The “MedTalk” Medical Forum Raised Funds for Military Medical Staff and Soldiers

The charity medical forum “MedTalk”, which took place on April 20, 2024 in Ternopil, brought together more than 30 companies, enterprises, institutions, organizations, 20 successful, well-known specialists in the field of medicine and communications, heads of clinics, founders of brands in the field of health care fromTernopil, Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhgorod, as well as 300 students of medical educational institutions and intern doctors.

The event began with a moment of silence in honour of those who gave their lives in this war for Ukraine. It was symbolically opened by the wife of the deceased commander of the “Staleva Sotnia” (“Steel Hundred”) and a graduate of TNMU Serhii Konoval (“Nord”) Olha Konoval. She showed a video about her husband and his devotion to Ukraine. Olha Konoval thanked everyone present for their support of the military and urged them to continue volunteering and supporting the Ukrainian army so that our defenders always have everything they need and as many of them as possible return home alive. “Let our cities be filled with wedding processions, not mourning processions,” concluded Mrs. Olha.

The coordinator of the military chaplaincy at the Ternopil-Zboriv Archdiocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Mykola Kvych, blessed the forum for successful and meaningful work.

Volodymyr Boleschuk, the first deputy chairman of the Ternopil Regional Council, wished the attandees effictive cooperation.

Mykhaylo Korda, Rector of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, noted that “this event is organized by enthusiastic students of our university together with the Pokrova charitable foundation.” Today I am glad to see that the hall is completely full. This means that students are motivated and eager to develop. And this is very pleasing! We have just returned from a major scientific conference in Bratislava. The delegation included our students. They perfectly presented their reports and papers and also became the face of Ukraine at the conference. I welcome it and wish you: stay motivated, keep developing! Future doctors gathered here. I hope that you chose your profession consciously, so I urge you: never leave your profession.

You’ve probably heard Steve Jobs’ famous speech to students at Stanford University, in which he said: Your time is short, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Life is yours. Don’t fall into the trap of dogma that says you should listen to other people’s advice and follow other people’s agreements about how you should live. Listen to your inner voice, your intuition, or somehow the knowledge you need.

Dear friends! Stay active and motivated, dream and try to make your dreams come true. This is how you will succeed, conquer this world. I wish you a happy fate! I wish you a wide life path! May the Lord bless you. Glory to Ukraine!”.

Liubov Vovk, head of the Pokrova charitable foundation, emphasized that many people from different communities of the Ternopil region joined the forum in order to achieve the goal, in order to raise as much money as possible for charitable purposes during the event. She expressed confidence that this event will definitely be successful.

TNMU student Vitalii Hakalo presented the work of the medical volunteer battalion “Hospitaliers” and thanked for organizing the forum.

Participants in the discussion panel were TNMU rector Mykhaylo Korda, representative of the Ternopil Perinatal Centre “Mother and Child” Tetiana Blahuliak, general director of the Ternopil Regional Clinical Hospital Vasyl Blihar, founder of the network of medical centres “Professor Stefan Khmil’s Clinic” in Ternopil and Lviv Stefan Khmil, surgeon – oncologist of the Ternopil Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary, mammologist Viktor Pidvalnyi. The panel discussion was moderated by Svitlana Danchak, director of the Academic amnd Research Institute of Nursing at TNMU.

After a short break, students and interns listened to the presentations of the speakers, had the opportunity to ask them questions and chat in an informal setting.

Honoured worker of science and technology of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of TNMU Stefan Khmil shared his practical experience regarding the revival of the Ukrainian nation in wartime conditions.

The Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology of TNMU, Professor Olena Venger spoke about the mental health of Ukrainians and the problems and challenges they face due to military operations.

In addition, the speakers of the forum were orthopedic traumatologist, vertebrologist Serhii Kalmazan, oncologist, mammologist Liliia Nazarko, dermatovenerologist, dermato-oncologist Roman Yaremkevych, dentist-surgeon, periodontologist Yurii Hryniuka, intern doctor, head of the organizing committee of the “Hear the Doctor” project Lilia Fabin and many other outstanding people in the field of health care.

The medical forum lasted for 10 hours. It was organized by a young team consisting of Yulia Bandrivska (postgraduate student of TNMU), Valeria Blahuliak (5th-year student of TNMU), Anastasia Hulko (5th-year student of TNMU), Lukia Kvych (regional coordinator of NGO “KrymSOS”). More than 50 volunteers have been preparing this event for weeks.

Through joint efforts, it was possible to raise funds for fuel for the medical volunteer battalion “Hospitaliers” (66,041.04 UAH) and for “Steel Hundred” (29,820 UAH).

The organizers express their deepest appreciation for the sweets to the communities of Lanivtsi, Pidvolochysk, Zbarazh, Velyki Dederkaly, Baikivtsi community. Craft caramel with a unique design was made especially for the forum by the Ternopil Kazaiev family. A craftswoman from the village of Verbovets (Lanivtsi community) was given unique embroidered Easter eggs.

Motivational speeches from the panel discussion will be presented in the form of publications.

TNMU Press Secretary, Yanina Chaikivska.

Photographs by the author.