Kateryna Yushchenko, wife of Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko, met with UPMC doctors and patients yesterday while visiting Pittsburgh to gather information aimed at improving children's health care in her country.

The first lady of Ukraine toured Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Oakland as well as the hospital's new campus under construction in Lawrenceville, hospital spokesman Marc Lukasiak said.

She also visited patients and met with physicians who specialize in treatment of trauma, ear, nose and throat ailments, and cancer, Mr. Lukasiak said.

A native of Chicago, Mrs. Yushchenko and her foundation, Ukraine 3000, are working to improve pediatric health care in her country, where a new hospital for critically ill children is planned.

She is particularly interested in cancer treatment because of high rates of leukemia and other cancers occurring in Ukrainian children after the reactor accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in 1986, Mr. Lukasiak said. She also planned to attend Mass at a Ukrainian church and meet with representatives of other Ukrainian organizations during her visit, he said.