Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to serious disruptions to Ukraine's medical education system. Some universities have suffered extensive destruction and have had to evacuate their campuses to other parts of the country. But even physically intact universities have been disrupted by attacks on infrastructure and the mental stress on students and teachers that war entails.
Supporting Ukraine
Therefore, the Faculty has started a pilot project where Ukrainian students from medical programs are to complete ten weeks of training in medical research during the summer. The goal is to support Ukraine's burdened education system with supplementary course activities, while giving the students the opportunity for mental recovery and to establish contacts with students and teachers from other countries.
Professor David Gisselsson Nord, initiator and driver of the project, is happy that everything is now in place.
– I´m grateful that so many supervisors have gotten involved. It was very easy to find tutors for the students. And of course I am incredibly happy that we were able to give the students the opportunity to change their environment from a country at war. We are also very grateful that the Sparkbanksstiftelsen made the project possible through financial support.
Establishing contacts
– For Lund University, the project will also provide an improved, future basis for recruiting high-performing students to the Faculty of Medicine's postgraduate programs at doctoral level. During the project period, we also see an opportunity for internationalizationfor our own program students at the Faculty. The project is also of strategic importance to us, as we are making closer contacts with a potentially long-term and reputable partner, Ivano Frankivsk National Medical University in Ukraine, says David Gisselsson Nord.
Especially important for contacting and selecting top students in Ukraine, has been research group leader at Medfak, Oksana Klementieva, herself from Ukraine.
And the ten medical students, who arrived in Lund at the beginning of this week, are looking forward to spending the summer at Medfak:
– It´s very exciting being here. It´s a new journey and a new opportunity to test myself, to get new challenges, and to explore what I'm capable of. Getting selected, it's a moment when you realize that all the hard work isn't for nothing, each small victory is another stepping stone to a successful career. Being here, getting to know innovative approaches, and expanding my knowledge is an incredible motivation to aim for more, says Khrystyna Borteichuk, 22.
– I feel very lucky to be a part of this. It means a lot and is a great opportunity for me. I hope this research will give me new perspectives on the medical field and innovative ways to give care to patients, says Marko Shyika, 23.
What are your hopes for this stay?
-One gentleman said: "As many languages you know, as many times you are a human being", I believe this is the same for the culture, and I will do my best to feel what it's like to be a Lund citizen and successful Lund university student to cultivate something new inside myself and maybe give something in return as I do realize that being here is also representing not only myself but also representing my country, says Khrystyna Borteichuk.
