Marianna Kovtun

Marianna Kovtun is a Ukrainian Canadian youth leader, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Biology student at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She combines her healthcare background with grassroots organizing to advance health education, equity, and cultural preservation within the Ukrainian Canadian community.Marianna currently serves as a Youth Ambassador with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (2025–2026 cohort), where she is leading the creation of Ukrainian-language healthcare education modules. These resources aim to support displaced Ukrainians in navigating Nova Scotia’s healthcare system, including health coverage, pharmacy services, mental health supports, and patient rights.She is also the Secretary of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Nova Scotia Branch and the Ukrainian Student Society at Saint Mary’s University, where she advocates for displaced students impacted by the war in Ukraine, organizes cultural programming, and works to strengthen community connections.In her professional role as Lead LPN at Coastal Gender Affirming Care, Marianna brings her experience as both a healthcare provider and interpreter to ensure safe, inclusive, and culturally sensitive care. She is also a volunteer research assistant with the Canadian Advisory of Women Immigrants, where she has delivered workshops in Ukrainian on sexual and reproductive health - addressing sensitive topics that are often stigmatized and made inaccessible by language barriers.Originally a medical student in Ukraine before her studies were disrupted by the war, Marianna is now preparing to apply to Canadian medical schools. She is committed to serving both her Canadian and Ukrainian communities through healthcare, advocacy, and leadership.