The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has devastated the Ukrainian healthcare infrastructure, disrupting cancer care, halting clinical trials, and compounding long-standing systemic challenges.
Even before the war, Ukraine’s oncology system faced major constraints: Limited access to radiotherapy equipment, outdated chemotherapy supply chains, and workforce shortages. The invasion intensified these issues—cancer hospitals were damaged, warehouses destroyed, and critical staff displaced. Yet, amid this devastation, a coalition of Ukrainian diaspora and international stakeholders launched an extraordinary response: Investing in people.
At the center of this response is a coalition of healthcare professionals from academic institutions, international academic partners affiliated with various non-profits—the Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development, or UA-MED1. Their mission: To strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system by equipping its medical professionals with advanced skills, global exposure, and mentorship networks.
From knowledge exchange to system change
Between 2022 and 2024, UA-MED coalition facilitated 126 observerships across 17 leading academic institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia (Figures 1-3).
A cross-sectional survey presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 meeting2 captured the impact of these experiences on oncology practice in Ukraine:
- 93.2% of participants reported a shift in their understanding of modern oncology care,
- 86.4% learned new procedures and techniques, and
- 71.1% implemented new procedures upon returning home.
Importantly, the impact of the observerships has extended beyond individual skill-building. Participants became local educators and leaders: 78.0% conducted peer trainings, 69.5% delivered hospital-wide presentations, and 49.2% incorporated new content into teaching. Moreover, 84.5% maintained active mentorship relationships with their host institutions—turning short-term observerships into long-term academic partnerships.
Barriers and lessons learned
Despite these gains, participants cited substantial challenges in applying their new knowledge. The most common barriers included lack of equipment or materials (70.7%), human resource shortages (43.1%), and limited institutional support (43.1%). These challenges highlight the urgent need to pair professional training with structural reforms—particularly in procurement, staffing, and administrative leadership.
Nonetheless, the momentum is undeniable. Observerships have contributed to critical advances in Ukraine’s wartime oncology practice. Following international observerships, Ukrainian oncology professionals have implemented a range of impactful innovations in cancer care, despite the ongoing war. In radiation oncology, they launched stereotactic body radiation therapy for prostate and metastatic cancers, adopted hypofractionation regimens, enhanced planning through the use of CT and MRI simulation, and advanced motion management techniques.
In medical oncology, observers have modified drug protocols to address shortages and improved management of treatment-related adverse events. Multidisciplinary teamwork and guideline-based care were strengthened through international mentorship and the adoption of global protocols. These innovations underscore how targeted training can accelerate the modernization of oncology practices even in resource-constrained, conflict-affected settings.
Stanford to National Cancer Institute, Kyiv: The Story of Dr. Iryna Kriachok
One of the most striking examples of the observership’s impact is Dr. Iryna Kriachok, head of the Chemotherapy of Hemoblastoses Department at the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv.
Dr. Kriachok’s story is a testament to the power of international solidarity. Her success, and that of over 100 Ukrainian oncology professionals, underscores that in times of war, professional development is not a luxury; it is a lifeline.
In 2023, Dr. Kriachok completed a one-month observership at Stanford University’s Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, followed by participation in the American Society of Hematology 2023 annual meeting in San Diego. Her training, coordinated by Help Ukraine Group3 and Global Medical Knowledge Alliance5 and supported by the Union for International Cancer Control, focused on advanced techniques in hematologic malignancies, allogeneic transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy.
“It was a great honor to be invited to Stanford,” Dr. Kriachok shared. “I was deeply moved by how open, generous, and eager to share their knowledge the doctors were. The experience was not only transformative for me but will benefit my entire team.”
Upon her return to Ukraine, she achieved what many considered very challenging during wartime: With her team, she launched the first allogeneic stem cell transplantation program at the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv. With continued mentorship from Stanford, her observership directly catalyzed the implementation of a high-complexity therapy that was previously unavailable in National Cancer Institute, Kyiv.
A strategy for resilience and equity
As Ukraine works toward aligning its national cancer control strategy with EU standards and targets full implementation by 2030, international observerships offer a proven model for scalable, sustainable impact. These programs:
- Accelerate clinical innovation via exposure to high-volume centers,
- Promote knowledge transfer to underserved regions,
- Foster cross-border mentorship and academic collaboration, and
- Build a foundation for health system resilience beyond crisis response.
Dr. Kriachok’s story is a testament to the power of international solidarity. Her success, and that of over 100 Ukrainian oncology professionals, underscores that in times of war, professional development is not a luxury; it is a lifeline.
By continuing to invest in people, Ukraine is not only surviving the war, but also rebuilding a smarter, more equitable oncology system from within. Let’s stand with Ukraine by opening more doors for Ukrainian professionals to learn, lead, and transform cancer care back home.
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