University of Nebraska Medical Center sets up scholarships for Ukrainian students
The graduate students will learn virtually in Ukraine, with the ability to apply new skills to public health emergencies during the war.
The graduate students will learn virtually in Ukraine, with the ability to apply new skills to public health emergencies during the war.
The graduate students will learn virtually in Ukraine, with the ability to apply new skills to public health emergencies during the war.
A partnership between UNMC and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health will give students the chance to learn from Nebraska public health experts starting in the fall.
"If the Russians are willing to blow up a dam, what else would they be willing to blow up in Ukraine?" asked UNMC Dean of College of Public Health Dr. Ali Khan.
Doctors and professors at UNMC might not hold the answer to Dr. Khan’s question, but they do have the knowledge to help Ukrainians prepare for imminent emergencies.
"We're helping support communities in Ukraine from Nebraska," said Dr. Khan.
Whether a disaster is natural or manmade, like the damaged dam flooding Ukraine last week, communities can be inundated with public health needs.
"There's all sorts of systems we want to have in place to try to save as many lives as possible. And that's our business, saving as many lives as possible," said Dr. Khan.
Ten students will learn those systems, receiving one-of-a-kind scholarships beginning in the fall. They will pursue online master's degrees or certificates through UNMCs College of Public Health. The application process is currently underway, as faculty anticipate delays due to internet or power outages during the war.
"Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism,” Dr. Khan listed the types of threats facing Ukrainian citizens. “Preparedness so that they would be ready for an event of that nature."
The students, likely to include doctors and nurses, will learn virtually, and apply the lessons in real-time, as the fighting persists.
"We have a long history of trying to train people where they are and keeping them in their communities," said Jessica Tschirren, assistant dean for student affairs at the UNMC College of Public Health.
The faculty at UNMC also expects to learn from the plight of students dedicated to studying and saving lives in a war zone.
"University of Nebraska has a global reputation. So it makes perfect sense for people to come to our state to say we need assistance," said Dr. Khan.