Ukrainian university professors turn to combat medicine near front lines of fighting

The battlefront is less than an hour’s drive away but staff at Zaporizhzhia university stand their ground

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  Ukrainian professors treat the wounded and take virtual classes at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, so their students complete the academic year. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  The college has assured students their education will not be interrupted despite the war with Russia. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Medical students undergo paediatric care training. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Training is carried out for students in fields including emergency medicine, paediatrics, cardiology, infectious diseases and gynaecology. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Professors prepare online material broadcast daily to students. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  UAE resident Adil Javad makes notes as he listens in to a class. Photo: Adil Javad

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  Simulations help medical students diagnose a patient’s condition and prescribe medication. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  About 100 Ukrainian interns remain as volunteers in the southern city after the invasion by Russia. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  More than 70 classes are held daily online as Ukrainian professors teach the curriculum to medical students who fled for safety following the invasion by Russia. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Professors monitor and evaluate reports submitted by medical students online. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Patient simulators help medical students virtually treat and assess conditions from heart attacks to infectious diseases Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  The university sent out posts assuring students their education would not be interrupted. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  Professors take live classes and record sessions for students signing on from around the world. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

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  The Zaporizhzhia State Medical University is one of the oldest public institutions in Ukraine, with more than 14,000 students

One hour from the front line, Ukrainian professors of medicine are using their training to treat the wounded fleeing the war with Russia.

With the fighting closing in around them, these academics from a southern Ukrainian city have become combat medics, helping people from neighbouring cities evacuated after Russian attacks.

Zaporizhzhia is the last big city in the region under Ukrainian control.

It has, so far, been a safe haven for people escaping the Russian assault on Mariupol and Kharkiv, towns in the Donbas region, and is home to Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

That sense of security has come under threat over the past few days.

22 hour work days

Attacks on the city have intensified with three air strikes on Tuesday, according to Ukraine’s regional military administration broadcasts.

Residents in the south-east of the city can often hear shelling on the front line.

Air-raid alarms are commonplace, with sirens going off three times a day, doubling at the weekend.

Natalia Pidkovych, assistant rector at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, said: “When cruise missiles arrive, the whole city hears.”

The battlefront is less than an hour’s drive away but teaching and administrative staff at the university plan to stand their ground.

Orthopaedic surgeon Maksym Kozhemiaka operates in the city’s military hospital and teaches about 100 Ukrainian interns who remain as volunteers.

“In the first few weeks we lived like robots, like zombies. There were a lot of injured soldiers, a catastrophic lack of resources, we slept two-three hours a day,” Dr Kozhemiaka, an associate professor in traumatology at ZSMU, told The National.

Treating wartime injuries

Professors treat those injured by exploding artillery shells, air raids and landmine blasts. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

The wounds the professors tend to have been horrific, caused by exploding artillery shells, air bombing and landmine blasts.

“We see all wartime injuries, we see it every day. It’s been really, really terrible,” Dr Kozhemiaka said.

“But the worst situation is for doctors in the civilian hospital with [wounded] women, children, the old.

“We must help our soldiers, our civilians and our students.”

But education is always on the doctors' minds.

The operations performed are used in video broadcasts to teach students. The demanding procedures in the military hospital are also shared with peers in online presentations at European medical conferences.

“Despite our daily intensive work in the hospital with the soldiers, we don’t forget our teaching activities,” Dr Kozhemiaka said.

“We prepare lecture materials, practical exercises and every day we give this material online for our students, Ukrainian and foreign.

“We show operations in video broadcasts. This experience is unique, it is priceless and gained with sweat and blood.”

‘We are with you’

The university assured its students that 'we are with you. The university works', after the Russian invasion began and people fled to safer areas. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

Professors at one of the oldest public medical institutions have been conducting online classes since February when Russia invaded of the country, causing students to flee.

After the Russian invasion began on February 24, the university sent out posts on social media that online classes would soon resume.

“We are with you. The university works,” one message said.

In a video with faculty gathered around a large conference table, a professor assured students their education would not be interrupted.

The institution caters for more than 14,000 students, including 3,500 from overseas.

Most Ukrainian students have fled to safer regions and foreign students are back home.

“Dear foreign students,” Ms Pidkovych said in the broadcast. “We are really happy you are safe at home. Thank you for your messages and for your letters.

“University authorities [will do] everything to finish your education in time. You will get your diplomas in time in June.”

Affordable fees, low living costs, high-quality teaching and a degree that is valid in Europe are why medical colleges in Ukraine are popular with students from countries such as India, the UAE, Morocco, Ecuador, Zambia and Nigeria.

Indians are among the largest group of foreign students in Ukraine with more than 18,000 registered in colleges.

“We read about missile attacks narrowly missing places we know well,” said Adil Javad, who took one of the last flights out of the capital Kiev back to his home in Dubai before the war began.

“We worry about the professors and are concerned about their safety.”

The 20-year-old student now signs in daily for the online classes.

Several students who left Zaporizhzhia later were caught in the crossfire in Kiev as they waited to board flights home.

Sanabil SP witnessed explosions in Kiev as he and a group of students walked, terrified, to the railway station for a train to take them to safety along the Romanian border.

“It was frightening, there was a lot of firing. I told myself whatever happens just make it to the railway station,” said the 23-year-old from Kannur, Kerala.

“Despite everything our teachers are going through, they are still teaching. That is the reason we have not transferred out and are hanging on to the online classes.”

Virtual classes

Students assess a patient's condition and prescribe medication in virtual simulations that are evaluated by professors. Photo: Zaporizhzhia State Medical University

The professors divide their time between caring for the wounded and ensuring students complete the academic year that ends this month.

In more than 70 classes a day, students watch live lectures or listen in to recorded lessons on subjects including cardiology, paediatrics, infectious diseases, gynaecology and dentistry.

Class sizes vary from 15 to more than 300, depending on the subject.

Medical students are keen to show solidarity with their professors but with the war intensifying, most will need to decide about transfers in coming months.

University authorities acknowledge online learning does not replace practical clinical experience but say they are doing their best to impart knowledge despite the continuing hostilities.

Svitlana Morhuntsova, vice-rector and associate professor, said the university is already preparing for the next academic year and is in contact with other Ukrainian medical institutions that are also conducting online courses.

“Zaporizhzhia is staying strong and our university is staying strong,” she said.

“Daily, our teaching staff and administrative staff come in to work.

“Of course we hope students will be able to come back and continue their classes offline. We want to make sure everything is ready when they come back when everything will be calm.”

Staying strong

Peace appears a long way off with no end in sight to hostilities.

The college offers consultations with psychiatric professors to help people living in Ukraine cope with the war.

Video explainers show people who experience panic attacks how to handle reactions that might feel like heart attacks.

“The stress of the war has led to a rise of chronic diseases in our civilian citizens. They really need our care,” said Prof Mykhailo Kolesnyk, a cardiologist who teaches postgraduate interns.

He also works at the university clinic where wounded civilians and Ukrainian residents come in for MRI examinations, X-rays, laboratory tests and consultations.

Humanitarian aid from the international community has helped to treat thousands of wounded.

“It was quite challenging in the first days of the war because nobody could even imagine that this could happen,” the Prof Kolesnyk said.

“But now we continue our work every day in the hospital. Work, work and work — it really helps to overcome stress.

“We want to thank the international community, professional organisations for their support.

“It’s very important for us to know that we are not alone.”