UMANA board of directors meets at Boston's historic Ether Dome (06/13/04)

UMANA board of directors meets at Boston's historic Ether Dome

BOSTON - The board of directors of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) convened their quarterly meeting on May 15, on the top floor of Massachusetts General Hospital's (MGH) Bulfinch Building.

In this amphitheater, now known as the Ether Dome, on October 16, 1846, a Boston dentist named William T.G. Morton demonstrated the successful use of ether during an operation. This momentous application of anesthesia ushered in a new and great era in the art and science of surgery, eliminating the pain and dread of the surgical knife.

Michael Yaremchuk, M.D., MGH plastic and reconstructive surgeon and UMANA New England Chapter member, reserved this arena for UMANA's board meeting. Joining the board were New England Chapter members Jaroslav Turkalo, M.D., and Oleh Danylevich, M.D. The historic atmosphere led to a productive and insightful conference, underscoring UMANA's small but significant role in the tapestry of medical history reaching back to Hippocrates.

Board members in attendance were President Bohdan Iwanetz, M.D. (Illinois), Vice-President Ihor Fedoriw, O.D. (Pennsylvania), Treasurer Boris Leheta, M.D. (Michigan), Journal of the UMANA Editor-in-Chief Roman Worobec, Ph.D. (Washington), World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations liaison Roxolana Horbowyj, M.D. (Washington), archivist Maria Hrycelak, M.D. (Illinois), member-at-large Sophia Welykyj, M.D. (Illinois) and Executive Director George Hrycelak, M.D. (Illinois).

The agenda resolved several routine matters, including an in-depth discussion of the financial status of UMANA, as well as final approval of the 2004 budget. Special attention went to UMANA's partial support of two important health care projects. The American Ukrainian Medical Foundation of Michigan received $10,000 to publish the first Ukrainian translation of the 29th American Edition of Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary; and the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund received a $10,000 grant to fund a project developing an HIV/AIDS testing center at the Lviv Regional Perinatal Center in Ukraine.

Ending on an encouraging note, the meeting participants noted that UMANA's membership continues to climb, with new members applying monthly from throughout the United States and Canada. UMANA is planning to share its experience at the upcoming TWG leadership Conference in Washington on June 11-13, and will host a joint conference with the Ukrainian American Bar Association in Miami Beach on September 23-26. For further information on UMANA or upcoming events, readers may call (773) 278-6262.

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