Ukraine's minister of health to address UMANA convention in Edmonton (05/22/05)

Ukraine's minister of health to address UMANA convention in Edmonton

CHICAGO - Ukraine's minister of health will be the guest of honor at the annual convention of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) to be held in Edmonton in June. The newly appointed minister, Dr. Mykola Polishchuk, will give a keynote address as well as report on his research involvement in Ukraine.

Organizers of the conference hope to hear Dr. Polishchuk's suggestions for greater collaboration with the health care community in Ukraine. They also note the team approach within their own organization is what attracted the minister of health to this landmark conference.

UMANA Executive Director George Hrycelak noted that UMANA has had much contact with doctors in Ukraine since independence in 1990, but there has been no system-wide approach to these efforts. He said he hopes the minister of health can provide some ideas for how the health care professionals in Ukraine and North America can better work together. "We need to figure out what they need - is it computers, books, equipment, teaching? We hope he touches on that," explained Dr. Hrycelak. "And if there is not a system-wide answer, then that's helpful to know too," he states.

The minister's keynote address "will be the highlight," said Dr. Wayne Tymchak, president of UMANA's Edmonton chapter. "His participation will make this conference very successful and very exciting."

Dr. Polishchuk is a doctor of medicine, a professor and since April 1997, a corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (traumatology ward). Dr. Polishchuk heads the spinal pathology department at the A. Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery of Ukraine's Academy of Medical Sciences. During the Ukrainian presidential election Dr. Polishchuk worked as chief of the neurosurgery chair at the Kyiv Shupyk Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education.

In addition to the keynote address by Minister Polishchuk, the conference agenda promises to provide several days of stimulating presentations and discussion, as well as a celebration of UMANA's first organized event in Edmonton. "I'm excited about the collaborative efforts and the team approach UMANA is taking to bring this conference together," said Dr. Andrew Iwach, executive president-elect of UMANA. "As well as the scientific component of the conference, there will be an opportunity for delegates to take in the Alberta Centennial celebrations and learn more about the significant historical role of the Ukrainian community in Alberta."

The conference, which takes place from June 29 to July 3, will be held at the Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Center in Edmonton.

"The management of the hotel have been very helpful," stated Dr. Tymchak. "They have opened up their facility for all of our lectures and social events, and along with a local committee of volunteers, have arranged for participants to take side trips to the Ukrainian Village, the Ukrainian Festival in Vegreville and much more."

With registration under way and the keynote speaker confirmed, "It's going well," said Dr. Maria Hrycelak, an UMANA executive past-president. The conference committee is encouraging participation not just from medical doctors, but from all health-care-related professionals. "We (UMANA) have always been open to everyone in health care," she noted. "But now we are trying to get the word out so everyone knows that."

"We hope this conference really connects with people in Edmonton and we find out more about opportunities to work with them," added George Hrycelak, a Chicago resident.

Mail-in and on-line registration for the UMANA conference is available through May 15. For more information readers may contact UMANA at (773) 278-6262 or www.umana.org; to make hotel reservations, call the Chateau Louis Hotel, 1-800-661-9843.

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