Empowering Ukrainian Surgeons: U.S. Training in Reconstructive and Neurosurgery

Published: October 24, 2024

We are excited to share that Razom Health’s Co-Pilot Project and OU Health have hosted the 15th participant of our 4-week observership program, focused on facial plastic reconstructive surgery and neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma. A huge thanks to Dr. Mark Mims, Dr. Andrew Bauer, and the McGrail Family for leading this project.

One participant shared their experience:

“The acquired knowledge is extremely important, and I’ve already used it in practice. Every day, we face patients who need these life-saving reconstructive surgeries.”

This cohort included Dr. Andrii Kopchak, Dr. Tetiana Pavlychuk, and Dr. Ievgen Shumynskyi from Kyiv Regional Hospital and Bogomolets Medical University, who frequently collaborate on symposiums focused on the reconstruction of head and neck war injuries with the Co-Pilot Face the Future Foundation and Co-Pilot Face to Face Medical Trips.

Your support is crucial in enabling the Co-Pilot Project to continue its work of providing life-changing and modern medical care to Ukrainians. Please consider donating to Razom and help us bring hope to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference.

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

Razom Announces Fall 2024 Book Tours with Ukrainian Writers

Published: October 22, 2024

Razom for Ukraine is proud to announce that this year we are supporting the book tours of prominent Ukrainian writers in collaboration with over 15 American universities and institutions, with events scheduled in cities across the United States. This literary tour offers audiences a unique opportunity to engage with Ukrainian voices through readings, discussions, and book signings.

Below, you’ll find the scheduled appearances and biographies of the featured writers and poets.

Featured Writers and Poets:

Marianna Kyianovska
Ostap Slyvynsky
Olena Stiazhkina
Halyna Kruk

Ostap Slyvynsky

Ostap Slyvynsky is a celebrated Ukrainian poet, translator, essayist, and scholar. He has authored five books of poetry, including The Winter King (2018), and The Dictionary of War (2023), a documentary book based on testimonies of witnesses of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. His poetry has been published internationally, and The Winter King was recently shortlisted for the American Translation Prize and the Derek Walcott Prize. Slyvynsky is also a professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv) and Vice President of PEN Ukraine since 2022.

Ostap Slyvynsky’s U.S. Tour Dates:

October 17, 2024
Columbia University, New York
Event Link
October 18, 2024
Ukrainian Cultural Festival, New York
Event Link
October 21, 2024
Princeton University, New Jersey
October 23, 2024
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Event Link
October 24, 2024
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Event Link
October 26, 2024
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Philadelphia
October 28, 2024
University of Michigan, Michigan
Event Link
October 30, 2024
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Event Link
October 31, 2024
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
November 1, 2024
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Event Link
November 3, 2024
House of Ukraine, San Diego, California
Event Link
November 4, 2024
University of California, San Diego, California
Event Link
November 5, 2024
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Event Link

Olena Stiazhkina

Olena Stiazhkina is a historian and fiction writer from Donetsk, Ukraine, who combines her historical expertise with sharp, tender, and furious storytelling. She is the author of 11 books of fiction, including the award-winning Cecil the Lion Had to Die and Ukraine, War, Love: A Donetsk Diary, which are now available in English. She is the recipient of the 2023 Lviv UNESCO City of Literature Award.

Olena Stiazhkina’s U.S. Tour Dates:

October 23, 2024
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Event Link
October 24, 2024
Tomorrow Bookstore, Indianapolis, Indiana
Event Link
October 25, 2024
Second Flight Books, West Lafayette, Indiana
Event Link
October 27, 2024
After-Words New and Used Books, Chicago, Illinois
Event Link
October 28, 2024
The American Literary Translators Association, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Topic: “I Chose to Stop Writing in ___”: How War Changes Language Choices
October 31, 2024
Ukrainian Cultural Festival, New York
Event Link

Halyna Kruk

Halyna Kruk (1974) is an award-winning Ukrainian poet, writer, translator, and scholar. She is the author of five books of poetry/ Two collections have come out in English in the past two years: Griffin Poetry Prize shortlisted A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails (Arrowsmith Press, 2022) and Lost in Living (Lost Horse Press, 2024) Her numerous literary awards include the Sundara Ramaswamy Prize, the 2023 Women in Arts Award, the 2021 BookForum Best Book Award, the Smoloskyp Poetry Award, the Bohdan Ihor Antonych Prize, and the Hranoslov Award. She holds a PhD in Ukrainian baroque literature (2001). Kruk is a member of Ukrainian PEN; she lives and teaches in Lviv.

