TNMU Deepens Cooperation with German Expert Andreas Stähli
On September 10, 2026, a working meeting between Andreas Stähli, Halyna Leitsyus, and the administration of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University took place. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in joint professional initiatives and research projects. TNMU was represented by Rector Petro Lykhatskyi, Vice-Rector for Science and Education Arkadii Shulhai, Vice-Rector for Research Oleksandra Oleschuk, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Svitlana Kucher, Deputy Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Nursing Liudmyla Mazur, and Guarantor of the Nursing Educational and Professional Programme Mariia Marushchak.
Andreas Stähli holds a PhD and is a psychologist, a certified course director of the German Society for Palliative Medicine, and a member of the Editorial Advisory Boards of the German Journal of Palliative Medicine and the journal of the Polish Association for Palliative Care. Halyna Leitsyus is an Associate Professor, Candidate of Philological Sciences, translator, and co-author of the handbook Nutrition in Palliative Care.
The meeting focused on deepening cooperation and establishing regular lectures by Andreas Stähli as a visiting scholar and expert.
TNMU Rector Petro Lykhatskyi expressed his gratitude for Mr Stähli’s assistance to the University’s academic staff and students in mastering the theoretical and practical aspects of palliative care.
Vice-Rector for Research Oleksandra Oleschuk proposed conducting joint research on palliative care for people and military personnel affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Mr Stähli expressed his readiness to support this initiative, noting that he has been engaged in research in the field of palliative care for many years. Mariia Marushchak supported the idea and suggested broadening the scope of research to include palliative care for patients with various diagnoses. Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Svitlana Kucher expressed her wish to explore the possibility of organising lectures on palliative care for medical students as well.
The Vice-Rector for Science and Education noted that Andreas Stähli’s mission is important for TNMU students and for Ukraine as a whole.
Andreas Stähli invited TNMU faculty members and students to formulate their own suggestions regarding topics for future lectures, seminars, and workshops. As a certified course director of the German Society for Palliative Medicine, he also expressed his willingness to provide specialised training for the University’s academic staff.
A valuable contribution to the University’s educational process and a lasting reminder of the meeting was the publication Basic Curriculum for Palliative Care for Nursing Professionals (Basiscurriculum Palliative Care für Pflegefachkräfte), presented by Mr Stähli. These materials will serve as a basis for developing and improving TNMU’s own educational programmes.
Reference. Andreas Stähli is the author and co-author of the following handbooks: Emotions and Communication in Palliative Care, Compendium: Methods of Teaching Palliative Care, Palliative Care: A Practical Handbook for Nurses, and Nutrition in Palliative Care.