NEWS AND VIEWS: Medical association continues founders' legacy (01/07/96)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Medical association continues founders' legacy

by Adrian Baranetsky

EAST HANOVER, N.J. - The Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) is one of the oldest professional Ukrainian societies in North America. Even today, the UMANA continues the medical legacy of its founders in meeting the needs of its members and the Ukrainian community.

One of its sections, the New York Metropolitan Chapter, recently held its 22nd biennial general meeting and election in East Hanover, N.J. The new 1995-1997 board of directors for UMANA N-Y-Metro was chosen as follows: Adrian Baranetsky, M.D., president; George Demidowich, M.D., vice president; George Kryzaniwsky, D.D.S., treasurer; Lubomyra Stefaniwsky, M D. (Ukrainian language), Lev Wolansky, M.D- (English-language), secretaries; Oleh Denysyk, R.Ph., M.B.A., Lesia Kushnir, M.D., and Jurij Savyckyj, M.D. (Psychiatry Committee) members at large.

The UMANA is a professional and civic association of physicians, dentists and pharmacists of Ukrainian descent who live throughout the United States and Canada. Its purpose is to promote professional networking and social interaction in the Ukrainian medical community through a variety of activities.

This organization was founded in New York in 1950 by emigre members of the Lviv Ukrainian Medical Association, which in turn as descended from the Medical Commission the Shevchenko Scientific Society of Lviv (founded in 1897).

There are currently 17 UMANA branches in the United States and Canada, with a total membership of over 1,500. It maintains a museum, biographical and medical archives, and library of 1,800 medical books and journals in Chicago [2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; tel. (312) 278-6262; fax, (312) 278-6962].

The UMANA holds biennial scientific conferences with delegate assemblies at various locations throughout North America, with the last one held during the summer at the Ukrainian National Association's estate, Soyuzivka, Kerhonkson, N.Y.

Recently, the UMANA has been sponsoring medical conferences in Ukraine. The sixth Congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations will be held on September 8-14, 1996, in Odessa, and is open to all health care professionals.

Interested doctors are requested to submit papers in their medical specialties to: B. Zaricznyj, M.D., 125 Oakmont Drive, Springfield, IL 62704; tel. (217) 546-2416; fax, (217) 546-8386.

On a grass-roots level, the UMANA members have for years provided health care services to the community. Health advisory lectures by the doctors for the elderly on New York City's Lower East Side, held in conjunction with the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, have been a success for many years. Similar advisory talks have been held in Toronto, Chicago, Philadelphia, Warren, Mich., and other cities.

Many doctors through the years have contributed articles of both medical and general interest to the pages and The Ukrainian Weekly and have in many ways added to the intellectual life of our community. In certain cities, health care coverage by the UMANA members for the diplomats of Ukraine is also being provided. Most of the association's members have found professional success in mainstream North American medicine in achieving positions of responsibility in academia health care administration and primary care services. Even with their professional accomplishments, many have not forgotten their roots and participate in medical exchange and assistance programs with Ukraine.

Some of the more notable programs of this type that UMANA members are involved in are the U S Agency International Development programs, American International Health Alliance, the Osvita Program funded by the Canadian government, U.S. Department of Defense Medical Programs. Project Hope, SUM-A Medical Aid Fund, Americares Twin Cities Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, Medical Clinic on Wheels and others.

Many have used their affiliations with medical universities such as Alberta, Penn, Jefferson, Columbia, Wayne State, Toronto, Arizona, Buffalo and Loyola and with professional societies like the American Urological Association, Radiological Society, and American Psychiatric and Orthopedics Association as a "bridge" to have their American and Canadian colleagues take an interest in Ukraine with the Western medical world.

During the Soviet era, the Journal of the UMANA was the only Ukrainian-language general medical journal in the world. It still is published with Dzul, M.D., as chief editor. Upcoming issues will include translated articles from the Journal of the American Medical Association. The publication of a much-needed Ukrainian-language medical dictionary is currently being underwritten by the UMANA. A newsletter in English has been initiated to inform younger members and non-Ukrainians about the status of Ukrainian medicine.

The challenge for the UMANA is not only to continue this medical legacy, but keep it relevant for today. To maintain the "quality of life" of our Ukrainian North American society, we all need to support the institutions that provide a framework for our collective actions. For health care professionals, the UMANA can be a vehicle for self-realization. Although we are geographically dispersed and are assimilating, we will need community. There is the ongoing need to interact with our colleagues in Ukraine and to revitalize our local community.

We call on Ukrainian health care professionals to rekindle their civil commitment and become an active part of the UMANA. Let's all work together in keeping our society a viable one for the future. Correspondence may be addressed to: UMANA News, P.O. Box 170, Short Hills, NJ 07078-0170; fax (201) 378-3981; e-mail: [email protected].

| Home Page |