Ukrainian Medical Association of North America delegation visits HURI (07/18/04)

Ukrainian Medical Association of North America delegation visits HURI

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A delegation from the board of directors of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) paid an official visit to the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University (HURI) on Friday, May 14.

In Boston for a quarterly directors meeting, UMANA board members were pleased to share an afternoon with members of the prestigious Institute, receiving a tour of the premises. A reception with the academic leadership and staff ensued.

For the first time in their combined histories, UMANA and HURI members met to discuss issues and achievements common to both organizations. The compilation and indexing of archives involving the history of Ukrainian American medicine, and publication of Ukrainian and English scholarly editions in their respective "hard" and "soft" scientific fields, lent an air of commonality to the work of both institutions.

UMANA Executive Director Dr. George Hrycelak and his delegation, including Drs. Roxolana Horbowyj, Maria Hrycelak, Boris Leheta, Roman Worobec and S. Welykyj, were warmly welcomed at the door by HURI Director Prof. Roman Szporluk.

HURI Executive Director Tymish Holowinsky led the group on an interesting tour of the institute's estate, including the publications office and the extensive archive and library. Archivist Dr. Ksenya Kiebuzinski patiently explained the importance and usefulness of the collections, expressing shared interest in UMANA's materials.

Dr. Lubomyr Hajda noted similarities in publishing experiences with UMANA's editor-in-chief, Dr. Worobec. Visiting professor George Liber and other Institute staff were on hand to express their interest in the field of health care education and research.

The meeting lasted well past 5 p.m. with participants reluctant to break off far-ranging conversations, or leave the well-prepared reception table. After gathering on the institute's steps for a group photograph in the setting sun, the newly minted acquaintances parted, resolving to maintain contact and consider group activity in the future.

Further cementing the bond between the organizations, UMANA donated to HURI a two-volume edition of the newly published Ukrainian translation of Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. The Nautilus Publishing House of Lviv published the dictionary as a project of the American Ukrainian Medical Foundation (AUMF), partially funded by a $10,000 grant from UMANA. According to AUMF President Dr. Paul Dzul, "Dorland's is the most widely published medical dictionary in the world; the translation a first of its kind." It is a fitting example of the joint bond of academic publishing uniting UMANA and HURI.

| Home Page |