GMKA’s Impact on Surgical Education in Ukraine Highlighted at the 13th IFSO-EC Congress
Solomiia Semeniv, General Surgery Resident at the University Hospital in Kraków, Surgery Lecturer at Jagiellonian University, and Surgical Education Director at the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA), delivered a presentation at the 13th Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity – European Chapter (IFSO-EC), held in Venice, Italy.
The IFSO-EC is a regional chapter of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), a global organization that unites national associations of bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals. Since its founding in 2004, IFSO-EC has served as a leading platform for advancing knowledge, collaboration, and innovation in the field of bariatric and metabolic surgery (MBS), with a strong emphasis on evidence-based care for obesity and related metabolic disorders.
As part of the session titled "How to Maximize Your Potential as a Young Physician," Dr. Semeniv presented the mission and work of the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) in strengthening surgical education in Ukraine. She highlighted how GMKA continues to provide Ukrainian physicians with access to high-quality, evidence-based international medical education — even amid the ongoing full-scale war. This support plays a critical role in advancing surgical care for both civilian and military patients across the country.
Dr. Semeniv also participated in a specialized workshop on managing complications in bariatric surgery and attended plenary sessions on a range of key topics, including:
- Updates to global MBS guidelines.
- Innovative and revision bariatric procedures.
- MBS in pediatric and geriatric populations.
- The intersection of MBS and oncology.
- Robotic and endoscopic surgical techniques.
- Rare and complex complications in MBS.
"From a global healthcare perspective, bariatric and metabolic surgery is expensive — but still more cost-effective than treating the long-term complications of obesity or funding obesity-related disability," said Dr. Semeniv.
"Obesity is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach. Although bariatric surgeons operate on the stomach, obesity itself is not a disease of the stomach — it's a disorder of intricate regulatory systems. That’s why effective treatment also involves psychologists, dietitians, rehabilitation specialists, and internal medicine physicians. No bariatric procedure should be performed without comprehensive patient evaluation, including consultations, preoperative assessments, and proper preparation. Many of these multidisciplinary issues were emphasized in the congress's plenary sessions."
She also noted the importance of international knowledge exchange at events like IFSO-EC:
"Most participants are practicing surgeons who closely follow the latest treatment guidelines and innovations. What makes these congresses truly valuable is the opportunity for discussion — to talk with colleagues from around the world about managing complex cases or rare complications. Even informal conversations often lead to practical insights and fresh surgical ideas that we can take back and apply in daily clinical practice."