Ukrainian Trauma Surgeons Share Battlefield Expertise with San Antonio Doctors
San Antonio, Texas – Ukrainian trauma surgeons, hardened by years of treating complex battlefield injuries, recently completed a medical exchange program in San Antonio, sharing their unique expertise with local physicians. The program, facilitated by Razom for Ukraine, aims to foster knowledge transfer and improve trauma care both on the front lines in Ukraine and in civilian settings within the United States.
A Unique Learning Opportunity
Dr. Yuriy Yarmolyuk, the chief traumatologist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Dr. Valentyn Rohozynskyi, with the National Military Medical Clinical Center in Ukraine, visited San Antonio on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as part of the Co-Pilot program. The exchange allowed U.S. Doctors to learn from the Ukrainians’ experiences adapting to the challenges of war-zone medicine, while the Ukrainian doctors gained insights into advanced techniques in areas like facial reconstruction.1
“If you’re not in the medical field, this may sound harsh or almost brutal, [but] war is the time when medicine gets better, as of the amount of human suffering and the concentration of injuries,” said Dr. Andriy Batchinsky, a Ukraine native and military medicine researcher based in San Antonio.1
Adapting to the Realities of Modern Warfare
The conflict in Ukraine has presented unique challenges for medical professionals. The widespread apply of drones has led to a surge in complex injuries, requiring surgeons to adapt quickly. The lack of airspace control makes evacuations dangerous, often leaving injured troops without intensive care for extended periods.1
“Nobody will rescue you during the day, because all rescue missions will just be killed immediately,” explained Yuliia Shama, Co-Pilot’s project manager.1
Despite facing shortages of personnel, infrastructure, and essential supplies – including electricity and heating – Ukrainian medical staff continue to provide care under incredibly difficult circumstances.1
Knowledge Transfer: A Two-Way Street
The medical exchange isn’t a one-way flow of information. U.S. Doctors, including those at Brooke Army Medical Center, are learning from the adaptations made by their Ukrainian counterparts. Dr. Joseph Alderete, an orthopedic surgeon and Army veteran, highlighted the potential for applying these lessons to disaster preparedness within the United States.
“That may be an ‘aha’ moment for us: Knowledge transfer is so essential in dealing with battlefield injury, [but] everything I did on the battlefield, I can translate into an I-10 disaster here,” Alderete said.1
Razom for Ukraine and the Co-Pilot Program
The Co-Pilot program is run by Razom for Ukraine, a humanitarian organization that has raised over $200 million in aid for Ukraine since 2022.1 The organization facilitates approximately 150 international medical trips to Ukraine annually, bringing physicians from around the world to assist in providing care near the front lines.1
San Antonio was the first stop in the U.S. For the Co-Pilot program, chosen for its concentration of military medical facilities, including Brooke Army Medical Center, one of the city’s two Level 1 trauma centers.
The Impact of the War
Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian forces have suffered an estimated half a million casualties, including those killed, wounded, or missing.1 Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian hospitals and medical infrastructure throughout the conflict.
Despite the immense challenges, Ukrainian doctors remain committed to providing care and rebuilding their healthcare system. As Dr. Anna Masoodi, an anesthesiologist and intensive care doctor at Kyiv Regional Hospital, stated after a training visit to Yale, “We believe the war will stop, and we will need to rebuild. That’s why we have come here to study and to learn.”4
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