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DR. DAVIS FIELD NOTES REPORT (Extended)
Strengthening Ukraine’s Healthcare Future Through Global Collaboration
Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development (UA-MED)
Motto: Sapientia per amicitiam — Wisdom through Friendship
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Strategic Impact
Ukraine is not simply rebuilding—it is reinventing healthcare. From battlefield trauma to digital infrastructure, drone technology impact on conflict zone medicine, new integrated prosthetics advancements, and mental health care, Ukraine’s medical community is setting new global standards. UA-MED’s mission is to scale these innovations while offering Ukrainian institutions access to the best of Western academic medicine. By translating courage into capacity—and capacity into sustainable systems—UA-MED helps Ukraine lead through wisdom and partnership.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Our most recent mission to Ukraine marked a powerful shift—from short-term response to long-term medical transformation.
With your support, the Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development (UA-MED) is helping turn courage into capacity, and capacity into lasting change.
Mission Highlights:
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National Healthcare Forum in Kyiv
I was honored to serve as the only non-Ukrainian speaker at a national forum hosted by Health Minister Viktor Liashko, with over 150 leaders in attendance. -
Sports-Based Recovery & Documentary Project
We expanded Sports is Good Medicine with the Ukrainian Paralympics Committee and began filming a documentary on athlete-veteran healing in the Carpathians. -
Digital Infrastructure for Resilience in Irpin
Delivered $3M in Wi-Fi routers to restore free public internet and deepen Irpin’s Sister City partnership with Milwaukee. -
Academic Collaboration with Zhytomyr Polytechnic Institute
With support from Gennadii Butkevych and Oleksandr Usyk, we launched scholarships and a new sports rehab program, where I’ve been invited to serve as Medical Director. -
Advanced Clinical Training in Lviv
Introduced a needle EMG course and expanded mentorship networks for rehabilitation physicians in partnership with GMKA. -
Institutional Integration
Strengthened ties with Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins, and advanced MOUs with Ukraine’s Ministries of Health and Sports.
This mission reaffirmed UA-MED’s role as a bridge between Ukrainian resilience and global medical expertise. I’m deeply grateful for your partnership in this journey.
With appreciation,
Dr. Douglas Davis, Give to the World and UA-MED
Sapientia per amicitiam — Wisdom through Friendship
Overview:
The May 2025 mission to Ukraine, led by Dr. Douglas Davis and the Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development (UA-MED), represents one of the most impactful reports to date. UA-MED is a collaborative network of academic medical professionals and humanitarian NGOs, including Give to the World (GTTW). This mission marked a strategic pivot, shifting from emergency response to long-term, systems-based partnerships between Ukraine, North America, and Europe.
Through high-level engagements across Kyiv and other regions, the mission reaffirmed UA-MED’s role as a central coordination platform for building healthcare capacity in wartime Ukraine. The initiative balanced immediate frontline needs with long-term institutional development.
The mission culminated in the National Healthcare Forum of Ukraine, where over 150 medical leaders, government officials, and clinical innovators gathered under the theme:
“Doctors of Ukraine: Save, Win, Restore. Victory Begins with the Health of the Nation.”
Led by Minister of Health Viktor Liashko and Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chair of the Parliamentary Healthcare Subcommittee, the Forum spotlighted Ukraine’s leadership in wartime medicine.
Dr. Davis was the sole non-Ukrainian invited to speak—an honor that reflected years of partnership and trust. His presence underscored a shared commitment to moving beyond crisis toward long-term, strategic transformation grounded in international collaboration, medical excellence, and frontline resilience.
1. National Healthcare Forum – Kyiv
Held at Shupyk National Healthcare University, the Forum showcased Ukraine’s leadership in trauma care and battlefield medicine. Despite operating under extreme conditions, frontline clinicians are setting new global standards.
One highlight was the “Future of the Medical Profession” award ceremony, honoring young doctors under 40 who are driving emergency care and rebuilding clinical systems.
Dr. Davis, representing the UA-MED Alliance of Signatories, reinforced the Alliance’s mission to amplify Ukraine’s voice in global medical leadership and support national capacity building.
Caption: Dr. Davis is presenting at the conference on the topic of “Prospects for the development of the medical profession: education, professional standards, and medical government.”
Pictured: Dr. Davis and other presenters posing at the Forum spotlighted Ukraine’s leadership in battlefield medicine and trauma innovation in Shupyk National Healthcare University.
Caption: Dr. Davis shaking hands with Mykhailo Radutskyi, the head of the Healthcare Subcommittee for Verkhona Rada just before the conference where they both presented at Shupyk National University of Health in Kyiv.
