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Wartime Surgeon Trains to Save Ukraine's Eyes
24 Feb
Summary
- Ukrainian doctor learns advanced eye rehabilitation techniques.
- Fellowship in Calgary focuses on treating war-related eye injuries.
- Trained doctor will return to Ukraine to share vital skills.
Dr. Pavla Ivaniuta, a Ukrainian doctor, is undergoing specialized training in Calgary, Canada, to address the severe eye injuries resulting from the ongoing war. She is participating in a humanitarian fellowship at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, focusing on saving and rehabilitating eyes and eyelids.
Four months into her six-month program, Ivaniuta has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of war, treating numerous patients with injuries requiring partial or complete eye removal. Her goal is to acquire practical, relevant knowledge that she can apply immediately upon her return to Ukraine, where an urgent need for eye specialists exists amidst a crisis of war trauma and everyday medical conditions.
Dr. Karim Punja, a surgeon and professor at the Calgary medical school, is mentoring Ivaniuta, aiming to impart extensive knowledge to aid Ukraine's front lines and future. Following her fellowship, Punja plans to join Ivaniuta in Ukraine for two weeks to assist with surgeries and continue her training remotely, ensuring the acquired skills are effectively transferred and utilized within Ukraine's medical community.
