Membership in UMANA experiences a renaissance (06/05/05)

Membership in UMANA experiences a renaissance

by George Hrycelak

CHICAGO - The Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) continues to experience a renaissance of growth, reaching new heights for the second straight year. Surpassing the 2003 record figure of 456, the 2004 UMANA membership stands at 475 active colleagues.

New inductees cover all categories of membership, from students and residents, to associates recently arrived from Ukraine and regular practicing physicians. Growth is greatest in the large urban centers, but also increasing in outlying areas such as Texas and the western U.S.

Interest among the many UMANA chapters scattered throughout the United States and Canada remains high, with renewed vigor visible in the Illinois, New York Metro, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Toronto and Edmonton chapters in particular. Undoubtedly, the recent explosion of activity in the Ukrainian diaspora related to the Orange Revolution has resulted in a rebirth of consciousness in some lapsed UMANA members.

The quality of UMANA's professional journal, the Ukrainian language Likarskyi Visnyk (UMANA), has progressed to international levels, with academic articles and translations on a level seen in many sister publications. The efforts of its editor-in-chief, Dr. Roman Worobec, are leaving an indelible mark on this journal, which began publication in 1954, and has been in continuous circulation since then. The journal is now available online for perusal by the general public at www.umana.org making it accessible to our colleagues in Ukrainian at any time.

The administrative management of UMANA continues to advance the needs of the membership. E-mail communication has proved its mettle during the recent diaspora actions in support of the Ukrainian election process. The list-serves, which so admirably spread information, became templates for similar group mailings to UMANA members. The officers and administrators of UMANA continue to respect the constraints set by each year's budget, and the financial basis of the group remains strong.

To ensure quick communication between branch officers and the national office, UMANA has instituted a monthly, two-page newsletter called The UMANA Banana. It serves as a conduit for late-breaking news, as well as a handy reference for information on running a local branch by providing examples of how other branches operate. Upcoming activities, dates and locations, as well as the latest UMANA administrative statistics are readily available to all leadership personnel.

UMANA is also revitalizing its contacts with Canadian chapters. A board meeting with the UMANA Toronto Branch was held on May 7, and planning is ongoing for the biennial Scientific Convention and Assembly of Delegates in Edmonton on June 29-July 3. The minister of health of Ukraine, Dr. Mykola Polishchuk, will be the guest of honor at the conference.

Many Canadian colleagues from various provinces will deliver scientific presentations, with some conference sessions open to the public. Many of UMANA's social activities will be integrated with Edmonton's vast Ukrainian cultural resources, further expanding the contacts of Ukrainian health care professionals with colleagues north of the border.

UMANA activity for 2005 continues at a heightened pace. President-elect Andrew Iwach, M.D., said "We are going through a period of renewed growth and transition, which can only expand the capabilities of health care professionals both in North America and the world. We encourage all professionals in the field of health to consider membership in UMANA."

For more information, readers may log on to www.umana.org or call (773) 278-6262.

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