Halyna Kruk’s U.S. Tour Dates:

October 28, 2024
Ukrainian Cultural Festival
Event Link
October 30, 2024
UCSD, San Diego, California
Event Link
November 1, 2024
Stanford, Palo Alto, California
Event Link
November 2, 2024
Portland, Oregon
Event Link
November 3, 2024
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Event Link
November 5, 2024
Harvard University, HURI, Massachusetts
Event Link
November 7, 2024
NYU, New York, NY
Event Link
November 12, 2024
Penn State University, State College, PA
November 14, 2024
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Event Link
November 15, 2024
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Event Link
November 19, 2024
University of Kansas, Kansas

Past Tours

Marianna Kiyanovska

Award-winning Ukrainian writer, translator, literary scholar, and public figure, Marianna Kiyanovska has had her works translated into eighteen languages. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including poetry, prose, and literary translations. A winner of the Vilenica International Literary Festival and the CEI Fellowship (2007), she was also honored with the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture in Poland (2013). In 2020, she received the prestigious Taras Shevchenko National Prize in Literature for The Voices of Babyn Yar. Kiyanovska is the Laureate of the Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Prize and was named European Poet of Freedom, both in 2022. The English-language translation of The Voices of Babyn Yar won the 2022 Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for a Translation of a Literary Work from the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the 2021–22 Translation Prize from the American Association for Ukrainian Studies (AAUS). The book was also shortlisted for the 2023 Best Literary Translation into English Prize from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages (AATSEEL).

Marianna Kyianovska’s U.S. Tour Dates:

September 18, 2024
Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Event Link
September 20, 2024
Grolier Cambridge
Event Link
September 24, 2024
Yale University
Event Link
September 26, 2024
Naval Academy
September 27, 2024
Ukraine House, Washington, DC
October 3, 2024
UT Austin
Event Link
October 7, 2024
UC Berkeley
October 9, 2024
UCSD, San Diego, California
Event Link
October 14, 2024
University of Chicago
Event Link
October 18, 2024
University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana
Event Link
October 21, 2024
Ukrainian Cultural Festival, Razom, New York
October 22, 2024
New York University, Jordan Center, New York
Event Link
October 23, 2024
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Event Link
October 23, 2024
Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Event Link

Join us as we celebrate the resilience and creativity of Ukrainian writers. Their voices reflect the spirit of a nation overcoming adversity, and your participation in these events amplifies that message. For a complete list of appearances and to learn more about our writers, please explore the links provided.

Don’t Miss – Intercepted at Film Forum Until October 10, 2024

Published: October 8, 2024

“At once subtle and blunt… [Intercepted shows] the awful intimacy of the war in Ukraine” – The New York Times

Razom Cinema’s grantee, a critically acclaimed documentary Intercepted launched their American theatrical release with a Film Forum series of screenings this past Saturday, October 5th.

Our Cinema Impact Producer, Polina Buchak, had the pleasure of moderating a Q&A with the award-winning director Oksana Karpovych in the iconic Film Forum theater. The evening featured a screening of Intercepted, a powerfully crafted documentary providing a visceral account of the full-scale Russian invasion by exposing the intercepted phone calls made by Russian soldiers to their families from Ukraine.

Film Forum is renowned for its legacy of excellent film programming, which has lasted for more than half a century. The Razom Cinema team was elated to be part of the program, made even more meaningful in light of our prior support of its premiere at the prestigious “New Directors/New Films” in New York.

Thank you to everyone who attended and presented your questions to the director. If you have yet to see this new Ukrainian documentary, head over to https://filmforum.org/film/intercepted to plan your visit. Don’t forget to use our promo code RAZOMXFF

Intercepted by Oksana Kaprovych is playing at Film Forum in NYC now through October 10th.