2. Paralympic Rehabilitation & Documentary Initiative
In a strategic meeting with Valeriy Sushkevich, President of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, Dr. Davis explored the expansion of joint initiatives:
“Sports is Good Medicine”
“Sports to Heal”
“Climb to Heal” (in partnership with Mountain Seed Foundation)
UA-MED also delivered specialized equipment to the leading Paralympic rehabilitation center in the Carpathians, where elite athletes train alongside wounded veterans—a model of integrated physical and psychological recovery. A documentary currently in production will spotlight this powerful program for global audiences.
A touching story from this upcoming documentary can be found at our partner's site:
https://friendsofbeanangel.org/2024/08/16/dan-cnossens-visit-to-ukrainian-rehabilitation-and-paralympics-center/
Caption: Pictured is Valery Suskevich, director of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee. Valeriy is pointing at a gift from Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Dan Cnossen (ret), which he recieved during one of Dr. Davis's past visits to setup Veteran Rehabilitation programming with Valeriy and the Paralympics Center in the Carpathian Mountains.
Caption: Dr. Davis (right) with Valery Suskevich (center), director of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee and a volunteer, during their meeting discussing Paralympic Rehabilitation & Documentary Initiative. Dr; Davis also delivered an handheld portable ultrasound device for use at the Paralympics and Rehabilitation Center in Western Ukraine.
3. Infrastructure Recovery in Irpin
Dr. Davis returned to Irpin, a symbol of resistance during the Battle for Kyiv. A key milestone was the delivery of $3 million worth of Wi-Fi routers, funded by Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and facilitated through Global Empowerment Mission (GEM). These now provide free public internet throughout the city—a testament to digital resilience.
This partnership stems from the Sister City relationship between Irpin and Milwaukee, developed by GTTW partner Friends of Be An Angel and supported by Mayors Oleksandr Markushyn and Cavalier “Chevy” Johnson.
Dr. Davis and Mayor Markushyn reunited at the historic Giraffe Mall bridge and Bucha crossing—landmarks where Ukrainian forces famously halted Russian advances.
Caption: Dr. Davis met up with Irpin’s Mayor Markushyn at the bridge site just south of the Giraffe Mall and the tiny bridge from Bucha to the North.
X / Twitter videos from the decisive battle:
4. Academic Partnerships with Zhytomyr Polytechnic Institute
This program aims to incentivize the best students to pursue studies and research, aid promising newcomers in developing and executing cutting-edge projects, and advance Ukraine’s scientific and technical capabilities.
In 2024, students at Zhytomyr Polytechnic Institute will receive 13 scholarships worth 7,000 hryvnias each for their academic achievements and involvement in the university’s scientific, innovative, and community activities. These scholarships will also recognize their contributions to the development and execution of significant scientific and social projects.
The BGV Group Management company hopes these scholarships will provide valuable support for students at Zhytomyr Polytechnic and serve as an incentive for their future growth.
Dr. Davis has been asked to be the Medical Director for their sports-based rehabilitation programs.
Forbes Magazine covers:
https://www.boxingnewsandviews.com/2024/12/28/usyk-makes-forbes-magazine-cover-in-ukraine/
Caption: Dr. Davis with members of the faculty and students at the Zhytomyr Polytechnic Institute
5. Advanced Clinical Training in Lviv
In partnership with the Veterans Hospital in Lviv and the Superhumans Center, UA-MED and the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) launched an advanced needle electromyography (EMG) training course. Led by Dr. Oksana Sayko of Milwaukee, this hands-on course enhances clinical capacity for neurorehabilitation.
Dr. Davis also delivered a lecture on UA-MED’s mission. Participants joined the Alliance’s WhatsApp coordination network to support ongoing mentorship and knowledge sharing.
6. Institutional Expansion of UA-MED (https://ua-med.org/)
This mission formally advanced UA-MED’s structure as a horizontally integrated alliance connecting Ukrainian medical professionals with global partners. Collaborators include faculty from top institutions—Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins—and NGOs such as Be An Angel, GMKA, August Mission, UMANA, Razom, and United Help Ukraine.
High-level meetings included:
Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Ministry of Sports and Paralympics Committee
Representatives of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliment)
Ukrainian Federation of Professional Medical Organisations
The focus: formalizing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to streamline future collaboration and align long-term strategies.
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With appreciation,
Dr. Douglas Davis, Give to the World and UA-MED
Sapientia per amicitiam — Wisdom through Friendship