Project journey through Ukraine in September 2026: Ternopil – Kremenets – Kyiv – Ivano-Frankivsk

One of the outcomes of the previous project trip in May was to continue and deepen emerging opportunities for cooperation with universities and medical colleges. Consequently, a second trip took place from 9–18 September 2026 – shortly after the start of the new semester – visiting the cities of Ternopil, Kremenets, Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk.

Aims of the journey:

• To give lectures and seminars
• To present the book series and individual volumes
• To discuss on the fifth volume (Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care), which is due to be published next year
• Establishing and strengthening partnerships, and learning about new developments in the fields of education and care
• Meeting and engaging in professional dialogue with representatives of palliative care providers, as well as with lecturers and students

I would like to extend my very special thanks to Halyna Lejzjus for all she has achieved: for her extensive work in organisation and coordination, and for her roles as a lecturer, spokesperson, interpreter, translator, and as a cultural bridge between Germany and Ukraine.

TERNOPIL

Travelling by train from Lviv, the starting point of the journey this time was the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine. Following on from our first visit to the National Medical University there, it had been agreed in advance that I would give a lecture on ‘Fundamentals of Palliative Care’ and hold a seminar on ‘Communication in Palliative Care’ on 10 September.

Prior to the two events, a working meeting was held with the university management, represented by Rector Petro Lychatskyi; the Vice-Rector for Academic and Pedagogical Affairs Arkadii Schulgai; the Vice-Rector for Research, Oleksandra Oleshchuk; the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Svitlana Kucher; the Deputy Director of the Institute of Nursing, Lyudmyla Mazur; and the guarantor for the ‘Nursing’ degree programme, Maria Maruschak. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation and on future lectures, seminars and workshops. These should be based on the wishes and needs of the students and the university. Training for teaching staff in the field of palliative care would be welcome. The university has also expressed a keen interest in academic research projects on palliative care for people with various diagnoses and for soldiers suffering from the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression. During the meeting, Rector Petro Lychatskyi was presented with the German-language basic curriculum on palliative care for nursing staff, authored by Martina Kern, Monika Müller and Klaus Aurnhammer. It serves as a basis for the development and improvement of the medical university’s teaching programmes.

The following lecture, delivered to students of clinical psychology and nursing, aimed to familiarise the approximately 100 participants with the fundamentals of palliative care. This was followed in the afternoon by a seminar. Using two communication models, the seminar demonstrated, through examples of actual statements made by patients and their relatives, the various approaches to effective communication.

After the seminar, we were given a tour of the state-of-the-art TESIMED simulation centre, a department of the National Medical University. This gave us an overview of modern teaching methods and the opportunities available for trainingpractical skills in the medical professions.

Image rights: Janina Chaikivska, press officer at TNMU; TESIMED

KREMENETS

On the evening of 10 September, we set off by car for Kremenets, a town with a rich history. There, on 11 September, we were welcomed by the Arsen Rychynsky Medical College. The meeting began with discussions with the college’s director, Petro Mazur; the deputy director for academic affairs, Oksana Batyukh; the heads of department, Olga Panasyuk and Valeriy Levchuk; the lecturer in clinical subjects, Nadiya Vengryn; and the clinical psychologist, Tetiana Systalyuk. During these discussions, opportunities for further collaboration and the implementation of joint professional initiatives were explored.

As with the Medical University in Ternopil, two teaching sessions had been arranged in advance for the Medical College in Kremenets: a lecture on ‘Fundamentals of Palliative Care’ and a seminar on ‘Communication in Palliative Care’. The participants were nursing students. It is always a special experience to engage in conversation with them whilst conveying the great importance of palliative care. As a token of their deep appreciation for our visit, we received personal messages from them via video.

Image rights: Kremenets Medical College

Whilst on the journey to Kremenets, we had already had the pleasure of visiting the grounds of the 18th-century Vyshnevets Palace with the director, Petro Mazur; before departing for Kyiv, we then made another cultural detour to the town’s castle ruins, visible from afar (14th–16th centuries) in the town. Perched high above, it offers a magnificent view of Kremenets and the surrounding countryside.