Photos: Dinara Khairova

Impact of “20 Days in Mariupol” Across U.S. Campuses

Published: September 6, 2024

In the lead-up to its historic Oscar win in 2024, 20 Days in Mariupol garnered remarkable support from Razom Connect, specifically through its Razom Cinema and Ukraine on Campus projects. Partnering with PBS Distribution, we successfully distributed 50 DVDs of this poignant film to universities across the United States. This initiative not only broadened the film’s reach but also ensured its lasting impact through donations to campus libraries.

The screenings of 20 Days in Mariupol extended beyond the university campuses where they were held, igniting a wave of empathy and activism. This powerful documentary, directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov, became a tool for profound reflection on the human experience during crises. Through these screenings, art demonstrated its transformative power to foster understanding, compassion, and hope amid adversity.

We also provided a screening toolkit to aid participants in planning and promoting their events. This toolkit included pre-made graphics and suggested captions for social media to amplify the impact of the film.

Event Highlights:

Harvard University: Featured Mariupol survivor Alina Beskrovna, who brought artifacts from the war, offering students a tangible connection to the devastation.
Montclair State University: Hosted a discussion with Michael Levdanski and Marianna Tretiak, providing insights from those actively aiding Ukraine.
University of Wisconsin: Led by student Anna Kovalchuk, focused on personal connections to the war and its impact on the university community.
University of Minnesota: Included survivors and Consul General Beth Richardson. Artem, a 17-year-old Mariupol survivor featured in the film, spoke to a large audience about his experiences.
City College of New York: Partnered with The Documentary Forum for a high-attendance screening, featuring influential cultural activist Daria Kolomiec.

The response from students was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed deep emotional reactions and gained a more meaningful understanding of the war. The film effectively challenged false narratives and provided a sobering view of life during war, inspiring empathy and connection across all 50 campuses.

Impact Report from DVD distribution to University campuses

Download

RAZOM CINEMA GRANT REPORT: OKSANA KARPOVYCH’S “INTERCEPTED” – NEW DIRECTORS NEW FILMS 2024

Published: August 29, 2024

Having traveled around the world, collecting international awards along the way, Razom Cinema grantee “Intercepted” has come home for its theatrical release this August. A hearty congratulations to the Oksana and the whole film team with this accomplishment! With this in mind, let’s take it back to the beginning.

For the past 53 years, the Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) have brought together a program of films and filmmakers who speak to the present and anticipate the future of cinema – those who push the envelope in unexpected, striking ways. This is done under the auspices of the New Directors New Films (N/D) festival. In recent years, Ukrainian films started to populate the N/D line up and it’s no surprise to see groundbreaking films like “Stop Zemlia”, “Pamfir”, and now “Intercepted” take their well deserved spots as alumni of the festival.

For the North American premiere, Razom Cinema supported the “Intercepted” film team to bring director Oksana Karpovych, producer Olha Beshkmelnytsina, and composer Olesia Onykiienko to the premiere screening. For a film that exposes so much and reflects on the Russian imperial behavior with its complete disregard for civilian lives, it’s important to have the filmmakers be there to guide the audiences through thoughts and questions.

Since February 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine has intercepted and recorded thousands of phone calls made between Russian soldiers on the front line in Ukraine, to their family and relatives. Those phone calls were made public to expose the true mentality of those on Ukrainian land, committing war crimes. After reviewing hours of these calls, Oksana and her team came up with what now is an award-winning documentary “Intercepted” – a photojournalistic and audibly heavy report of what has happened in Ukraine.

If you weren’t able to catch the screening, make sure to listen in to the discussion with Oksana Karpovych at New Directors New Films.

Following the successful screening in New York, the “Intercepted” team was able to engage with various media and received several positive reviews from the likes of IndieWire, Variety, Filmmaker Magazine, and others. We look forward to seeing just how far the film will go in the coming fall, so keep an eye out for it!

Razom Cinema aims to promote and celebrate the vibrancy of Ukrainian voices and assure a strong representation of Ukraine on various important stages. From grants, partnerships, and programming, we unlock possibilities such as the ones listed above – bring Ukrainian creators to important spaces to meet, partner, and do with international talent.

Thank you to our donors who made this possible, and everyone who supports Razom.

