Julia Dorozhko

Julia Dorozhko is an English-speaking ENT doctor in Lisbon with more than twenty years of experience. She completed her clinical residency in otolaryngology at the Shupyk National Academy of Postgraduate Medical Education in Kyiv, and her degree and specialty are both recognized in Portugal.

She practices ENT medicine in Portuguese hospitals and sees patients of every age — children from birth and adults. Endoscopy of the ear, nose, and throat and vacuum tonsil lavage are performed during the consultation itself.

In-person consultations in Lisbon and online consultations · children from birth and adults · consultations in English, Russian, Portuguese, and Ukrainian. Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking patients need no interpreter: the doctor speaks with them directly in their own language. Portuguese Medical Association professional license: 61251.

About the Doctor

Dr. Dorozhko began her ENT career in Ukraine: a clinical residency in Kyiv, followed by work in a city hospital, in private ENT clinics, and at the Central Health Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. In Portugal she had her degree recognized, obtained specialty equivalence, and now practices ENT medicine in hospitals in the Lisbon area.

Endoscopy is a distinct part of her practice. She examines the nose, nasopharynx, larynx, and eardrum with an endoscope rather than with a headlight and mirror alone. That makes it possible to see adenoids without an X-ray, to find the cause of long-standing congestion or hoarseness, and to show the image to the patient or the parents on screen during the visit.

Education and Experience

Dr. Dorozhko earned her medical degree at the Gorky National Medical University in Donetsk, Ukraine. She completed her ENT internship at the city hospital in Mariupol and her clinical residency in otolaryngology at the Shupyk National Academy of Postgraduate Medical Education in Kyiv.

In Ukraine she worked as an ENT doctor at the Mariupol city hospital, in private clinics in Kyiv, and at the Central Health Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In Portugal her degree was recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education, she registered with the Portuguese Medical Association, and she was certified for independent practice. She completed the Ano Comum at ULS do Baixo Alentejo and worked in emergency departments at ULS do Baixo Alentejo in Beja, Hospital de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Hospital de Cascais Dr. José de Almeida, and Hospital Trofa Amadora. Alongside this she trained in the ENT departments of the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Lisbon Francisco Gentil, ULS do Baixo Alentejo, and ULS de São José.

Common Reasons Patients See Dr. Dorozhko

• Nose and sinuses — persistent congestion, a runny nose that will not settle, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, a deviated septum, nosebleeds, and reduced or lost sense of smell.
• Ears — earache, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, outer and middle ear infections, earwax blockage, blocked ears after flying or diving, and discharge from the ear.
• Throat and voice — frequent sore throats, chronic tonsillitis, tonsil stones and bad breath, hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, a lump-in-the-throat sensation, snoring, and pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Children from birth — adenoids and mouth breathing, recurrent ear infections, a persistent runny nose, snoring at night, hearing loss, fussiness during feeding in infants, preparation for surgery, and a second opinion before it.
• Diagnosis and second opinions — interpretation of sinus CT scans, audiograms, and reports obtained in another country, a second opinion before tonsil or adenoid surgery, and follow-up after an operation.

ENT Endoscopy

An examination with a headlight and mirror shows only the front of the nose and throat. An endoscope gives a magnified view of the areas that examination cannot reach: the nasopharynx with the adenoids, the natural openings of the sinuses, the larynx and vocal cords, and the eardrum. The image appears on a screen, and Dr. Dorozhko points out and explains the findings during the appointment.

Flexible endoscopy. An ultra-thin, flexible endoscope is passed through the nose, allowing a step-by-step view of the nasal cavity, the nasopharynx with the adenoids, the throat, the larynx, and the vocal cords. It is performed in children from the first months of life and in adults, takes a few minutes, and a local anesthetic spray is used when needed. No preparation is required.

Rigid nasal endoscopy, 0° and 30°. A detailed view of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx: the septum and turbinates, the natural sinus openings, polyps, and the source of a nosebleed. Used in chronic sinusitis, persistent congestion, and before deciding on surgery.

Video otoscopy. Examination of the ear canal and eardrum with the image displayed on screen. It shows retraction or perforation of the eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, earwax blockage, and outer ear infection. Parents see exactly what the doctor sees and can follow the explanation.

In children, endoscopy takes the place of a nasopharyngeal X-ray when adenoids are suspected: it involves no radiation, and it shows not only the size of the adenoids but how far they are blocking the airway and the eustachian tubes.

Vacuum Tonsil Lavage

In chronic tonsillitis, debris collects in the crypts of the palatine tonsils — firm tonsil stones made up of shed lining, food residue, and bacteria. They cause bad breath, a persistent lump-in-the-throat feeling, frequent flare-ups, and a general run-down feeling. Gargling does not reach the contents of the crypts.

How the procedure works. An applicator connected to a vacuum system is placed against the tonsil. Negative pressure draws the contents out of the crypts while an antiseptic solution is delivered at the same time, rinsing them from the inside. The vacuum method reaches the deep parts of the crypts that syringe irrigation does not, and it is gentler on the tonsil tissue.

Lavage reduces symptoms and the frequency of flare-ups, but it is not a cure for chronic tonsillitis on its own and it does not replace a decision about tonsillectomy where one is indicated. Dr. Dorozhko explains this at the visit and works through with each patient what makes the most sense in their situation.

Documents and Medical Certificates

Prescriptions, test referrals, and a written consultation report are issued during the appointment. Dr. Dorozhko also provides certificates for daycare, school, work, swimming pools, and sports, as well as reports for insurance companies and for treating physicians in other countries. No referral from a general practitioner is needed to book.

What Happens During the Visit

The visit begins with a conversation: how long the symptoms have been there, what has already been tried, what helped, how flights and colds are tolerated, and how a child breathes and sleeps. An examination of the nose, ears, and throat follows, and where it is needed, endoscopy is done at the same appointment rather than booked separately.

Dr. Dorozhko then explains in plain language what is happening and sets out a plan: which tests are genuinely needed, what treatment is being started, whether any procedures are called for, and when you should come back. Laboratory tests and swabs can be done at the clinic the same day.

Languages

Dr. Dorozhko is an English-speaking ENT doctor and also consults in Russian, Ukrainian, and Portuguese, so English-speaking patients in Lisbon are seen without an interpreter. Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking patients are seen in their own language as well, with the doctor speaking directly to the patient or to a child's parents. For patients who speak other languages, United Medical Clinic provides a medical coordinator at no cost.

How to Book an Appointment

You can book at umc.clinic by choosing a time that suits you, on WhatsApp, through the Telegram bot @umcl_bot, or by phone. We see patients with and without health insurance, and no referral is required. Lisbon clinic: Av. Defensores de Chaves 73B, Saldanha; Saldanha and Campo Pequeno metro stations.