To strengthen the capacity of specialists to respond to the challenges facing Ukraine’s rehabilitation system, we conducted a series of training sessions for multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams (MDRTs). The core focus was on the team-based approach: high-quality rehabilitation is always the result of coordinated work between physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, psychologists, and other professionals whose expertise complements one another.
The training program covered several key areas of rehabilitation:
- Post-acute stroke rehabilitation. Participants deepened their knowledge of neuroplasticity, functional assessment tools, ADL (activities of daily living) training, working with cognitive impairments, and individualized intervention planning.
- Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. The program included work with international classifications and functional tests, complication prevention, assistive device selection, and effective patient communication.
- Rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury. Participants practiced using assessment scales (Glasgow, Rancho Los Amigos, CRS-R) and coordinated team interventions—from verticalization to cognitive stimulation within a single session.
Special emphasis was placed on practical skills: participants not only attended lectures but also worked on clinical cases, assessed patients, and practiced team interaction.
A total of 219 rehabilitation specialists from 13 regions of Ukraine took part, representing Ternopil, Rivne, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, and Volyn regions. Participants included both students and early-career professionals, as well as experienced practitioners with many years of clinical work. This diversity demonstrates that the program was relevant and beneficial for specialists at different stages of their careers.
The training was led by 10 leading Ukrainian experts: Volodymyr Magas, Tetyana Baryshok, Petro Smaglyi, Khrystyna Kuzmyk, Nataliia Kotyuk, Kateryna Zahorodnia, Diana Pashchin, Maksym Fedyniak, Olha Vintoniak, and Andrii Kravets. Their practical expertise and alignment with modern international standards ensured the high quality of the program.
Demand for participation far exceeded expectations — over 1,600 applications were received. This clearly reflects the acute need within the system for professional development and the strong interest of the rehabilitation community in systematic, high-quality training.
In parallel with the training sessions, two regional forums were held in Chernivtsi and Volyn regions. These events focused on modern rehabilitation approaches for stroke, amputations, combat-related and “civilian” injuries, as well as on developing rehabilitation services at the community level. The discussions confirmed that effective rehabilitation depends not only on individual skills but also on the ability to build sustainable systems at the regional level.
This series of educational events demonstrated that Ukraine’s rehabilitation community is eager to grow, acquire new knowledge, and improve practices. Our shared task is to support this momentum, scale up training programs, and provide professionals with tools that truly change patients’ lives.
We sincerely thank all participants and partners for their trust, commitment, and joint work to make rehabilitation care in Ukraine modern, effective, and accessible.