RAZOM CINEMA CELEBRATES THE THEATRICAL RELEASE OF “RULE OF TWO WALLS”

Published: August 21, 2024

Working with Razom Cinema’s Polina Buchak has been one of the most gratifying parts of the journey of making this film. The support and advocacy for our project has been nothing short of inspiring. The dream of every filmmaker is to reach as wide an audience as possible, and Razom has helped us immeasurably to connect with both Ukrainian and American audiences globally. Our film quite simply would not have been as successful had it not been for our partnership with Polina and the whole heroic team at Razom. Дуже дякую, Слава Україні!

– Director David Gutnik

Together with DCTV Firehouse, Razom Cinema celebrated the theatrical release of an award-winning documentary “Rule of Two Walls” directed by David Gutnik. Previously, Razom Cinema awarded the film team a grant to support their World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2023. With this support, in part, the team was able to bring several cast (artists featured in the documentary) and crew members to assure a strong Ukrainian representation at the festival (and industry events), as well as allow the U.S. audience to hear first hand stories from the creators.

Premiere screening at the Tribeca Film Festival 2023. From left to right: Volodymyr Ivanov (DP), David Gutnik (director), Olha Beskhmelnitsyna (producer), Bob Basset (featured artist), Mikhail Zakutskyi (sound recordist), Lyana Mytsko (featured artist), Stepan Burban (featured artist), Bohdana Davydiuk (featured artist), Andrew Orkin (music composer).

Many of our Razom friends and those who have been following Ukrainian cinema joined us at the opening night event on August 16, 2024. It was a moving night with lots of insightful conversations about the power that art holds when it comes to resistance, resilience, and reclaiming the Ukrainian identity that for years has been suppressed and hidden. This documentary, with executive producer Liev Schreiber, explores the war in Ukraine through the lens of artists living and creating amid utter destruction. Blurring the lines between what is happening in front of the cameras and behind, the film probes what it means to make cinema in a time of war.

If you happen to have missed the opening night discussion, you still have a chance to catch the closing night screening on August 22nd at 7:00 PM EDT at the DCTV Firehouse. In case you are tuning in outside of NYC, here’s a short recap of the discussion!

Thank you to our donors who made this possible, and everyone who supports Razom.

From Berlinale to Cannes – Razom Cinema Grant Report: Tetiana Khodakivska “The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole”

Published: August 9, 2024

“THANK YOU,

You can not imagine how much impact this grant has brought for our project
“The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole”

– Tetiana Khodakivska’s note

With the recent news from the Sundance Institute announcing their 2024 Documentary Fund Grantees, Razom Cinema congratulates Tetiana Khodakivska and her team for being part of the selected group. This important documentary highlights stories of Ukrainian children Kira, Taisa, and Artem as they paint their memories about time in Russian ‘re-education’ camps. In honor of this news, Razom Cinema wants to highlight the achievements of the grant that was provided to the film’s team to attend the industry events at Berlinale, CPH:DOX, and Cannes Doc festivals.

The Razom Travel Grant helped present “The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole” documentary in development at three events:

Berlinale, Berlin International Film Festival
CPH:DOX
Marché du Film, Cannes Doc

Thanks to the grant, the team secured a sale-agent, found an Executive Producer, co-production in two European countries, received one $12,000 Grant and applied for three more grants overall for $200,000. The filmmakers also have found the fiscal sponsor for the project that brings further opportunity for funding of the film to bring it to completion.

Berlinale, Berlin International Film Festival

During Berlinale, the director participated in an advocacy event organized by Terre Des Hommes, a children’s rights organization, where she discussed the issue of children’s deportation and indoctrination in front of 500 people and presented a 3-minute video. Since the event focused on the rights of young people, it was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of children’s deportation and indoctrination. Among the meetings at the Berlinale Market, the most successful one was with a representative from CAT&Docs Sales, which led to a deal memo with this sales company.

CPH:DOX

During CPH:Forum, the documentary was selected for a pitch in front of 2,000 industry representatives. Over the following two days, the team had 15 meetings with broadcasters, impact strategists, potential co-producers, and funds such as the Swedish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and representatives from Berlinale, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Points North Institute. During that time, they also engaged with potential advocacy event partners like Artist Moving Image and Kunsthal Charlottenborg, while sharing their story with The Guardian and The New York Times.

A meeting with Catapult Film Fund resulted in an invitation to apply for their grant, which is currently being considered.). The most successful meeting was with Impact Partners Fund, where the team was invited to submit a grant application for $150,000.

