Dr. Mariia Kuzeikiv, a surgeon from Ukraine, is spending six months in Hamilton, Ontario, to learn advanced surgical techniques that she can use to treat severe war injuries upon returning home. Arriving in October for a fellowship with McMaster University at Hamilton Health Sciences, Kuzeikiv is participating in the ASSIST program, which was established in 2022 by Dr. Mark Pahuta, an orthopedic spine surgeon and McMaster associate professor of Ukrainian heritage. The initiative has brought seven Ukrainian doctors to Hamilton for specialized medical training.
In her regular work at a public trauma hospital in Ukraine, Kuzeikiv treats both civilians and military personnel suffering from severe gunshot and blast trauma. These injuries often involve massive wounds, lost bone tissue, and significant skin defects requiring multiple surgeries to restore basic mobility. Once her fellowship concludes in April, she plans to apply her new training in Lviv, a city that remains vulnerable to Russian attacks despite being relatively peaceful compared to the front lines.
During her time in Hamilton, Kuzeikiv has gained hands-on experience in complex procedures. On November 14, she participated in her first unstable pelvic fracture surgery alongside Dr. Pahuta and another colleague. The operation involved inserting screws into a patient’s lower back to connect the spine and pelvis and utilizing navigation technology to perform a minimally invasive procedure aimed at reducing patient pain.
Local physicians emphasize that Hamilton Health Sciences, recognized as one of the busiest trauma centers in Canada and Ontario, provides an ideal environment for managing complex orthopedic trauma. At the same time, Canadian medical staff note that the exchange is mutually beneficial. Dr. Pahuta points out that wartime often drives medical innovation, creating an opportunity for Canadian doctors to build professional connections and learn valuable insights from their Ukrainian counterparts.
