Educational Program for Oncological Specialists

From April to June, 17 doctors (oncologists, hematologists, anesthetists, onco-ophthalmologists, radiologists, neurosurgeons) from Ukraine were able to go to internships, seminars and congresses in Naples, Bonn, Berlin, Helsinki, Barcelona, Lyon, Kiev, Chernihiv. To all of these doctors, we either paid for the training, or paid for the transfer or residence, or agreed with partners about the free transfer and participation.

In particular, in June we sent Volodymyr Plyatsek, a chief of the Center for Radiology Okhmatdyt Hospital, to study at the Summer School: Transformation of the Health Care System. Volodymyr said:

"Participation in such a training is critically important for me, as for the manager. At the Medical University you are not taught leadership and managerial skills. But when you become a manager from a doctor, you have to learn everything from scratch. Everything that is connected with medical management, all possible methods and skills is vital for my work. Previously, I independently read books, went to various free courses, but in the end it was not clear how I could apply the knowledge gained to my department. At the Summer School, everything was able to organize and become clear. These are the issues of organization of the medical process from the point of view of the patient, the question of service, standard business processes, which can absolutely be adapted in medicine - and this is not about money, it's about organizing a process that would be effective, it's about something that drives and inspires you. I like the idea always to have a great dream that push you forward every time. Now I understand also, that I can do this pushing and make changes by myself"

Also, our fund coordinated the visit of a Canadian neurosurgeon James Rutka from SickKids to the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital (this was a review of practical cases with doctors plus several lectures).

During this period we also translated for oncologists and oncologists in Ukrainian:

1) "Guideline for the Management of Fever and Neutropenia in Children With Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Recipients: 2017 Update". This guidance is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Vol. 35 No. 18, June 20, 2017.

2) "A comprehensive approach to the prevention of central venous catheter complications: results of 10-year prospective surveillance in pediatric hematology-oncology patients". This scientific article is published in the journal Annals of Hematology, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

3) HIT-MED Guidance for Patients with newly diagnosed Medulloblastoma, Ependymoma, CNS Embryonal Tumour and Pineoblastoma- HIT-MED Therapy Guidance Version 4.0 - May 02, 2017, Hamburg, Germany. The translation will be verified and adapted by Ukrainian doctors.

4) SIOP PNET 5 Medulloblastoma, Protocol Version 7. 2011, Nov. 21. The translation will be verified and adapted by Ukrainian doctors.

Overall, within six months, we spent about $ 8.5 thousand on the program, not counting administrative costs. 

In September we are planning to send a team of doctors to Lausanne (Switzerland) for a practical seminar on intraarterial chemotherapy for children with retinoblastomas. We also arrange for doctors a couple of trainings about how to set up tunnel central venous catheters and ports, and how to care for them.

Now we are choosing a hospital for a pilot project: assess the training needs, formulate our proposals and work plan. The next step is to coordinate the plan with the management of the hospital and sign the relevant agreement. 

All this time, we establish contacts with pediatric doctors, collect information about the needs, prepare a calendar of events for 2019: doctors and nurses will be able to prepare in advance and apply to the program on a competitive basis.

At the end of 2018, we will hold a seminar for doctors and nurses for palliative care for cancer patients. 

Thank you for your support!

Links:

• http://www.tabletochki.org