KYJIW

It was clear even before the trip began that Kyiv would require its own detailed planning and organisation, involving events at medical colleges and universities. We already have numerous contacts with palliative care units and educational institutions in the city, such as the P. I. Hawrossja Medical College and Kyiv Medical University. We hope that this will be possible next year.

From time to time, breaking away from the influence of the public media has always been important to me, and that was – and still is – the case during my days and weeks in Ukraine. It is the unassuming encounters and quiet experiences that linger in my mind:

• in Kyiv, the evening journey across the Dnipro to the railway station, with the statue of Mother Ukraine standing in the cloudy twilight; in the city centre, the bustling restaurants exuding a semblance of normality; in the Darnitsa district, a nursery school seemingly sheltered by tall buildings; in a café, the palpable heaviness on the faces of two young men; a church dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle, set amongst tall façades with its bright interior and worshippers; the sports ground, with players unfazed despite the drone alert;
• then in Ternopil, a little boy running in vain after a departing train, comforted by his mother as he weeps;
• the journeys across the country, past the heart-rendingly numerous graves of fallen soldiers, whose flags can be seen fluttering in the wind from afar
• in the towns, the ever-lengthening paths lined with memorial plaques to those who died in the war;
• then the ever-rising food prices, the low wages and pensions;
• finally, the piano painted in the national colours at Lviv railway station, on which a little girl is trying to coax out some notes …

IVANO-FRANKIVSK

The night train took us from Kyiv to Ivano-Frankivsk on 15 September. The first item on the agenda was a visit to a care home for the elderly, which is currently under construction. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it will include a residential and care area as well as a number of palliative care beds. The multi-storey building is impressive in its design. We saw a variety of different rooms, including a large function room, a pool for hydrotherapy and living quarters for elderly people in need of care. The view from the upper floors stretches out over the beautiful countryside towards the foothills of the Carpathians. The project’s investor is the entrepreneur Olexander Dolischnji, who guided us through the building and explains its future functions. Together with Iryna Slugotska, we discussed the possibilities for specialist advice on medical and care-related issues.

The final day of the trip was devoted to two meetings. First, we visited the mobile palliative care service run by the St Panteleymon charitable foundation, headed by Iryna Slugotska. The service is available free of charge to patients and their relatives. An official partnership with the British organisation Hospices of Hope has been in place since 2022.

The trip concluded with an important discussion with Father Jaroslaw, which was hold via video conference. The focus was on the fifth volume of the book series on ‘Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care’, which is due to be published next year. As with Iryna, we have known him since the very beginning of the project in 2017. He is a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a clinical chaplain and, more recently, head of the Research Institute for Pastoral Care at the private higher education institution ‘Ivano-Frankivsk Academy of St John Chrysostom’. The Academy’s primary aim is to promote the development of theology and other humanities within Ukraine’s national education and scientific system. The Academy was founded by the Archdiocese of Ivano-Frankivsk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

CONCLUSION: SUMMARY

The project jpurney has led to closer cooperation with the Medical University in Ternopil. A partnership has been established with the Medical College in Kremenets, which has taken concrete form through lectures and seminars. Online lectures are planned for November at various locations across Ukraine.

The thematic focus on ‘Spirituality and Spiritual Care’, which was reaffirmed in May through the memorandum with the University of Chernivtsi, is being successfully continued in collaboration with Father Jaroslaw. A collaboration with the Research Institute for Pastoral Care at the ‘Ivano-Frankivsk Academy of St John Chrysostom’ is being considered.

***

Our textbooks on palliative care in libraries at universities, academies and medical colleges in Ukraine – as at July 2026

A key aim of the project is to provide our textbooks from this series to the libraries of (medical) universities, academies and colleges free of charge, so that they are available to as many students and lecturers as possible.

The two maps of Ukraine attached below provide a good overview of the current status.

