception of friends from work. But you can’t do anything about it, says the neurosurgeon.
«The common between neurosurgery and photography is me»
Evgeny Stupak does not like it when someone tries to mix up two of his works, for example, when they say at events that a neurosurgeon-photographer is coming out.
— If I am on the set, then I am a photographer, I do not like it when they say that I am also a neurosurgeon, and vice versa. I would actually perceive a person who operates on the brain and spinal cord and photographs with caution. Therefore, it is better not to tell such information to anyone, but, apparently, people do it with the best intentions, — the doctor believes.
A neurosurgeon wants all doctors to have one favorite job that would be well paid. He is not on duty and does not advise in other hospitals and clinics like other doctors. Physically it is difficult, because in a neurosurgical clinic there is a lot of work, plus scientific activity and photography. And although it seems that these two professions are far from each other, they are united by constant movement and development:
— All my activities keep me in good shape — this is 100%. The thing in common between neurosurgery and photography is me. If I have a lot of free time, then, in my opinion, I spend it mediocre. Therefore, I need a job as a neurosurgeon and photography in order to be in good shape.
