Mishka Dmytryshyn

My journey with CHEO started the way many do with frequent trips to the ER and referrals that eventually became regular visits to clinics and inpatient stays. What began as moments of crisis turned into an ongoing connection with CHEO. Over time, that connection shaped not only how I view healthcare, but also how I see my role within it.

I have a deep appreciation for the doctors and nurses who show up every day with compassion, but I also see the flaws in the system. That awareness sparked something in me: a desire to help improve pediatric medicine, not just because I can, but for every young person and family who walks through CHEO’s doors.

Being sick as a kid isn’t easy, no sugar-coating that. But it has built resilience in me and shaped perspectives that programs like this need in order to run. Instead of wallow in a grief of the health I didn’t have growing up, I’d like to channel it and extend my hand to those in need by helping change the systems themselves. Getting through something hard provides a resolve that is rooted not just in survival, but in purpose.

I’ve had the chance to participate in research studies at CHEO, and I enjoyed working alongside the teams. That collaboration showed me that research isn’t just about data, it’s about people. I want to make sure every patient who joins a study feels respected, understood, and heard, the way I did. To me, being a Family Leader means recognizing that even the brightest stars can seem small from a distance, but when you bring them closer, their light can guide everything. Thoughtful, intentional language, real stories, real voices-these are what shape meaningful change.

Areas of Interest:

• Concussion/Head Injury
• Rare Disease/Genetics
• Cardiology
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Pain Management
• Genetics
• Eating Disorders
• Autoimmune Diseases