A Ukrainian surgeon who typically works at a public trauma hospital has traveled to Hamilton to enhance her knowledge of life-saving techniques for victims of Russia’s aggressive invasion. Dr. Mariia Kuzeikiv arrived in Canada in October to participate in Hamilton Health Sciences’ ASSIST program, an initiative established by Dr. Mark Pahuta, an orthopedic spine surgeon and associate professor at McMaster University in Hamilton.
Dr. Pahuta, with Ukrainian heritage and personal connections in Ukraine, initiated the program in 2022 to support the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. His aim is to utilize his expertise to aid Ukrainians during this challenging time. As of February 2022, Russia initiated a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties, as reported by the United Nations human rights office.
Dr. Kuzeikiv’s work in Ukraine primarily involves providing care to individuals, including civilians and military personnel, who have suffered injuries in the conflict. She deals with severe injuries like gunshot and blast trauma, often requiring multiple surgeries for recovery. Her goal is to help patients regain their basic movements, especially those with significant tissue loss or skin defects.
During her stay in Canada until April, Kuzeikiv aims to apply the skills and knowledge gained in Hamilton to assist the injured in Lviv upon her return to Ukraine. In a recent surgery alongside Dr. Pahuta, she participated in a procedure to insert screws in a patient’s lower back to stabilize their spine and pelvis, using advanced techniques like navigation for minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Paul Klas, a trauma and orthopedic surgeon at Hamilton Health Sciences, emphasized the value of Kuzeikiv’s training in Hamilton, given the hospital’s high volume of orthopedic trauma cases. He highlighted the collaborative learning environment with Ukrainian fellows, emphasizing the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience between the visiting surgeons and the local medical team.
Overall, the program not only benefits the Ukrainian fellows but also fosters innovation and knowledge-sharing in the field of medicine and surgery. Dr. Pahuta underscored the importance of building connections with Ukrainian surgeons to learn from their experiences and enhance the overall medical practices in times of crisis and beyond.