20 Veteran Medical Professionals to Receive Free Training at Dobrobut Academy

At the end of July, Dobrobut launched its second intake for free professional training for veteran medical professionals within the Medosvita dlia heroiv project. Following a review of applications, an expert committee selected 20 participants who will undergo professional training at Akademiia Dobrobut.

The initiative is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and Veteran Hub. Media partner — УП.Життя.

A total of 46 veterans applied to participate in the project this year. They include doctors, paramedics, nurses and male nurses who worked or continue to work at stabilization points, mobile hospitals and medical evacuation teams.

Most popular training areas

Ultrasound diagnostics was the most popular training area among the candidates. In their motivation letters, participants explain this choice by the specific nature of frontline medicine: military doctors often have to combine several specialties at the same time, while ultrasound skills allow them to make decisions more quickly at the point of care.

Other priority areas include healthcare organization and management, physical and rehabilitation medicine.

Returning to professional practice

According to the application forms, one in five participants selected for the program currently does not have an opportunity to practice their profession. Those who remain in medicine do so predominantly while serving in the military — treating patients in hospitals, medical company outpatient clinics and medical units of military formations.

In their motivation letters, veterans openly speak about concerns that they will have to “catch up” with colleagues who have remained in the profession during this time, as well as about professional burnout and anxiety about returning to civilian practice. The longest break from civilian medical practice among the participants is 5 years.

“The full-scale war has transformed Ukrainian medicine, and veteran medical professionals now possess unique practical experience. At the same time, the participants’ applications show us how many people, because of prolonged service, are afraid that they will not be able to keep up with civilian medical practice. As a large medical network, it is our responsibility to help our colleagues overcome this barrier, restore their professional confidence and provide opportunities for development. We simply cannot afford to lose such specialists,” said Chief Medical Director of the Dobrobut medical network Oleksandra Mashkevich.

“Selecting participants for the program for the second time was no easier than last year. Each candidate has a strong story and the potential to build a career in civilian medicine. It would have been an honor for us to support every one of them. However, this year some of the applicants were veterans who had experienced captivity and sustained injuries, so our priority was to support them. For us, this project is an opportunity to stand alongside people who have given so much while defending the country, and to help them return to their profession and build a new stage of their lives,” said Nana Voitenko, Rector of Akademiia Dobrobut.