Comments on our textbooks

Dmytro Lysytsia, Director of the Medical College and Head of a department at the Rivne Medical Academy, Rivne

„This is indeed a thorough work, produced by an academic and already put to use by numerous practitioners in the medical field and in educational institutions, which attests to the high standard of the textbooks.

I would like to point out that these guidelines are up to date and are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and humanistic approaches. It is excellent that they contain practical recommendations, rather than just the theoretical foundations of palliative care.“

Hanna Chervona, Director of the P.I. Havrosya Kyiv Medical College, Kyiv

„Publications of this kind represent an investment in the quality of training for healthcare professionals and, consequently, in the quality of palliative care for patients and their families.“

Olha Lasiychuk is a nurse and works at the non-profit Centre for Primary Healthcare in Horodenka. She is a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Family Medicine and was awarded the title of ‘Best Nurse in Ukraine 2026’

„Palliative care still requires greater attention and further development here. People are often even afraid of the word ‘palliative’, even though it is actually about quality of life, pain relief, support for patients and their families, and dignity and respect for people during the most difficult moments of their lives.

That is precisely why books like this are so important. They help to foster a culture of palliative care, provide further training for medical staff, help families to understand the situation, and remind society of the humanity at the heart of medicine.“

***

Project journey through western Ukraine in May: Ivano-Frankivsk – Ternopil – Chernivtsi – Lviv

Following intensive planning and preparation of the programme, the journey to four cities in western Ukraine took place from 14 May to 26 May 2026. The starting point was Ivano-Frankivsk, the very city where the project work began in 2017 and has been ongoing ever since. I travelled by train, always laden with many books from the palliative care book series launched in 2021.

Aims of the trip:

• Presentation of the book series and individual volumes
• Donation of the books to libraries
• Lectures
• Visits to medical colleges, academies and (medical) universities
• Establishment and strengthening of partnerships
• Meeting and professional exchange with representatives of the institutions, with lecturers, students, doctors, psychologists, nurses and clergy
• Promoting the important topic of palliative care across all professional groups

The agenda during these special days in May was packed with events: lectures, book presentations, discussions, etc. I shall attempt to give you, dear readers, a brief impression of all this. I would have liked to have described the many valuable encounters and experiences in greater detail. As it stands, my attempt to put the various stages of this journey into words is often too matter-of-fact and brief. The richness of the experience, the appreciation and gratitude towards our colleagues in Ukraine, and the prospects for the future may remain entirely unaffected by this brevity.

My very special thanks, however, go to Halyna. She is the one who made all this possible: as organiser and coordinator, lecturer, spokesperson, interpreter, translator, strategic contributor, and as a cultural bridge between Germany and Ukraine.

IVANO-FRANKIVSK

14–18 May 2026

Exchange of specialist literature on the fringes of an international nursing symposium

In the course of her investigations, Halyna Lejzjus came across a recently published book entitled „Palliative Care in General Practice“, authored by the team at Children’s Polyclinic No. 6 in Odessa and the local Centre for Psychophysical and Social Support. A proposal was made to the team in Odessa to exchange our teaching materials on palliative care. Even before 14 May – on 4 May, to be precise – this opportunity arose during an international nursing congress in Ivano-Frankivsk. Halyna presented volumes 1, 3 and 4 of our series to the head nurse, Alla Kuzhel, and in return received the information and training guide from Odessa. Our publications were subsequently sent to Odessa to the director, Serhiy Horischak, and to the team at the local polyclinic.

Book presentation at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council Regional Hospital

At the start of a workshop on palliative care topics, we had the opportunity to briefly present our book series to the nursing participants. This was followed by a meeting with Natalya Ruzhylo. She is the head of the Prikarpatska School of Nursing, deputy medical director for nursing at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council’s Regional Clinic, and an expert on nursing matters within the Regional Administration’s Health Department.

We have maintained a good relationship with Natalya Ruzhylo for many years, as she was also a member of the project group for the first volume of the book series. Promoting palliative care in Ukraine is a matter close to her heart. To our delight, she purchased a large number of books for the school.

