GMKA Supported Electroneurography Training Course for Ukrainian Physiatrists
The Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) served as an informational partner for the Basic Electroneuromyography (ENMG) Training Course, held from May 12 to 16, 2025, at the Lviv Regional Hospital of War Veterans and Repressed, named after Yuriy Lypa.
Offered as a charitable initiative, the course was organized through a collaborative effort between U.S. and Ukrainian medical professionals. Dr. Oksana Sayko, a physiatrist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, played a leading role as key organizer and primary instructor of the course.
Source: Serhii Kolisnyk, MD, PhD, FEBPRM
The program brought together Ukrainian physicians specializing in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) to provide them with up-to-date theoretical knowledge and practical training in electrodiagnostic medicine. Over five days, participants engaged in lectures, hands-on sessions, and clinical case discussions, guided by experienced instructors from the Medical College of Wisconsin and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Among the guests was Douglas Davis, MD, PhD, a member of the GMKA’s Board of Directors and Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Together with GMKA, Dr. Davis supported this educational initiative, which aims to help Ukrainian physicians deliver high-quality patient care under the extreme conditions of war.
“Although it was described as a ‘basic’ course, it significantly expanded my understanding of complex yet essential processes involved in diagnosing peripheral neuropathies, and applying ENMG methods,” shared Serhii Kolisnyk, MD, PhD, FEBPRM, Associate Professor in the Department of PRM at National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Senior Specialist and Deputy Chief Physician at the Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, and Board Member of the Ukrainian Society of PRM.
“It’s not only about technique — it’s about the ability to see the patient holistically, identify the root of functional impairment, and intervene effectively using a team-based, interdisciplinary approach,” he added.
Dr. Kolisnyk has already begun applying the course material in his clinical work and is incorporating it into the education of interns and PRM residents.
“The training helped me restructure and deepen my teaching content on the neurophysiological basis of motor and sensory disorders,” he said. “This allows me to present the material in a more accessible, logically organized, and clinically relevant way. That’s critically important as Ukraine works to build highly competent and motivated rehabilitation teams.”
Source: Ruslan Satsula, Facebook
Course director Dr. Oksana Sayko has played a pivotal role in advancing rehabilitation medicine in Ukraine since 2015. Her long-standing collaboration with U.S. colleagues has significantly contributed to the training of Ukrainian rehabilitation professionals in modern, evidence-based practices. According to Dr. Kolisnyk, this ongoing commitment is helping to build a strong educational foundation for PRM physicians, physical and occupational therapists, and other members of the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team.
“Special thanks also go to Yurii Ponomarenko and the team of Ukrainian biomedical engineers and clinicians who, in partnership with international colleagues, helped design a logically structured, clinically relevant, and highly motivating course,” he added. “This kind of cross-border collaboration gives Ukraine not only the opportunity to catch up with global medical standards but also to create a model of care uniquely adapted to the realities of war.”
Course Organizers and Contributors:
- Oksana Sayko, MD — Medical College of Wisconsin (Course Director)
- Svitlana Plakhotnik, MD, PhD — Deputy Medical Director, Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 8
- Valeriia Soloviova — Head of PRM Department, Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 8
- Ruslan Stasula, MD — PRM Specialist, Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 8
- Oleksandr Solonovych, MD, PhD — Neurologist, Head of Functional Diagnostics, Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute
- Yurii Ponomarenko, MD, PhD — Neurologist, Founder of EMGschool
- Oleksandr Dobrynov — Director, Ukrmedspectrum (medical diagnostics equipment provider)
- Volodymyr Krasiokha — Director General, Yurii Lypa Lviv Regional Veterans Hospital
- Oksana Makar, PhD — Head of Rehabilitation Department, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
- Oksana Hanusych — Head of Rehabilitation Ward, Danylo Halytsky LNMU
As a nonprofit organization committed to advancing evidence-based medical knowledge, GMKA supports educational and capacity-building initiatives that expand access to up-to-date high quality medical information for Ukrainian healthcare professionals. Our mission is to equip clinicians with the tools and knowledge necessary for lifelong learning and the implementation of best practices in everyday clinical care — even in the most challenging conditions.