Canadian volunteers providing surgery in Ukraine
Today, a team of Canadian medical professionals will travel to Ukraine to provide specialized post-traumatic reconstructive surgical procedures otherwise unavailable to the people there.
“We look forward to helping those with the greatest need in Ukraine while promoting surgical education by actively engaging their local medical professionals and preparing them to treat injuries and post-traumatic deformities going forward,” says Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, head of the mission, and head of the Adult Craniofacial Program at Sunnybrook.
The medical team is comprised of 25 volunteers who are trained and practicing surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses from across Canada, five of whom are surgeons, students or former fellows from Sunnybrook.
The team will treat facial and upper extremity trauma, post-traumatic craniofacial deformities, soft tissue defects and scars, and upper extremity disorders.
Full media release
Today, a team of Canadian medical professionals will travel to Ukraine to provide specialized post-traumatic reconstructive surgical procedures otherwise unavailable to the people there.
“We look forward to helping those with the greatest need in Ukraine while promoting surgical education by actively engaging their local medical professionals and preparing them to treat injuries and post-traumatic deformities going forward,” says Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, head of the mission, and head of the Adult Craniofacial Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
The medical team is comprised of 25 volunteers who are trained and practicing surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses from across Canada, five of whom are surgeons, students or former fellows from Sunnybrook. The team will treat facial and upper extremity trauma, post-traumatic craniofacial deformities, soft tissue defects and scars, and upper extremity disorders.
“In addition to the healthcare professionals boarding planes to Ukraine, there has been a tremendous amount of support for this mission by Canadians here back home in the lead up to our departure,” says Dr. Antonyshyn, also a Professor of Plastic Surgery at University of Toronto.
“For example, we have nurses here at Sunnybrook who have been providing lists of items needed in an Operating Room for reconstructive surgery, our Anesthesia team has had its materials translated to Ukrainian, and grant proposals were written that have resulted in donations of surgical supplies from Stryker Canada. We are grateful to the Canada Ukraine Foundation and to the thousands of Canadians who donated to our mission.”
Over 1,700 people have been injured in demonstrations in the Ukraine since November 2013, and with continued conflicts, the potential for more injuries and casualties is a reality. The medical mission will not only treat the injured, but will also create legacy capabilities for Ukrainian medical professionals for years to come.
The mission is supported by the Canada Ukraine Foundation and Operation Rainbow Canada, under the patronage of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
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Media Contact:
Nadia Norcia Radovini, Communications Advisor
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 416-480-4040