Another great meeting was with Women Make Movies (WMM), which, among other activities, represents projects as a fiscal sponsor for selected films. Although they were initially skeptical, having seen many Ukrainian projects in recent years, the meeting was very positive. They understood the project’s importance, and the film team is currently signing a contract with WMM. Other connections resulted in securing a $35,000 grant from the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, which only works through a fiscal sponsor.

One of the meetings resulted in new members joining the documentary team. Jane Mote was invited to be the team’s fundraising producer, as she was deeply moved by the story and truly wants to help spread awareness about Ukraine and the unlawful relocation of children. Jane works as a consultant for The Whickers Fund and knows many inspiring people with whom the team hopes to collaborate.

Marché du Film, Cannes Doc

Marché du Film selected the documentary for the spotlight section at the festival, organizing and curating one-on-one and group meetings for the team throughout the week. The Razom Cinema grant enabled the director and producer to both attend. Tetiana also won the Producer’s Network Badge and participated in the Producer’s Network activities, which were very beneficial for making industry connections. Additionally, she was selected to give an inspirational speech during the morning boost program.

The team met with the programmer of the Movies That Matter Festival, which specializes in impact-oriented films, the market manager of IDFA, One World International Human Rights Festival, and the head of Industry at Visions du Réel. All were impressed with the documentary and connected the team with their fund, to which the filmmakers have since applied . Additionally, the team met with Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, the programmer of the Sundance Film Festival, and the head of Industry at Ji.Hlava IDFF. In Cannes, the team had a meeting with an IMS (International Media Support) representative, resulting in a $12,000 grant.

Razom Cinema aims to promote and celebrate the vibrancy of Ukrainian voices and assure a strong representation of Ukraine at various industry events. Our travel grants unlock possibilities such as the ones listed above – bring Ukrainian creators to important spaces to meet, partner, and do with international talent.

Thank you to our donors who made this possible, and everyone who supports Razom.

Learn more about Razom efforts on the cultural diplomacy front within our Razom Culture project.

Razom Cinema and the Ukrainian Museum Host a Night of Ukrainian Queer Short Films in Partnership with Sunny Bunny

Published: August 1, 2024

Last Friday marked the first collaboration between Razom Cinema, Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ film festival, and the Ukrainian Museum in New York City. A diverse crowd of all ages visited the museum for a special inaugural screening of the Ukrainian Queer Shorts film program.

The event showcased six Ukrainian short films, each portraying the unique experiences of queer communities in Ukraine. From a short documentary on the non-binary experience of a Crimean-Tatar serving in the Ukrainian army to an intimate portrayal of young lesbian love in Kyiv, the program aimed to provide a snapshot of queerness in times of war. Among the featured directors were Kateryna Khramtsova, Yelyzaveta Sherstnyova, Olia Koval, Anzhelika Ustymenko, Zoya Laktionova, Anton Shebetko, and Olena Siyatovska.

The Razom Cinema Impact Producer, Polina Buchak, and the Development Coordinator at The Ukrainian Museum, Maryna Prykhodko, introduced the event, highlighting the need for the representation of Ukrainian queerness in the arts. They also emphasized the program’s connection with the ongoing Peter Hujar: Rialto exhibition at the Museum.

In addition to the screening, the audience experienced a pre-recorded moderated conversation between Bohdan Zhuk, Director of Sunny Bunny, and Nick McCarthy, Director of Programming at NYC-based NewFest. Zhuk and McCarthy discussed the artistry of the chosen films and contextualized them in Ukrainian queer past and future, sharing their experiences leading LGBTQIA+ festivals in Kyiv and NYC. Zhuk also recommended three, must-watch Ukrainian films with LGBTQIA+ themes and underscored the need for advancing Ukrainian Queer studies research. The conversation is available on our YouTube platform – we highly recommend you check it out!

Thank you to the filmmakers featured in the program, to our volunteers who made the event possible, and everyone who came to support this initiative.

We are excited to have had the opportunity to work with The Ukrainian Museum and look forward to future events together.

Photos by Polly Chesnokova.

Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for more announcements!

Learn more about Razom efforts on the cultural diplomacy front within our Razom Culture project.

