In recognition of the Global Day Against Pain, six Ukrainian physicians are participating in a one-month observership at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital to advance chronic pain care amid ongoing war-related trauma. This Connecticut-based program is led by Doctors United for Ukraine (DU4U) in collaboration with Nova Ukraine, with support from Yale’s Office of International Affairs.

The initiative focuses on equipping Ukrainian anesthesiologists and psychiatrists with advanced clinical strategies to treat chronic pain and trauma—both rising public health concerns in Ukraine. Throughout October, participants engage with Yale experts in psychiatry, addiction medicine, anesthesiology, and rehabilitation, while exchanging insights from Ukraine’s wartime medical experiences.

"Relieving pain is a fundamental duty of any doctor. Especially now, for Ukrainians with physical and mental trauma from the ongoing war, resulting in chronic impairments," says Andrey Zinchuk, Vice President of DU4U, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. "We are partnering with Ukrainian physicians to advance evidence-based chronic pain treatment there and to learn from them about innovations forged during this war that may help people in other conflicts."

"War in Ukraine caused a surge in complex trauma, amputations, and chronic pain syndromes among military and civilian populations. Chronic pain is an especially complex medical issue, affecting the daily lives of trauma survivors," said Oksana Gologorska, Vice President of Medical Projects at Nova Ukraine. "In Ukraine, this field is changing in response to unprecedented need, through updating care standards, training specialists, and modernizing facilities, however the current capacity does not match the level of patient needs. That is why supporting Ukrainian doctors in gaining international experience is absolutely critical. Our goal is to establish world class chronic pain treatment in Ukraine accessible to all."

"As an anesthesiologist working with military patients, I see how chronic pain is never just physical, it reshapes mental health, families, and entire communities. At Yale, I want to learn new approaches while sharing personal experience in trauma care," said Maksym Tkachuk, anesthesiologist from Chernivtsi.

On this Global Day Against Pain, organizers are urging the world to treat chronic pain as a global health priority.