McGovern Medical School physicians lead ultrasound training for Ukrainian doctors
A collaborative international effort led by Ajai Sambasivan, MD, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and Grant H. Chen, MD, MBA, associate professor of anesthesiology, critical care and pain medicine at the medical school, helped strengthen medical education for Ukrainian physicians.
With access to advanced point-of-care-ultrasound and pain management training limited by war conditions, their project “Musculoskeletal and Pain Ultrasound Training for Ukrainian Ultrasound Trainers,” aimed to equip Ukrainian trainers with the skills and resources to expand ultrasound education in their home country.
“Ukraine’s health care system continues to face significant strain due to the ongoing conflict, which has displaced many medical professionals and forced others to work under extreme conditions,” the team said. “Access to advanced training in point-of-care ultrasound and pain management procedures remains limited.”
Originally planned for Ukraine, the program was relocated to Warsaw, Poland, for safety reasons. In partnership with the Peace Development Foundation and the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine, the team led a two-day intensive workshop at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Center and Institute of Oncology. The session included lectures, simulation exercises, and hands-on ultrasound practice focusing on musculoskeletal anatomy, pain management, and procedural guidance techniques.
Funded by a $10,000 grant, the project supported participant travel, faculty expenses, and the purchase of a central line training model that remains in Ukraine for continued use. Despite the early challenges — including travel restrictions, participant visa denials, and limited connectivity — the initiative succeeded through adaptability and strong institutional partnerships.
“The support of the UTHealth Houston Global Health Initiatives Program made it possible to share our expertise in ultrasound and pain management in a way that truly gave back to communities in need,” Sambasivan said. “Collaborating with UTHealth Houston colleagues on this project was both personally and professionally rewarding, enabling us to make a meaningful impact while working together toward a shared global health mission.”
Moving forward the team will include virtual follow-up training sessions and ongoing collaboration with Ukrainian medical organizations to expand ultrasound education to additional regions in need.
“The most inspiring part was witnessing the Ukrainian attendees’ dedication and resilience as they traveled long distances under challenging conditions to learn, their enthusiasm for helping their patients, and their gratitude as they left with new skills, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Sambasivan said.