The second Medical Prayer Breakfast was held on November 18 in Lviv at the Ukrainian Catholic University. This event brought together medical professionals and experts from Ukraine, the United States, Australia, and Canada, as well as representatives from government, charitable organizations, and the academic community.
The event, organized by the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine in partnership with the UCU Medical Clinic and the Prayer Breakfast Movement of Ukraine, aimed to strengthen international support for Ukrainian medicine through open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
According to the organizers, the main guests of the event were two distinguished doctors with extensive backgrounds in professional mentorship. John Holcomb, a renowned figure in global traumatology, reunited with James Suen, a former personal physician to Bill Clinton and currently involved in the Reconstruction Mission in Ukraine. In 1991, Suen was by Holcomb's side when he examined his first patient.
Professor Holcomb emphasized the key message of the meeting: "The focus should be on the patient and the quality of treatment. A culture of quality takes years to develop, but without it, real change is impossible. The foundation of safe and effective medicine lies in systematic observation and analysis, which involves understanding what works, identifying gaps, and recognizing the resources needed. This approach allows us to make informed decisions and enhance treatment standards. Ukrainian doctors are already actively engaged in such analytical projects in collaboration with international partners."
Participants discussed the challenges currently facing the Ukrainian medical system, including an aging population, a rise in cancer and chronic diseases, the impacts of war, a lack of palliative care, and the need to strengthen collaboration between doctors and nurses. Special emphasis was placed on digital solutions and protocols that can enhance the quality of treatment, even in wartime.
Participants noted that Ukraine has a unique military experience that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Ukrainian medics work daily under extremely challenging war conditions, developing new protocols, adapting global practices, and creating their own. This experience positions Ukraine as a rapidly advancing contributor to the global medical community.
Hnat Herych, head of the first surgical department at St. Panteleimon Hospital, noted, "We are developing solutions that are just as interesting to our foreign colleagues as their experiences are to us. Collaborative development is the key to improving medicine for our patients." Therefore, the combination of international mentorship and Ukrainian military experience could lead to significant advancements in the field of medicine.
Rudi Migovich, the head of the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine Charitable Foundation, stated, “Ukraine has a unique experience working under wartime conditions, while the international community has decades of practice and established quality standards. We want Ukrainian doctors to access the best global knowledge, and we believe our wartime experience can contribute positively to the world. By combining these efforts, we can foster innovations that transform medicine not only in Ukraine but also worldwide. This is why we are here.”
According to the organizers, the Medical Prayer Breakfast in Lviv served as a platform for international experts and Ukrainian doctors to seek common solutions that merge international knowledge with wartime practices. The presence of leading medical professionals from around the world underscored the importance of international mentorship, the exchange of experience, and respect for professional standards, all aimed at uniting countries and generations to save human lives.