Paris–Ternopil: Exchange of Experience for the Future of Ukrainian Medicine

In April 2025, a delegation of specialists visited one of Europe’s leading institutions — the Sainte-Anne Clinic in Paris, an international leader in psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery. The delegation included Professor Yurii Mysula from the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, and Medical Psychology at TNMU, as well as physicians from the Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise “Ternopil Regional Clinical Psychoneurological Hospital.”

This visit marked an important step in international university collaboration, opening new opportunities for educational development, clinical practice, and scientific research at TNMU.

The internship focused particularly on modern methods for the treatment and rehabilitation of mental disorders, including:

• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for medication-resistant depression;
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for:
  • severe depression with suicidal risk,
  • catatonia,
  • schizoaffective disorder,
  • manic states in bipolar affective disorder,
  • psychotic episodes resistant to medication,
  • psychomotor agitation;
• Stereotactic neurosurgical interventions for complex neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia);
• Use of neurostimulators in patients with structural epilepsy;
• Real-time neuroimaging and robotic technologies in neurosurgery;
• Multidisciplinary rehabilitation approaches based on the latest insights into neuroplasticity.

Familiarization with advanced European standards of care inspired ideas for enhancing the educational process at the TNMU Department of Psychiatry, particularly in the following areas:

• Practical student training using simulation and clinical resources;
• Innovative treatment methods in postgraduate education;
• Implementation of an interdisciplinary approach to learning (psychiatry, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, neuropsychology).

The knowledge gained and international contacts established will serve as a foundation for new forms of academic exchange, internships for students and faculty, and joint research projects. This will allow TNMU to remain at the forefront of transforming medical education in line with the standards of modern European medicine.

We express our sincere gratitude to our French colleagues for their openness, willingness to share experience, and support for Ukrainian specialists during these challenging times.

TNMU continues to develop international cooperation to ensure that the quality of medical education in Ukraine meets the highest global standards.