Lecture and guided tour of the Ivano-Frankivsk Medical Professional College (IFOR)

The lecture, delivered to third-year nursing students, lecturers and the college administration, was divided into two parts. The first part introduced the Johannes Hospice in Münster. Almost all third-year nursing students have already completed a voluntary placement in palliative care. At the director’s suggestion, the second part of the lecture focused on what distinguishes palliative care and what might motivate someone to pursue this field. The lecture took place in a seminar room designed to provide shelter during air raids.

The event concluded with a guided tour of the college, including the library, led by the director. Halyna Lejzjus had already visited the college in February. During that visit, she had met with final-year students, presented books from the palliative care series and donated them to the library.

Image rights: Medical College

Lecture at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University (IFNMU), Department of General, Family and Emergency Medicine

The lecture focused on the topic of „Nutrition in Palliative Care“, which is the subject of the fourth volume in the book series. Professor Serhiy Fedorov, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Head of the Department of Therapy, Family and Emergency Medicine, and Ljubow Skrypnyk, Lecturer and Doctor of Medical Sciences, hosted the presentation. The Department of General, Family and Emergency Medicine at the IFNMU regularly organises thematic training courses for doctors in palliative medicine.

The event was attended by lecturers, doctors and anyone interested in the development of palliative care. Volodymyr Borys, Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Centre for Palliative Medicine, was also among those present.

Following the lecture, it was agreed that Andreas Stähli would be given the opportunity to deliver two lectures on practical topics in palliative care at two congresses in November and December 2026 respectively.

TERNOPIL

19 May 2026

Rectorate of Ternopil National Medical University (TNMU): Meeting and prospects for cooperation

The working visit to Ternopil began with a meeting at the Rectorate of the medical university. During the one-hour discussion with the Rector of TNMU, Professor Petro Lychatskyi, the Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, Professor Arkadii Shulhai, the Dean of the Faculty for International Students, Professor Maria Maruschak, and the Deputy Director of the Teaching and Research Institute for Nursing, Lecturer Lyudmyla Mazur, the focus was on the promotion and development of educational formats in palliative care, as well as opportunities for future collaboration. There is considerable interest in the introduction of a new specialised study programme, „Palliative Care for Clinical Psychologists“, and in improving the range of courses offered in the field of palliative care. The book series and the curriculum for palliative care psychology, translated into Ukrainian, were presented to the university library.

Rector Petro Lychatskyi invited Andreas Stähli to teach as a visiting lecturer at the university in future. Furthermore, there is a willingness to realise further publication ideas with the assistance of the university press „Ukrmedknyha“.

Image rights: Janina Chaikivska, Press Officer at TNMU

Lecture at Ternopil National Medical University, Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology

Following the meeting at the Rector’s Office, there was an opportunity to present the key content of the third volume of the book series on „Communication and Emotions in Palliative Care“ to students of clinical psychology and nursing. The lecture was also attended by staff from the Departments of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology, Advanced Nursing Education, Nursing and Clinical Immunology, doctors from the Regional Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurology in Ternopil, the Director of the Arsen Rychynsky Medical College in Kremenets, Petro Mazur, and staff from the college.

After the presentation had finished, there was an opportunity to visit the psychiatric ward of the Regional Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurology in Ternopil, as well as the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology. It was agreed that Andreas Stähli would offer lectures and courses for clinical psychologists in the field of palliative care.

Image rights: Ternopil Medical University

Visit to the Municipal Hospital for Acute Medical Care (Building No. 1), the RECOVERY Rehabilitation Centre and the POVERNENNYA Mental Health Centre in Ternopil

Andriy Palamarchuk, Deputy Director of the Municipal Hospital for Acute Medical Care in Ternopil and former Chief Physician at the ‘Hospice’ Regional Hospital, gave us an insight into the structure of a hospital for inpatient acute care in Ternopil at the end of the day. Andriy Palamarchuk has been associated with our work for many years. He has previously visited Münster to visit the Johannes Hospice.

