GMKA’s Role in Strengthening Ukraine’s Healthcare System Highlighted at NATO Event in Toronto
In April, Toronto (Canada) hosted the NATO Science and Technology Organization’s Human Factors and Medicine (HFM)-371 Research Specialists’ Meeting.
Kateryna Potapova, MD, MHA, Chief Strategy Officer at the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA), spoke at the event, showcasing Ukrainian experience and GMKA’s role in supporting Ukraine’s healthcare system during wartime. She presented the organization’s initiatives and highlighted how GMKA empowers Ukrainian medical professionals through evidence-based education and global collaboration, even under the most extreme conditions.
In her presentation, Dr. Potapova introduced HealUA, a mobile application developed by GMKA that enables Ukrainian physicians to share medical advice and consult with colleagues both domestically and internationally in real time.
She underscored GMKA’s ongoing efforts to support and strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system amidst the challenges of war. Through the organization’s courses and webinars, localized educational content, expert-written articles, and video resources, GMKA ensures that Ukrainian physicians, nurses, and medical students can continue to build their expertise — even in the face of power outages, air raids, and the daily pressures of working in active conflict zones.
"The international community has gained deeper insight into the role of GMKA’s online courses and how we deliver them under the challenging conditions of a full-scale war. We provide medical professionals across various regions of Ukraine with access to these courses, allowing them to study at their own convenience.
Courses on topics such as traumatic brain injury and neurosurgery foster a valuable exchange of experience among participants, encouraging dynamic discussions and collaborative learning. Equally important, this is a two-way educational process. Leading global experts share their knowledge with Ukrainian professionals — and in return, we offer insights from our own clinical experience.
Wartime conditions reshape the nature of medical pathologies, and Ukrainian doctors are encountering cases that many international colleagues have never seen. Sharing this unique experience is essential for advancing the quality of medical care around the world," explains Dr. Potapova.
Attendees also learned how Ukrainian doctors are advancing their capabilities in managing complex traumatic brain and cardiovascular injuries under extreme conditions. Dr. Potapova spotlighted the success of the neurosurgical team at Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital, which implemented an early intervention protocol for patients with penetrating brain injuries involving the paranasal sinuses. This innovative approach has led to improved outcomes and reduced postoperative complications, as reported in the March issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Potapova further discussed the transformation of medical education in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, using Bogomolets National Medical University as a case study. She emphasized the importance of international collaboration, citing the Razom Co-Pilot Project as a prime example of how global medical missions not only deliver aid but also provide valuable educational opportunities for participating healthcare professionals worldwide.