GMKA’s Chief Strategy Officer Advocates for Ukrainian Healthcare at the Annual NeuroTech Convention of SBMT 2025

From February 27 to March 2, 2025, the Annual NeuroTech Convention of SBMT took place in Los Angeles, USA. This international conference brings together leading doctors, scientists, policymakers, and industry representatives to discuss advancements in neuroscience. Among the speakers was Kateryna Potapova, Chief Strategy Officer of the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA), who not only presented Ukraine's medical experiences but also moderated the military medicine section, emphasizing the urgent need for global support for Ukrainian healthcare.

The NeuroTech Convention serves as a crucial platform for showcasing advances and applications in brain and spinal cord mapping and image guided therapies. Organized by the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), the event fosters the integration of cutting-edge technologies in healthcare while also highlighting critical global issues—including the medical challenges faced by Ukraine.

On February 28, Kateryna Potapova participated in a panel discussion on the latest innovations in military medicine and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment. Speaking as a neurologist, scientist, educator, and mother, she shared first-hand insights into the struggles of Ukraine’s medical professionals and patients amidst the ongoing war.

She also underscored GMKA’s transformative role in supporting Ukrainian healthcare through:

“Together with the GMKA team and the support of international partners, we have translated and made the ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) manual publicly accessible, conducted hands-on training, and facilitated international internships for Ukrainian physicians. Our goal is to ensure they return with invaluable expertise to strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system,” Potapova stated.

On March 1, GMKA’s CSO led a session on military medicine, featuring insights from top neurosurgeons and American veterans involved in medical missions to Ukraine. The discussion addressed cutting-edge treatments for penetrating head trauma, with Ukrainian specialists from the Mechnikov Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital presenting a novel surgical technique developed in Ukraine.

A critical focus of her speech was the disruption of medical education due to war. As a lecturer at Bogomolets National Medical University, she detailed the resilience of students and faculty navigating:

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian medical students are gaining unparalleled practical experience.

“Our future doctors are engaging with severe combat injuries—providing them with unique, hands-on learning that strengthens their skills like never before,” Potapova explained. “We are ensuring they receive both theoretical knowledge and clinical experience to prepare them for the immense challenges of modern medicine.”

As part of the discussion on medical education, Potapova introduced HealUA, an innovative peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing app developed by GMKA. Designed to support physicians in their daily practice, HealUA enables real-time consultations on complex clinical cases, fostering a dynamic learning environment. The app also serves as a continuously evolving medical knowledge hub, where doctors can both learn and contribute their expertise to colleagues in need.

GMKA’s participation in international conferences like the SBMT NeuroTech Convention is instrumental in advancing Ukraine’s medical community. Beyond acquiring insights into the latest approaches in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, GMKA is actively raising awareness of the immense challenges faced by Ukrainian doctors and the critical need for sustained international support.

GMKA is not only equipping Ukraine’s medical professionals with world-class knowledge but also ensuring that the global medical community recognizes and supports Ukraine’s fight for a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.