The hospital in Ternopil is part of the national network of innovative rehabilitation centres, RECOVERY. There, wounded soldiers and veterans receive free, high-tech rehabilitation ranging from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to psychological support. Andriy Palamarchuk arranged for us to tour the state-of-the-art facilities and see the advanced technology. Located in the immediate vicinity is the recently established mental health centre known as POVERNENNYA. In these new premises, specialists help soldiers, veterans, former prisoners of war, their families and civilian patients to cope with the psychological consequences of war.

CHERNIVTSI

20–21 May 2026

Last September, we had the pleasure of meeting Olexander and Iryna Marchuk from Chernivtsi at the book launch for „Nutrition in Palliative Care“. This was followed by an invitation to Bukovina, which we have gladly accepted. Iryna Marchuk holds a PhD in Nursing and is a lecturer at the Medical College in Chernivtsi. Oleksander Marchuk holds a PhD in Religious Studies and is a lecturer at the Medical College and at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi State University.

In anticipation of 21 May, Vyshyvanka Day in Ukraine, Andreas Stähli received a vyshyvanka by Mr and Mrs Marchuk, – a traditional Ukrainian shirt characterised by intricate, hand-crafted embroidery – which he wore during the events.

Visit to the Medical Professional College

Frozyna Kuzyk, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Director of the Medical Professional College of Medicine, gave a tour of the premises and explained the individual departments. Meeting the students and lecturers provided a vivid impression of the college. Volumes 1–4 of the book series were presented to the library.

Image rights: Medical College

Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University: Interdisciplinary seminar and signing of a memorandum

An interdisciplinary seminar on the topic of „Ethics of professional assistance in crisis and borderline situations: spiritual dimension and interdisciplinary approach“ took place at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, organised jointly by Iryna Marchuk, Oleksandr Marchuk and Andreas Stähli. The title of Andreas Stähli’s presentation was ‘Self-care and Spirituality’.

The event was opened by Iryna Osovska, Vice-Rector for Scientific, Educational, International and Humanitarian Work at the university, and Frozyna Kuzyk, Director of the Medical College. The event was attended by healthcare professionals from the region, in particular nurses, students, theologians and lecturers.

The event concluded with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the University, the Medical College in Chernivtsi and Andreas Stähli. The collaboration envisages educational initiatives, particularly in the field of palliative care and the further development of clinical pastoral care.

Image rights: Medical College, University, Olexander Marchuk

Bukovina State Medical University, Library: Introduction to the book series

The event was organised by Prof. Olga Yurtsenyuk from the Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology. Following the presentation, a copy of the fourth volume, „Nutrition in Palliative Care“, was presented to the university library.

Image rights: University

IVANO-FRANKIVSK

22–25 May 2026

Meeting with Olha Lasiychuk

Olha Lasiychuk is a nurse and works at the non-profit Centre for Primary Medical Care in Horodenka. She is a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Family Medicine and was honoured with the award “Best Nurse of Ukraine 2026”. Over a cup of coffee, we discussed palliative care, quality and qualifications in palliative care in Ukraine, teaching, and, of course, books. As a gift, we had brought Olha the third volume of the book series; she now owns all four volumes.

King Danylo University (KDU) Ivano-Frankivsk: Presentation of the book series

At King Danylo University, we focused on volumes 3 and 4 of our book series. The audience consisted of psychology students and lecturers from the university. The event was organised by Natalia Hryhorska, Head of the Marketing and Public Relations Department and lecturer at the Chair of Management and Administration.

At the end of the event, we presented the books to Ivanna Strychar, Head of the Library at King Danylo University.

Image rights: King Danylo University

LVIV

26 May 2026

Visit and book presentation at the Professional College of Postgraduate Medical Education, Lviv

A presentation of the book series took place at the Professional College of Postgraduate Medical Education, attended by lecturers and nurses currently undertaking specialisation and further training courses at the college. The college’s director, Lesya Vovk, a person who has received numerous awards in Ukraine, emphasised in her introduction the importance of further developing palliative care in Ukraine. Following the presentation, the director gave a tour of the various departments. At the end of the meeting, Andreas Stähli signed the books presented and donated them to the college library.

