From June 10 to 14, on the initiative of the Future for Ukraine foundation, professional training for Ukrainian physical therapists, prosthetists, and specialists in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation from the leading American specialists Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics (MCOP) took place at the Dobrobut Academy.
A five-day free educational and practical course on physical therapy for patients with amputated limbs, "before" and "after" prosthetics, was prepared and conducted by Dr. Farhad Ostovari, clinical director at the MCOP.
On the photo — Dr. Ostovari during a lecture on physical rehabilitation for people with amputees.
Farhad Ostovari is an American physical therapist, and doctor of physical therapy. Has 15 years of experience and over 1,000 patients, both civilian and military amputees. Author of the 7 training courses for physical therapists in the USA, the online physical therapy course program for military amputees in the Better Me app (over 150 million users).
On the photo — Olena Nikolaienko, president of the FFU in the United States and volunteer curator of strategy and development for the FFU International
"We are grateful to Dr. Ostovari created a comprehensive and interesting program for our specialists, which includes 15 years of experience and world knowledge in the format of a 5-day lecture-practical course. Currently, such knowledge and skills are crucial for Ukrainian specialists because we need to quickly adopt the experience of the world community to provide high-quality and timely qualified assistance to soldiers with amputated limbs," — said Olena Nikolaienko, president of the FFU in the United States and volunteer curator of strategy and development for the FFU International.
The training course consisted not only of lectures but also of practical tasks.
Working in a group, "prosthetist - physical therapist - patient with various types of amputations" became a good opportunity for participants to exchange experiences with an American expert.
On the example of veterans, who received prosthetics from our foundation, the participants analyzed the options for prostheses and their relevance for Ukrainian clinics to meet the individual needs of the patients with prostheses.
Thus, Yevhen Udovenko, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war who was among the first to receive prosthetics from the FFU Foundation in Malta, and returned to military service, was fitted with a special running prosthesis during practical training. With a new prosthesis, Yevhen participated in the Go to the Future charity run in support of defenders with amputees, which took place on June 16 at VDNG in Kyiv.
"Working with the Ukrainian military back in the USA, I was inspired by how persistently they are working towards their goal. I wish Ukrainian defenders to be able to return to a full-fledged life in Ukraine thanks to prosthetics. So, I decided to create a training course for Ukrainian medical specialists working with amputees. The five-day course includes knowledge about all aspects of patients with amputated limbs — from the pre-operative process to prosthetics and the subsequent life of a person in his community. I was very pleased to work with a group of educated and attentive Ukrainians during these five days," — Dr. Ostovari shares his impressions of working with Ukrainian specialists.
During the training, the participants could analyze cases from their own practice with Dr. Ostovari.
Generally, 59 Ukrainian specialists joined the course. Among them are physical therapists from the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region, municipal enterprise “Volyn Regional Hospital of War Veterans”, Kyiv Institute of Rehabilitation, public administration "Territorial Medical Association of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for the City of Kyiv", Dobrobut medical center, Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 6, Protez Foundation, Superhumans Center, Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center "Without Limits", National Military Medical Clinical Center "Main Military Clinical Hospital" and others.
Five-day training from American specialists became a significant event for the development of the Ukrainian field of rehabilitation and prosthetics. Due to the war, the number of people in Ukraine who need prosthetics and proper physical therapy is constantly increasing. The ability to provide such services in Ukraine makes them more accessible. Special thanks to the "Dobrobut Academy" for the training site provided and the Morshinska trademark, for drinking water for all participants during the training.
We are grateful to our partners and friends from Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics, particularly Farhad Ostovari, Michael Corcoran, and Ian Fothergill, for the significant support of Ukrainians in difficult times!
