Ukrainian Gift of Life launches training program in pediatric cardiology (11/24/02)

Ukrainian Gift of Life launches training program in pediatric cardiology

GLEN ROCK, N.J. - Ukrainian Gift of Life Inc., (UGL) has launched Operation Cardio Observation and Training (OpCOT), a training program intended to expand its effort to advance pediatric cardiology in Ukraine.

Dr. Lyubomyr Solovey, the first fellow to participate in this program, is observer training at the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a leader in pediatric care in America, under the supervision of Dr. Gil Wernovsky, medical director. The visiting fellow graduated from the Medical Academy in Ivano-Frankivsk in 1994 with an honor diploma and fulfilled his residency requirements at Lviv Cardiological Center in anesthesiology and intensive care, where he continues to practice.

Dr. Solovey recently addressed the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) and extolled the importance and benefits of this UGOL program. "In Ukraine, you do not see the quantity and variety of complex cases as I did in this short period. Even as Ukraine begins to catch up in technology through the efforts of organizations like Ukrainian Gift of Life, which procure much-needed and usable capital equipment items, it is still behind on the experiential level," he explained.

He continued to describe how this opportunity at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has enhanced his skills and exposed him to a high level of competence and team management. Dr. Solovey reviewed for his fellow physicians some of the cases at the hospital that he has been able to follow from admission and how he is now able to anticipate procedural direction in complex cases. He expressed his desire to bring that experience back with him to Ukraine and the other physicians at his hospital. He concluded with an explanation of how these skills will be applied during surgeries made possible in Ukraine through UGL's Operation Child Cardio Care program (OCCC).

He went on to explain that there are not sufficient disposable funds for health care in Ukraine. "OCCC has increased the number of children's surgeries that can be performed at the Lviv Cardiological Center, as well as provided an opportunity for the entire surgical and post-operative team to refine their extensive skills." UGL coordinates efforts of individuals and organizations to sponsor a specific child's surgery through purchase of the necessary consumables, which cost approximately $1,000.

Donors are provided with correspondence and photographs from the surgical candidate's family, forming a bond with the child. Dr. Vasyl Salak, president of the UMANA Chapter and chair of the meeting, introduced George Kuzma, president of Ukrainian Gift of Life. Mr. Kuzma expressed the gratitude of the UGL trustees and board to those who make these programs possible. He first thanked Dr. Wernovsky and his staff at Children's Hospital for their outreach in this venture. He then acknowledged Theodore Kurman, director of the UGL training program, who in turn, thanked the Rev. Frank Estocin, pastor of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, its president, Ed Zetick, and the entire parish for joining in the launch of this project, welcoming Dr. Solovey and providing housing and support for him. Dr. Solovey's two-month training program will soon come to an end and he will return to Ukraine, his wife, 12-year-old son and his work.

In response to a question from the floor, Mr. Kuzma closed with the words: "If we wait until the hospitals in Ukraine can process all the pending children's cases, it would be generations before Ukraine becomes self-sufficient in this area. Our plan is that Dr. Solovey, the student, will become teacher to his peers, and they to their peers."

Everyone in attendance was given a video produced by television station WB11 about UGL's history and mission, titled "Journey to Heal a Child's Heart." Mr. Kuzma suggested that if anyone wanted more information about any of UGL's programs, desired additional copies of the video or wished to make a contribution to support the organization's efforts, they can write to: Ukrainian Gift of Life, 233 Rock Road; Glen Rock, NJ 07452.

| Home Page |