Ukrainian doctors learn about treating Veterans at Iowa VA

A delegation of Ukrainian medical professionals, selected through a partnership of the Congressional Office for International Leadership and the Iowa International Center, visited Central Iowa VA in March.

The group had the opportunity to learn about various aspects of U.S. health care systems at varying levels starting with the federal health system in Washington D.C. and moving on to Iowa to speak with medical leaders, representatives and legislators.

At the Central Iowa VA, the delegates heard presentations by VA medical professionals relating to care of Veterans in areas such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, psychological first aide, military sexual trauma and prosthetics.

The visitors’ passion to learn was evident in their questions about suicide rates, treatments and access to care for Veterans.

VA’s approach to the injuries of war

“Hosting the medical professionals from Ukraine was a great honor,” said Darwin Goodspeed, VA medical center director. “I hope we were able to impart VA’s approach to addressing the injuries of war and I hope it helped them in their efforts to scale Ukrainian health services.”

The group also had the chance to tour the surgical units with VA general surgery specialist Dr. Jamie Patel (pictured above) educating them on processes and equipment.

Dr. Hanna Batsiura, infectious disease specialist and assistant professor at Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education in Kyiv, Ukraine, discussed the benefits of the partnership and how the lessons learned will help to move Ukraine’s medical health care systems into the future. She emphasized the importance of learning about Veteran specific health care.

Optimistic about the future of medicine in Ukraine

“We will have many Veterans when this war is over,” said Batsiura. “We’re going to use the information received here for innovations in our own practices but also spread this information as widely as possible.”

Medical professionals in Ukraine have had to work under harrowing conditions, such as lack of electricity or heat and through the harsh din of air raid sirens.

Batsiura described the comfort of sleeping well in Iowa for the first time in recent memory away from the war that she and her colleagues must live through. She also expressed incredible optimism about the future of medicine in Ukraine as well as gratitude for the partnership and support of the U.S.