As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the MGH Center for Global Health (CGH) response has grown in scale and impact. Through direct deployments, medical training and telehealth services, Mass General is working to provide urgently needed medical care, both in Ukraine and in border regions.
Regional Deployments — Care and Training
Since early March, the CGH disaster response program, led by Lindsey Martin, NP, has been working closely with trusted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground to coordinate the deployment of specialized medical teams who can assist with the unfolding refugee crisis. In late March, a team deployed to Moldova, a border country that has already taken in 250,000 Ukrainian refugees and is expecting an additional influx of refugees in the coming weeks. In addition to providing medical care, CGH is leading Stop the Bleed and Basic First Aid trainings for Moldovan border guards and medics in advance of the next surge of the conflict.
The CGH team in Moldova is also coordinating trainings in trauma, mass causality, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exposures for hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and in partnership with International Medical Corps, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and Mass General Brigham.
Additionally, in response to requests from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, the team has begun to deploy clinicians to locations within Ukraine to provide care for internally displaced Ukrainians and support for Ukrainian medical colleagues. Efforts include providing training on basic emergency care for nurses in six regional hospitals. The team is also working with Global Response Management and the Ministry of Health to build a nursing curriculum that builds the capacity of nurses working in trauma systems so that they may lead the response in mass casualty incidents, trauma care and rehabilitation. As the team anticipates another surge in casualties, they are assessing the safety and feasibility of future deployments, with security, logistics and support provided by several major partners, including global health NGOs International Medical Corps and Global Response Management.
24/7 Expert Medical Support
A comprehensive Telehealth Response Team led by Jarone Lee, MD, MPH, is providing free, internet-based, clinician-to-clinician tele-consult services to support clinicians and NGOs responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. More than 90 Mass General physicians with expertise in Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery (Burn and Trauma), Anesthesia and Intensive Care are volunteering their services as teleconsultants, augmenting the medical capabilities of those providing care on the ground. This service involves the entire spectrum of hospital expertise, and providers offer recommendations and guidance for the care of complex patients or procedures or simply offer advice and support for those working in the war zones. The team also is collaborating with Brigham and Women’s and Global Medical Knowledge Alliance to develop materials that include translated lectures, video resources and infographics to improve care.
CGH has also partnered with Health Tech Without Borders to provide digital health and telehealth aid where it is needed most through simple, secure, reliable technology platforms. These telehealth services are accessible 24 hours a day with an internet connection and have the potential to be deployed in future conflicts, bringing Mass General expert medical consultation to crisis areas around the world.
Continued, Responsive Partnership and Support
The MGH Center for Global Health is committed to continuing to provide meaningful assistance that responds to the needs outlined by Ukrainian medical leaders and the requests of colleagues on the ground. We understand that this conflict may be far from over; our efforts will continue and evolve to provide the best support possible for those who remain in Ukraine and the millions who have been displaced. We are grateful to our CGH donors who make this work possible. If you would like to support our efforts, please make a gift to the MGH Center for Global Health.
- To make a gift or learn about the Center for Global Health, please contact us.
