Ukrainian Neurosurgeons Complete International Course with Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center Experts
From February 26 to May 14, 2025, the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA), in collaboration with Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center, delivered a six-part international virtual course for Ukrainian neurosurgeons. The course addressed the growing number of complex trauma cases faced by Ukrainian physicians amid the ongoing war and offered expert instruction from one of the United States' leading centers in neurotrauma care.
About the Course
Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center, which treats over 40,000 trauma patients annually, brought together leading specialists to share their experience in managing severe neurological injuries and trauma-related conditions. The course provided Ukrainian clinicians with exposure to U.S. clinical standards, decision-making protocols, and advanced rehabilitation strategies.
Participants deepened their expertise through live lectures, practical case-based insights, and direct discussions with faculty. The initiative also promoted global knowledge exchange and professional solidarity during wartime.
Course Leadership
The course was led by Dr. Mark Dannenbaum, neurosurgeon at Memorial Hermann and Associate Professor at UTHealth Houston. He was joined by:
- Dr. Daniel H. Kim
- Dr. Isaac Hernandez Jimenez
- Dr. Cindy B. Ivanhoe
- Dr. Hussein A. Zeineddine
Out of 300+ applicants, 44 Ukrainian neurosurgeons were selected.
Course Feedback and Outcomes
- Usefulness: Participants rated the course highly relevant, with an average score of 1.36 on a 1 (strongly agree) to 5 scale.
- Learning gains: Self-reported knowledge improved across all modules (average 3.75–4.68 out of 5), especially in CNS rehabilitation and post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm management.
- Post-tests: Participants scored an average of 95% on final assessments.
“The Ukrainian neurosurgical community was excited to learn that U.S. colleagues were eager to share their knowledge of treating neurotrauma and rehabilitation,” said Dr. Yurii Perekopaiko, course moderator and pediatric neurosurgeon at the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv. “The strong interest was evident from the high number of applications. The Ukrainian neurosurgical tradition tends to be more conservative than the American one, so this course offered a valuable opportunity to explore international standards of care now widely used in the U.S.”
Curriculum Highlights
Throughout the course, participants explored modern approaches to diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with acute neurological and trauma-related conditions.
The curriculum consisted of six key lectures:
- Surgical Management of Acute Neurological Trauma
Presenter: Mark Dannenbaum, MD - Surgical Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injuries
Presenter: Daniel H. Kim, MD, FAANS, FACS - Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries
Presenter: Isaac Hernandez Jimenez, MD - Rehabilitation After Traumatic Brain Injury
Presenter: Cindy B. Ivanhoe, MD - Pseudoaneurysm/Post-Traumatic Aneurysm (Extracranial and Intracranial Segments)
Presenter: Hussein A. Zeineddine, MD - Treatment of Skull Fractures
Presenter: Mark Dannenbaum, MD
“The lectures were exceptionally relevant and informative for Ukrainian neurosurgeons,” added Dr. Perekopaiko. “Dr. Dannenbaum’s presentations on managing severe traumatic brain injury demonstrated advanced techniques for controlling intracranial pressure. Dr. Kim’s session on spinal trauma was incredibly well-structured. But for me, the lectures on rehabilitation after CNS trauma were especially valuable. This area is just beginning to evolve in Ukraine, so these insights are invaluable.”
Dr. Maksym Zhyshko, a neurosurgeon from Lutsk, also praised the course’s structure and clarity: “It was incredibly informative and directly applicable to clinical practice. Dr. Jimenez presented in such an engaging way that the lectures flew by. I appreciated how Dr. Dannenbaum began with protocol-based approaches — concise, clear, and backed with real clinical examples. He brings decades of experience to the table. Every participant's question received a thoughtful, accessible response. I was especially interested in comparing Ukrainian and U.S. approaches to surgical decision-making.”
Real-World Impact and Ukrainian Perspectives
The course underscored a strong interest in global best practices and the growing demand for modern neurotrauma management education in Ukraine — especially amid the ongoing war. Several course participants have already started implementing their new knowledge in daily clinical work:
“The course changed some of my clinical decision-making,” said Dr. Perekopaiko. “For instance, I now take a different approach to managing high intracranial pressure and have revised my understanding of adequate decompressive craniectomy. My previous decompressions were too limited. I also now make more informed decisions regarding spinal trauma care. And I believe the lectures on CNS rehabilitation have already helped many of my patients, as we’ve begun initiating rehab much earlier.”
Dr. Zhyshko added: “Autonomic dysreflexia was something I had never encountered in practice, so most of the information was entirely new to me. I found the use of a human silhouette diagram especially helpful for understanding the mechanisms and treatment strategies. Now, if a patient develops this condition, I’ll be ready.”
Knowledge Without Barriers
Ukrainian physicians who were unable to participate in the course can view the lecture recordings —with Ukrainian dubbing—on the GMKA’s YouTube channel.