TNMU Establishes Cooperation with German Expert Andreas Stähli

Andreas Stähli, PhD, registered nurse, nursing examiner, certified course director of the German Society for Palliative Medicine, and member of the editorial advisory boards of the German Journal of Palliative Medicine and the journal of the Polish Association for Palliative Care, visited I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University on May 19, 2026, for a working visit together with Associate Professor, translator, and co-author of the handbook Nutrition in Palliative Care, Halyna Leitsius.

The guests first met with TNMU Rector, Professor Petro Lykhatskyi; Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Affairs, Professor Arkadii Shulhai; Dean of the Faculty of International Students, Professor Mariia Marushchak; and Deputy Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Nursing, Associate Professor Liudmyla Mazur. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss prospects for international partnership, the modernization of nursing education, and the implementation of innovative academic programs.

During the meeting, the participants discussed establishing close cooperation aimed at the development and improvement of nursing education at the university. A key topic of discussion was the development and implementation of a new specialized academic program, “Palliative Medicine,” for clinical psychologists. The participants emphasized that the combination of philosophical, psychological, and medical approaches practiced by Andreas Stähli in his professional work is particularly valuable. Psychological support for seriously ill patients and their families is an integral part of palliative care, and the training of such specialists is an urgent need for Ukraine’s healthcare system.

TNMU Rector Petro Lykhatskyi invited Mr. Stähli to become a visiting lecturer at the university, enabling him to share his knowledge and experience with students. The rector also expressed readiness to support his publishing initiatives, which could be realized through the university’s publishing house, Ukrmedknyha.

Andreas Stähli’s practical experience in the medical field is remarkable. For more than 14 years, he worked in two palliative care departments and an inpatient hospice in Munich and Münster, Germany. He is the author and co-author of several fundamental publications, including Emotions and Communication in Palliative Care, Compendium: Methodology of Teaching Palliative Care, Palliative Care: A Practical Guide for Nurses, and Nutrition in Palliative Care.