National Conference for Infectious Diseases Specialists in TNMU

On May 13-14, 2021, a research and training conference and plenum of the National Association of Infectious Diseases on “Natural focal, emergent and re-emergent infections” was held at I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University. Due to a challenging epidemic situation in Ukraine and the world caused by coronavirus pandemic, the conference was held online.

Lead experts from all regions of Ukraine, i.e. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Sumy joined the scientific event. 787 participants were registered. During the meetings, 34 scientific reports were presented and discussed.

Professor Mykhailo Korda, the Rector of TNMU, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Doctor of Medicine, welcomed the conference participants: “Thank you very much for joining the scientific forum today. I understand how busy everyone is performing their professional duties, and I believe that a conference on infectious diseases is urgent today. I am very glad that the conference was organized at our university. I think that the experience, knowledge and new information you gain during the meeting will be valuable in your future professional practice. Thanks to your daily efforts, we allowed ourselves to be a little frivolous and forgot about a number of infections that caused huge number of deaths at the beginning of the last century, i.e. smallpox and other. However, at the end of the last century, the first outbreaks of such dangerous infections as Ebola were revealed all over the world, leading to high mortality. Today we have an unprecedented situation with COVID-19. Thus, during the conference many concerns will be covered regarding this issue. I think that all professionals, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists who joined us, will gain significant experience and knowledge for fighting this very dangerous infection.”

Mykhaylo Mykhailovych also said that TNMU takes part in a number of Ukrainian and international projects funded by grants regarding the COVID-19; the first results will be published soon, as more than a thousand COVID and post-COVID patients have been examined. The rector of TNMU expressed gratitude to the organizers of the conference for their work and wished all scientists success, pleasing emotions as of communication with colleagues, and good health.

Professor Ivan Klishch, the Vice-Rector for Research, also greeted the participants of the conference. Ivan Mykolaiovych expanded on the scientific component, because at the university much attention is paid to the study of infectious diseases, in particular, COVID-19. The Centre for Study of Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases has been established at the University. It is one of the leading centres of Ukrainefor a comprehensive research regarding this issue.

The plenary speeches were opened by Professor Viktoria Zadorozhna, the Director of L. Hromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Medicine, with a report on “Comparative epidemiological characteristic features during 2020 – April 2021”.

Professor Mykhailo Andreichyn’s report on “The problem of combined emergent tick infections” was very interesting for the audience.

Vitalii Yevtushenko, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Children Infectious Diseases of Bogomolets National Medical University expanded on the age peculiarities of COVID-19 in children.

Professor Iryna Nezhoda, the Head of the Department of Children Infectious Diseases of Vinnytsia Pirogov National Medical University, Doctor of Medicine, presented the report on “COVID-19 in children: parallels of home and world experience”.

Professor Oleksandr Zinchuk, the Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of D. Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Doctor of Medicine, expanded on “Promises of Serological Diagnosis of COVID-19”.

Professor Dmytro Zhyvytsia, the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Zaporizhia Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Doctor of Medicine, presented a report on “Peculiarities of COVID-19 in people with HIV”.

Professor Olena Ryabokon, Doctor of Medicine, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, expanded on “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pregnant women: the current matters, a case report”.

Volodymyr Panychev, Deputy Director of Ternopil Regional Laboratory Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, spoke about infection of ticks with pathogenic bacteria in urban landscapes and forest biotopes of Ternopil region.

At the end of the second day of the conference Liubov Volianska, Associate Professor of the Department of Children Diseases and Pediatric Surgery of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, presented a report on “Immunoprophylaxis of certain re-emerging infections in COVID-19 pandemic”.

The participants of the event were happy to have a constructive dialogue, because the sharing experiences and live communication is the key to a reliable, successful partnership.

The Organizing Committee is grateful to the university management, lecturers and audience for assistance in preparation of the online conference.

The format of the videoconference allowed the participants not only to verbally present their scientific achievements, but at the same time it was a platform for scientific discussion, joint viewing and fruitful dialogue regarding videos and presentations.

Please follow the links for the conference on the YouTube channel of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPIbpUAY0UU&t=20289s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtP21QzdIV0&t=8s

Solomiia Hnatyshyn, TNMU Journalist

Photos by the author