Medical Programs / Neonatal Conference Draws Experts from across Ukraine

On October 18-20, the Volynian Regional Children's Medical Center (VRCMC) was the site of a historic medical conference when over 100 neonatal specialists from all 26 provinces of Ukraine came together in Lutsk to strengthen their technical skills and to develop new strategies for combating infant mortality.

The conference was financed by the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund and co-sponsored by the VRCMC, its partner hospital in Lutsk. The conference received the official endorsement of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and featured technical presentations by several American medical experts. Among these were Dr. Morris Cohen of the Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, and Patricia DiBenedetto, the chief neonatal nurse at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, (Livingston, NJ), widely considered one of the most advanced neonatal centers in North America.

In addition to formal presentations and lectures, participants were able to take part in small group training sessions with technical experts representing medical manufacturers such as Siemens, AVL and Fisher & Paykel. Dr. Cohen also conducted grand rounds providing in-depth consultation for several teams of doctors from various provinces in the local hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Since 1997 the Volynian hospital has succeeded in increasing its patient caseload while reducing its infant mortality rate by more than 50%. Local doctors credit much of their success to CCRDF which provided extensive training and new technology.

"This conference was an eye-opening experience", said one doctor from Eastern Ukraine. "Until recently, we had believed that our Soviet medical system had provided us with the finest medical technology and therapeutic techniques. Only now do we fully realize how far our hospitals have fallen below Western standards." Many doctors from other regions of Ukraine echoed these sentiments. Others expressed the hope that in the near future, their medical centers would also be able to implement new procedures that would help them sharply improve infant survival rates in their regions.

"We are simultaneously inspired and sobered by what we have seen here," said a doctor from Poltava. "We had always thought of Volyn as a remote and backward province. Now we understand that the doctors here have made huge advances far beyond our wildest imagination."

All participants received a complimentary copy of a newly released medical handbook entitled "The Fundamentals of Neonatology" (Osnovni Polozhennia Neonatolohiyi), the first textbook of its kind published in Ukrainian. The manual was translated and published by CCRDF and the national women's organization, "Zhinocha Hromada" with technical assistance from doctors and medical students in Kyiv.

"We were extremely pleased with the caliber of physicians who participated in this conference," said Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky, the Chief of Surgery at Union Hospital in New Jersey and President of CCRDF. "Their high level of motivation and diligence bodes well for the next generation of Ukraine's medical leaders. They are hungry for new ideas, and they are not afraid to change old habits that may have limited their effectiveness in the past." Dr. Matkiwsky expressed special appreciation to medical directors Dr. Valeriy Rutsky and Dr. Hryhory Vashchylin and their staff at the Volynian Regional Children's Medical Center for their collaboration in designing the conference and for their outstanding hospitality and professionalism in handling the advance work and on-site logistics.

Besides Dr. Matkiwsky, a number of CCRDF volunteers and staff played a key role in the design and coordination of the conference, including Executive Director Nadia Matkiwsky, Tanya Fesenko Vena, staff members Ksenia Salewycz, Olya Datsenko, Lesia Yavorivska and Pavlo Smirnov.

At the conclusion of the conference, the host doctors from Volyn treated many of the attendees to memorable excursions to the childhood home of the Ukrainian poet and playwright Lesya Ukrayinka at Kolodiazhne. Others visited the hallowed 17th century battlefield and burial grounds (mohyly) at Berestechko.

The October 18th conference was only the latest in a series of successful training programs sponsored by CCRDF since 1990. To support future training workshops, or to help finance the publication of medical manuals and health literature in the Ukrainian language, donors are urged to send their tax-deductible contributions to CCRDF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078. For more information, please call (973) 376-5140.