Hersey grad studies HIV epidemic in war zone

When Marianne Seneczko applied for a Fulbright Fellowship in 2013 to study the HIV epidemic in Ukraine, she had no way of knowing the country was on the brink of revolution.

Envisioning a meaningful gap year between college and medical school, she pursued the Fulbright grant hoping to merge her interest in public health policy with a desire to visit her family's homeland.

But by the time Seneczko, a 2010 graduate of Hersey High School, learned in May of 2014 that her Fulbright application was approved and she would be leaving for Ukraine in the fall, the country was in the midst of a civil war and facing increasingly hostile threats from Russia.

Rather than deterring Seneczko from making the trip, however, the unrest in Ukraine only strengthened her resolve to go.

"I never had any second thoughts," she said. "In fact, I felt more of a sense of duty to pursue my research during such a historically and politically influential time that would inevitably affect the state of HIV prevention and treatment in Ukraine."

The former Soviet-bloc country has the highest HIV infection rate of any European country, she noted.

Now, after living in war-torn Ukraine for nearly a year, Seneczko said she is grateful for the opportunity to witness this historic era and believes her Fulbright experience was enriched by living through such tumultuous times.

"It's really changed my outlook and widened my perspective on how things are in the world," she said. "One of the biggest things I'll take away from this experience is the fact that I'm so grateful to be an American citizen … and to be able to come home and not wonder if there's going to be food on the table or if my house is still going to exist because of bombings."

While based in Kiev, Seneczko spent the year traveling throughout the country attending conferences, meeting with leaders of AIDS organizations and visiting hospitals and clinics in cities most affected by HIV. Her research focused on how governmental and private sectors can better collaborate to prevent and treat HIV.

Seneczko said that one of the most challenging aspects of her research - Ukraine's lack of structure and funding for public health issues - also presented some of the most interesting opportunities.

"I attended what I thought was a reproductive conference but ended up walking out having co-founded a reproductive health coalition for men and women in Ukraine. There really aren't protocols in Ukraine, so you have creative license to do anything you want within reason," she said.

In a year she calls "life-changing," some of her most memorable experiences took place outside of her research.

Seneczko, a 2014 graduate of University of Chicago with a degree in biological sciences, said volunteering at a Ukrainian military hospital had an especially profound impact on her.

"Seeing these poor soldiers, many of whom were younger than me, with horrible sniper wounds or the patient who had his arm cut off because he had a Ukrainian flag tattooed on it - those are things I won't forget."

She also has a new appreciation for the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people. Her parents, Leo and Taisa Seneczko of Arlington Heights, are both of Ukrainian descent and sent their three children to Ukrainian school in Chicago every Saturday from preschool through their teen years.

"I spent countless hours in Ukrainian school learning about Ukrainian history, literature, culture and geography. And, I would fall asleep to stories told by my grandparents about their efforts to keep Ukrainian culture and language alive under Soviet rule - but I wasn't truly able to understand until this experience," she said. "Meeting students and families who participated in the EuroMaidan Revolution last year has shown me how much the Ukrainian people value freedom - so much so that they are willing to live on Independence Square in the middle of winter."

Seneczko said living in a second-world country during wartime also has taught her - by necessity - to be more adaptable.

"It's really common not to have Wi-Fi for a few days or for your water to randomly turn off. And the government-controlled gas was turned off for a few months during the winter to conserve for the war effort. Those things foster some interesting stories and experiences," she said.

While life was markedly different in Ukraine, Seneczko looked for ways to create a sense of home where she could. She played in a volleyball league and took Zumba classes. An accomplished dancer, Seneczko has been working toward her Zumba certification in recent months. "Some things know no boundaries," she said.

The same might be said of Seneczko. "With Marianne, the sky's the limit," said her mom, Taisa. "She leaves an indelible mark wherever she goes."

And while proud of their daughter, they are anxiously awaiting her safe return. "As parents, it's been very stressful," Taisa said.

"I think this experience is something that will be with her for the rest of her life," added her father, Leo. "But it will be a sigh of relief for me when she's back home."

As for Seneczko, she'll be bringing back new insights in the fight against HIV - but also unforgettable friendships.

"The people I've met - Fulbrighters and Ukrainians - that's what I'll remember most."