Image rights: Medical College

Discussion and handover of the book series to the Rector of the Andriy Krupinsky Medical Academy, Lviv

The discussion with Prof. Yuriy Kryvko, Rector of the Academy and Doctor of Medical Sciences, focused on providing information and handing over the publication series to the academy’s specialist library, including the curriculum for palliative psychology.

Reading room of the Scientific Library of Danylo Halytskyi Medical University: lecture and book gift

The topic of the lecture, which was attended by students, academics and practising doctors, was: „Ukraine and Germany: Educational Projects in Times of War“. 

The event, held in the library hall dating from 1860 and designed entirely in the Neo-Rococo style, was hosted by the Scientific Library of Danylo-Halytskyi Medical University and the Medical Commission of the T. Shevchenko Scientific Society (NTSh). Its chair and head of the Department of Surgical Operations with Topographical Anatomy, Professor Zoryana Masna, introduced the event. Following the lecture, books from the publication series for the Scientific Library were presented to the university’s chief librarian, Yaroslava Shchogoleva. The editor-in-chief of the journal „Medical Sciences. Proceedings of the Shevchenko Scientific Society“, Professor Valentina Chopjak, gave the guests a copy of the journal and invited them to contribute to it. Professor Zoryana Masna presented certificates of appreciation on behalf of the Medical Commission of the NTSh and expressed her hope for the continuation of this valuable collaboration.

Image rights: Volodymyr Banyas, Department of Communications and Public Relations

Conclusion: Summary

The journey was characterised by a high level of professional engagement and great hospitality. It undoubtedly represents one of the highlights of the project work for and with Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 2017.

One key outcome of the trip is the high level of interest shown by universities and colleges in collaborating. I would cite, for example, the memorandum signed in Chernivtsi and the offer of a visiting lectureship in Ternopil. The desired focus areas for collaboration lie in palliative care, as well as spiritual care and topics within palliative psychology.

***

Book presentation in Ivano-Frankivsk

On 16 October 2025, the presentation of the new reference book ‘Nutrition in Palliative Care’ took place at the Hotel Stanislaviv in Ivano-Frankivsk. The editors Dr Maria Bullermann-Benend (ecotrophologist), Dr Halyna Lejzjus and Dr Andreas Stähli had issued the invitations.

The presentation was attended by 105 guests, not only from Ivano-Frankivsk, but also from the regions of Ternopil, Chernivtsi and Lviv: doctors, nurses, psychologists, pastoral carers, social workers and volunteers, teachers and students from universities and colleges, senior staff from the university and city administration, representatives of the university library, …

After the welcome and introduction, the first part consisted of a lecture by Andreas Stähli, who presented the numerous topics covered in the new reference book. In the second part, Halyna Lejzjus, who translated the book from German into Ukrainian, explained the particular challenges and tasks involved in such a translation project. At the same time, she gave an overview of the important chapter she wrote on multi-generational eating biographies.

One day before the presentation, on 15 October 2025, the new reference book was presented as part of a course for nurses at the training centre at the regional hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk. Here, too, it was a pleasure to see the great interest shown in key topics in palliative care.

The stay in Ukraine began with a visit to the university library in Ivano-Frankivsk, which was given a copy of each book in the series, which began in 2021, for its library collection. For Andreas Stähli, his new book project, “Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care”, offers the opportunity to consult existing Ukrainian specialist literature. He has already been provided with an initial detailed list of research findings.

The trip ended with a conversation with Father Yaroslav Rokhman on the subject of spirituality and spiritual care. He confirmed the importance of such a publication for the various professional groups involved in palliative care in Ukraine.

My special thanks go to Halyna Lejzjus, who, in addition to the demanding tasks of interpreting, organised and coordinated these visits, conversations and presentations.

BOOK SERIES

In 2021, a series of publications on important topics in the field of palliative care began to be released in Ukrainian. To date, the first four volumes have been published and are available for purchase.