Face the Future Ukraine: Advancing Reconstructive Surgery in Ivano-Frankivsk

Published: June 26, 2024

The Face the Future Ukraine team, consisting of 15 specialists from Canada and the U.S., visited Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital for the third time this spring to perform complex reconstructive surgeries. The team included reconstructive and plastic surgeons, an oculoplastic surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and nurses. They also shared their knowledge at the Third International Symposium for Surgeons “Reconstructive Surgery of Military Trauma of the Head and Neck” and the Third Symposium for Nurses “Peculiarities of Management of Patients with Military Trauma and Posttraumatic Disorders,” which saw over 130 surgeons and 230 nurses in attendance.

During their trip, the team performed 88 procedures on 32 severely injured Ukrainian heroes, focusing on major head and neck reconstruction. Collaborating with foreign colleagues provides Ukrainian surgeons a unique opportunity to diagnose complex injuries, plan treatments, and perform intricate reconstructive surgeries.

“Preparation for this mission begins long before our foreign colleagues arrive in Ukraine. Over the past five months, we have examined more than a hundred patients to plan surgeries, select specialists, and develop individual implants. It’s a big team effort. It’s very valuable that many surgeries are performed for the first time in the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital. During these missions, we not only restore the health of our soldiers but also learn from foreign colleagues and start performing new surgical interventions on our own,” says Nataliya Komashko, ENT, Head of the Ukrainian Medical Team.

“Every year, we conduct missions in different parts of the world, but in Ukraine, we encounter the most serious cases. No surgeon has faced such injuries unless they were in a war zone. We will return to Ukraine to help restore the faces of as many soldiers as possible. They are heroes who stand for the freedom of their people,” says Dr. Peter Adamson, founder of the Face the Future Foundation, who has just been awarded the prestigious Teasdale-Corti Award by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Nurses

The Face the Future nurses, led by Laurie Thomas, RN, set up a nursing training center and provided simulation models and stethoscopes for nurses to advance their skills. Laurie organized a stethoscope drive in Canada, donating dozens of stethoscopes during the conference. The team also developed protocols for a PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) and introduced this component of postoperative care in Ivano-Frankivsk hospital.

Personal Implants

A volunteer team of bioengineers from Materialise (3D printing company) designs and prints individual implants for patients. They provide an online platform for surgeons to recreate patient scans in 3D, allowing for a clear understanding of trauma and designing specific implants. This platform enables Ukrainian and Canadian surgeons to work together on the same patient, sharing documentation and collaborating comfortably.

Materialise engineers prepared 3D anatomy simulations and patient-specific 3D-printed implants for eight patients.

Medical Supplies

Medical supplies are vital for such projects, as many surgeries require specific instruments. Debbie Fritz, RN, Team Leader of Procurement, coordinates the needs of surgeons, leveraging connections with suppliers to secure donations or discounts. Razom procures critical supplies in Ukraine, which are then donated to the hospital.

Through targeted medical trips, conferences, and training sessions, providers working with the Razom Co-Pilot Project are empowering healthcare professionals, enhancing skills and methods, and ultimately improving surgical care in Ukraine.

We are immensely grateful to the Face the Future team for their continued support of Ukrainian healthcare:

– Dr. Peter Adamson, Chef de Mission

– Dr. Anthony E. Brissett, Mission Director

– Susan Truax, Administrative Support

– Dr. Josh Kain, Surgeon

– Dr. Irena Karanetz, Surgeon

– Dr. Vladimir Kratky, Surgeon

– Dr. Terry Taylor, Surgeon

– Dr. Burke Bradley, Anesthesiologist

– Amy Bradley, RN

– Debbie Fritz, RN, Team Leader for Procurement

– Maureen Merchant, RN

– Heather Leard, CST

– Laurie Thomas, RN, Head of RNs Team, Leader of Nursing Academic Day

– Bibi Yasin, RN

– Yurij Tsuvanyk, CST

– Pam Leeman, RN

We are thankful to all Ukrainian doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who tirelessly provide treatment to Ukrainian patients, both civilians and military, during the hardships of war.

Patient’s Story

“My daughter did not recognize me after the injury. I dream that the doctors will give me back my face,” said 29-year-old Oleksii before the operation. He was one of the 32 patients of the international mission of reconstructive surgeons Face the Future Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk.

Oleksii was seriously injured in the Donetsk area during an assault on enemy positions, where he came under mortar fire. His brother died, and Oleksii was severely injured in the face and hand. He was in a coma for five days and could not speak or eat for several months, but doctors managed to repair his face and final results will be visible in six months.

