International cooperation of KhNMU with European universities
Since the beginning of the war, Kharkiv National Medical University (KhNMU) has worked closely with scientists from Theodor-Billroth-Academy® (TBA®) and its International Consortium for Advanced Research (INCORE), which actively supports and implements several projects in solidarity with Ukraine.
We will reveal their essence in this article
First of all, the initiative #4openScienceStandsForUkraine which included 58 scientists from 23 countries, TBA® and its INCORE have sent a strong call against the war in Ukraine and actively supporting the Ukrainian people:
Secondly, as part of this initiative, a gradual expansion has been implemented with the active support of the Carl-Thiem-Klinikum in Cottbus (CTK), Germany, financially and logistically: a donation account was set up by the CTK and thanks to the generosity of the German population, many medical means of transport into Ukraine were organized.
Due to the significant deterioration in the security situation, especially after the massacre in Bucha, these logistics were altered. The transports were carried out pro bono by German Veterans of the Bund Deutscher Einsatz Veteranen e.V. and Recondo Vets MMC Germany, Military Motorcycle Club – the organizer and founder of the annual “Memorial Run Berlin – Motorcycle commemoration trip for fallen comrades”. These kinds of people work closely with the Ukrainian Territorial Forces to ensure that transports arrive where and when needed. We would like to emphasize our thanks to Bernhard Drescher, Bund Deutscher Einsatz Veteranen e.V. and to Ralf Bartzsch, Memorial Run Berlin and every single comrade, who actively risked their own life in support of Ukraine. These transports arrive one-to-one at Ukrainian Hospitals in need.
Here active cooperation was also done with Sylvia Klein, HeMaHeartProject, Klaudia Skodnik, Conny Equitrans, Jessica Schroth, Karen Sander, Ralph Kinzle, and Madelaine Koch from Fortuna Hilft e.V. and Philipp Burckhardt from Procon SSD UG. Furthermore, wonderful Ukrainian Physicians from the CTK, at Cottbus such as Drs. Oleksandr Reznikov, Anastasia and Dmytro Zinchenko, Oleksandr Seredkin and Anton Kushnir, actively supported various projects.
Thirdly, another project was to help Ukrainian Refugee Medical Students safely arrive in Germany. Some of these students have already been integrated into a new CTK project initiated by the TBA® and INCORE, to offer a perspective with cost-free living along with a German language course and a medical internship, financed by the CTK. As Medical Students usually do not get a matriculation status in German-speaking Universities, this can be seen as the first step – before step 2 occurs, when hopefully the majority of German Universities might open their doors (see below #5). Anna Sokolovskaya, a first-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University, Anastasiia Yaresko, a third-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University, Natalia Yaroshenko of the National Medical University named after O.O. Bogomolets and Maxim Lazorko, a first-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University, have finally arrived in Cottbus, Germany, to their new home. The practical course starts this week.
Fourth, the TBA® and INCORE were again supported by the CTK, as a Ukrainian Refugee Physician, Dr Polina Polenska, with her 8-year-old son was included in the CTK-Physician-Integration-Program. This includes cost-free living, and an active language course to successfully fulfil this program including a recognition test for medical practice.
Fifth, the Theodor-Billroth-Academy and its INCORE continuously encourage (and demand) European and German universities to set an example and open their doors to Ukrainian Refugee Medical Students during the War so that they have the prospect and opportunity to continue their studies.
This initiative resulted in the first reaction by a German University, The Technical University of Dresden at the Campus Chemnitz to partially open their doors as suggested, although the primary conditions will only be achievable by a minority of students because students need a valid Test for Medical Studies (TMS) result notification
Sixth, after intense discussions between the TBA® and INCORE together with the European Campus Rottal-Inn (ECRI) by Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT), the ECRI by the DIT spontaneously offered Ukraine Refugee Students another perspective: a matriculation Status (for the duration of the War) to not lose time to study “Global Public Health Course” (Online Course in English) with the Degree, Masters, which includes an ECTS certification. Here, the student will get the ECTS certificate recognized at her/his Ukraine Home University when returning after the war.
Conclusion
In summary, the KhNMU and Theodor-Billroth-Academy® (TBA®) and its INCORE work closely together since the beginning of the War. Lots of projects in regard to the #4openScienceStandsForUkraine Initiative have already been successfully realized. Thus, the proposed scientific, humanitarian and peace initiatives of our colleagues provide Ukraine with much-needed assistance. For this, donations are highly welcome, as these (as provided) arrive one-to-one to Ukrainian Hospitals, Physicians and Students.
Carl-Thiem-Klinikum funding account – Donations are very welcome
Keyword – intended purpose: donation account Ukraine
IBAN: DE 45 1805 0000 0190 0994 45
Deep appreciation and gratitude to Professor Björn Brücher for the opportunities and cooperation:
LinkedIn
European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA)
ResearchGate
Twitter @BjoernBruecher
