June 18, 2010 in Kyiv, a monthly training course on thematic improvement “Practical course of palliative care with fundamentals of teaching” was completed in Kyiv. 35 Ukrainian physicians participated in the course.
The course was held at the National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education named after Shupyk in Kyiv, with financial and organizational support from the International Renaissance Foundation and Open Society Institute, New York, from May 24 to June 18, 2010.
The purpose of the training was to study the experience of providing palliative care in the world, strengthen the practical knowledge and train skills for conducting presentations and discussions in order to spread received knowledge among fellow colleagues from the regions.
During the first two weeks of the course, the physicians were taught by the American specialists from the Hospice San Diego, USA:
- Dr. Frank Ferris – Director of the International Program of the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Hospice,
- Dr. Shannon Moore – Deputy Director of the International Program of the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Hospice,
- Dr. Sue Bodtke – Specialist in Palliative Medicine from the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Hospice,
- Mary S. Willer – Clinical Nurse of the Public Hospice of Washington,
- Rosene D. Pirrelyo – pharmacist, pharmacy director of the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Hospice.
The first week of classes was held in lecture mode. During the next six days participants had practical training at four clinics of Kyiv – in Kyiv City AIDS Center, Kyiv Cancer Center, Kyiv City Hospital № 2 and Kyiv Geriatric Center.
Curriculum was based on the training course “Education for physicians on the end of life care in Oncology (EPEC-O)”, which was translated into Ukrainian in 2010 by the International Renaissance Foundation. All participants of the training received an electronic version of the translated textbook with additional materials for lectures for physicians and medical students in the regions.
The electronic version of the textbook will also be available on the websites of the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Hospice, USA and International Renaissance Foundation soon. In 2010 Public Health Program of the International Renaissance Foundation also plans to publish a printed version of the textbook and distribute it among medical universities and colleges of Ukraine.
The “Ukrainian part” of the training was conducted jointly by the teaching geriatric center of the National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (NMAPE), which operates under the guidance of Prof. Leonid Standiuk, and Department of Palliative Care of the NMAPE headed by Prof. Yuri Gubsky.
All participants received certificates on completing a thematic advancement course.
International Renaissance Foundation is grateful for fruitful cooperation to the National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education named after Shupyk, Institute of Palliative Medicine of the San Diego Hospice, USA, and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for the opportunity to conduct the training on a high professional level.
The ceremony of completing American part of the training was very interesting and full of symbolism. It was rather an initiation into specialists of palliative care. Physicians frequently wash their hands due to the professional requirements. It is believed that water symbolizes purification of body, thoughts and soul…
Each willing participant came to trainers who were carrying a jug of water and washed hands of participants, saying “By washing hands in this water, you are initiated into specialists of palliative care and promise to work always sincerely and with all your heart!”.