The humanitarian program “Face the Future Ukraine” was founded by Face the Future Foundation, Razom for Ukraine, and Still Strong to provide free reconstructive surgeries to Ukrainian patients and train Ukrainian surgeons. It is implemented in partnership with the CF “Patients of Ukraine,” the project “Rehabilitation of War Injuries,” the Ukrainian Association of Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery, the Regional Clinical Hospital of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council, Healing The Children North East, UMANA, Americares, with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk OVA, companies Metinvest, Nova Ukraine, Materialise, Yellow Blue Force Foundation, and Transmed.

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

Advancing Women’s Health Care in Ukraine: Insights from Dr. Irena Karanetz and Dr. Alina Andriiv

Published: June 25, 2024

The Current State of Women’s Health Care in Ukraine

Dr. Irena Karanetz, a renowned New York City plastic surgeon, provides an eye-opening assessment of the current state of women’s health care in Ukraine. Originally from Ukraine, Dr. Karanetz moved to Chicago at the age of 15 and trained in plastic surgery in New York. Through her connection toRazom, she joined the Face the Future Team of facial reconstructive surgeons in 2023, and has since participated in two medical trips to Ukraine. A dedicated member of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), Dr. Karanetz is passionate about women’s health, particularly post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, and is committed to improving healthcare in her homeland. During her work with the Face the Future team in the Ivano-Frankivsk hospital, she had a chance to research cancer breast reconstruction options available for women in Ukraine and was inspired to bring to them her knowledge and expertise in this field.

“Public medicine has significant flaws,” Dr. Karanetz observes. “For instance, there might be only one mammogram machine available in an entire city, leading to months-long waits for cancer diagnoses.” She highlights the disparity between public and private healthcare facilities, noting that advanced treatments like implants for breast reconstruction are often unavailable in socialized medicine, creating a significant gap in care.

Dr. Alina Adriiv, the Medical Director of the Prykarpattia Oncology Center in Ivano-Frankivsk, shares these concerns. Dr. Adriiv, who has been working in oncology since 2010, previously served as an associate professor and head of the hormone-dependent tumors department at the oncology faculty. She holds a Candidate of Medical Sciences degree and has completed numerous international internships in the U.S., Israel, and across Europe.

Envisioning a Better Future

Both doctors envision a future when Ukrainian healthcare is significantly bolstered by international collaboration and the adoption of advanced medical techniques. Dr. Karanetz emphasizes the importance of training and equipping younger doctors to overcome the current limitations, such as lack of equipment and treatments, and seize future opportunities. Her efforts have included substantial donations of medical supplies, amounting to $100,000, to support breast reconstruction.

Dr. Adriiv shares this optimistic outlook. Her primary focus is not just on improving survival rates but also on enhancing the quality of life for women undergoing breast cancer treatment. “It’s important to support women not only physically but also psychologically,” she asserts. Dr. Adriiv aims to ensure that treatment guidelines are rigorously adhered to, reducing disparities in the quality of care.

The Role of Medical Conferences

A key highlight of their partnership was the organization of a major Breast Cancer Symposium in Ivano-Frankivsk. This event, the first of its scale in Prykarpattia, was a significant milestone for both doctors. Despite challenges such as securing sponsorships and dealing with limited state support, the symposium was a success.

It was Dr. Karanetz’s dream to hold an event like the Breast Cancer Symposium in Ukraine. With support from Dr. Adriiv, Dr. Natalia Komashko, and the CF Patients of Ukraine, she was able to realize this dream last spring, by combining her participation in the Face the Future medical trip with the symposium. The symposium featured live surgeries and presentations from leading oncologists and oncologic surgeons, offering invaluable learning experiences. Participants described it as a crucial platform for demonstrating new techniques and fostering professional growth among young surgeons.

Dr. Adriiv, who spearheaded the organization of the symposium, shares her experience: “The journey was incredibly challenging due to funding issues, but the outcome was rewarding. Many leading oncologists and surgeons participated, and the event was a significant step towards improving breast cancer care in Ukraine.” Her extensive network and international experience were instrumental in bringing together top professionals for this collaborative effort.

Written by Stephania Korenovsky

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.