GMKA and Experts from Baylor Global Health and Texas Children’s Global Health Train Ukrainian Clinicians in Rehab and Prosthetics

Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the number of patients with traumatic amputations has continued to rise. Between 2022 and 2025, more than 20,000 such cases have been recorded. In this context, advancing modern rehabilitation and prosthetic care has become one of the key challenges for Ukraine’s healthcare system — and a priority focus for Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA).

On March 16–17, GMKA, in partnership with experts from Baylor College of Medicine Global Health and Texas Children’s Global Health Network (USA), held an advanced training workshop on rehabilitation and prosthetics. The event took place at Zakarpattia Regional Clinical Hospital in Uzhhorod and brought together 48 clinicians from five regions across Ukraine, from Uzhhorod to Kharkiv.

Participants — including physicians in physical and rehabilitation medicine, physical therapists, prosthetists, occupational therapists, and other members of multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams — engaged with current U.S. clinical approaches while contributing their own frontline experience managing complex wartime injuries. 

“Prosthetics and rehabilitation are deeply interconnected and require a multidisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Kateryna Potapova, MD, MHA, PhD, Co-Executive Director of GMKA Ukraine. “The quality of care directly impacts how well patients with amputations recover, return to work, and reintegrate into society — and ultimately affects the country’s socio-economic stability. At GMKA, we focus on bringing together clinicians who are committed to improving medical education and care in Ukraine, because better-trained physicians lead to better patient outcomes. That is at the core of our mission.”

The workshop created a platform for professional exchange between Ukrainian and U.S. specialists. Sessions focused on comprehensive care for patients with amputations, prevention of complications, pre-prosthetic preparation, prosthetic rehabilitation and adaptation, and multidisciplinary long-term support.

“We are now dealing with injuries that were rarely seen before — not only in Ukraine, but globally,” said Dr. Yurii Yatsyna, MD, Director of Zakarpattia Regional Clinical Hospital. “That’s why it is so important that new rehabilitation methods and approaches are being introduced in our institution. We are grateful to all Ukrainian participants and to our U.S. partners who support the development of rehabilitation and prosthetic care.”

Over two days, participants attended lectures, developed practical skills, reviewed clinical cases, and discussed modern treatment approaches with U.S. colleagues. At the same time, American experts gained insight into the unique experience Ukrainian clinicians have acquired during wartime. 

“Ukraine likely has one of the most extensive experiences with traumatic amputations and complex injuries,” said Dr. Michael Y. Lee, MD, MHA, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. “We hope our knowledge can help improve the quality of rehabilitation care, but we are also learning a great deal from our Ukrainian colleagues. This is truly a two-way exchange, and ultimately, we hope it benefits patients.”

Participants highlighted the value of openly discussing real-world challenges in order to improve patient care.

“Ukrainian clinicians already have significant experience working with patients with upper and lower limb amputations — and there are many such patients,” said Dr. Kateryna Zahorodnia, MD, Head of the Center for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital. “At the same time, input from international colleagues and the exchange of ideas always lead to better outcomes — for both rehabilitation quality and patients’ lives. For our team, this workshop was especially valuable because we brought our challenges and received practical guidance. We found many of the answers we were looking for.”

Rehabilitation and prosthetic care remain strategic priorities for GMKA. The organization will continue to expand educational programs in partnership with leading international institutions, adapting global expertise to the Ukrainian context, and providing free access to knowledge for Ukrainian clinicians. These efforts respond directly to the needs of dedicated Ukrainian professionals working with patients who have experienced amputations.

“Ukrainian clinicians are resilient and deeply committed to their work,” Dr. Zahorodnia added. “We have accepted the challenges of war and continue to work here in Ukraine, delivering the best rehabilitation care we can. We keep learning and building new expertise. Even with years of experience, we are always learning, refining our approach, and moving forward. ”