What motivated young Ukrainian immigrants to engage and support the Euromaidan movement from abroad? What strategies did they employ to enable political, economic, and social change? What impact did they create in Ukraine and the United States? Dr. Alla Korzh and Dr. Serhiy Kovalchuk presented their research focused on Razom.
Grassroots Initiatives in Ukraine: Meet up with Yuriy Didula in New York
Published: March 11, 2018
by Rebecca McGory, Building Ukraine Together volunteer
The evening of February 22nd, Razom hosted an event to promote grassroots initiatives in Ukraine and turned the podium over to Yuriy Didula, one of the founders of Будуємо Україну Разом (БУР) or “Building Ukraine Together” (BUR).
An Intimate Portrait of a Revolution: Conversation with Marci Shore about her new book “The Ukrainian Night”
Published: January 30, 2018
By Maria Genkin, Razom volunteer
On Thursday, January 11, 2018, Razom organized a discussion about the new book ‘The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution’ written by Yale History Professor, Marci Shore.
Making Connections
Published: January 23, 2018
One of Razom’s missions is to amply voices from Ukraine and make and forge connections with people on the ground. So when folks come to us looking for help in finding someone in Ukraine, we do our best to make connections. Earlier in the 2017 summer, board member Dora Chomiak got an email from someone who was looking for a journalist in Ukraine. She passed this along to volunteer Lydia Tomkiw who contacted her friend Iuliia, a journalist based in Kyiv. Through these connections, over the summer Iuliia traveled to Poland and documented the work the Rotary Club is doing to help children impacted by the war in Ukraine. Iuliia spent time at a summer camp that is aimed at helping children heal and discuss their experiences. Click here to read the story Iuliia produced.
Razom amplifies voices from Ukraine to bring them into conversations around the world. We are all glad that we were able to make this project effective.
Come to an event, introduce yourself and sign up for the Razom newsletter. Make connections to build a prosperous Ukraine.
The photo above shows Iuliia interviewing some of the participants from Ukraine.
Music: amplifying voices from Ukraine
Published: December 29, 2017
In November 2017, Razom hosted a fundraiser to support The Co-Pilot Project. Olga Breydo, a supporter and member of the audience that evening shares her experience from the evening.
The Co-Pilot Fundraiser With Slava Vakarchuk and Fima Chupakhin: Promise Kept
Published: November 16, 2017
In March 2017 at the launch of the Razom for Ukraine Co-Pilot Project, Slava Vakarchuk promised to come back to New York and play a private concert to raise funds for the project. He invited Fima Chupakhin to join him to create and perform a mix of jazz standards and Океан Ельзи / Okean Elzy songs. On Saturday (on November 4th, 2017) he kept his promise and performed to a sold out audience that raised over $33,500 to improve the quality of neurosurgical and spine surgery in Ukraine.
The Co-Pilot Project Launch Event in New York, March 5th 2017
Published: April 11, 2017
New Global Neurosurgery Initiative launched by Razom in Ukraine
By: Tamara Lashchyk
On Sunday, March 5th at the Ukrainian Institute of America, I had the privilege of attending the launch of the Co-Pilot Project (CPP), an initiative of Razom that seeks to raise the quality of neurosurgical training in Ukraine through surgeon-to-surgeon mentoring. There I listened to Dr. Luke Tomycz, the lead physician on the project, describe in detail the complex surgeries that he performed last year in Ukraine to remove deadly brain and spine tumors from otherwise young and healthy patients who in many cases were refused from neurosurgical centers throughout the country. Much like a co-pilot helps land a plane safely, Tomycz and his colleagues hope to serve a similar function, guiding Ukrainian surgeons safely through complex neurosurgical operations.
The Co-Pilot Project Launch Event
Thanks to everyone who made The Co-Pilot Project happen. More about the initiative here: razomforukraine.org/cpp. Video by Bad Duet.
Posted by Razom for Ukraine on Sunday, March 12, 2017
Razom helped bring twenty artists to Galicia Cult: a cultural festival in Kharkiv 2016
Published: December 15, 2016
Razom is happy to announce that with the support of our donors and volunteers we were able to sponsor the transportation of 20 artists participating in the Galicia Cult festival in Kharkiv that ran Oct. 2-18, 2016.
Galicia Cult is a multidisciplinary social-cultural forum that aims to introduce eastern Ukrainians to modern western-Ukrainian culture. Besides promoting a cultural exchange, the forum also intends to break common stereotypes in both the east and the west.
Razom in Austin: Charity Photoshoot and Networking
Published: December 12, 2016
On October 8th, 2016 Razom volunteers organized a costume photoshoot with a photographer Waytao Shing (Getty, SXSW). The idea came from Alyona Owens, a volunteer from Izmail, Ukraine who now lives in Austin, TX and is the founder of Choobchik, an online learning platform. Big thanks to Austin TX Ukrainians group and Chicon Collective for being part of this event.
Razom announces a new program: The Co-Pilot Project – Neurosurgery Training in Ukraine
Published: December 5, 2016
The Co-Pilot Project (CPP) is an initiative that aims to address the significant deficit in high quality neurosurgical and spine surgery training in Ukraine, a country of 45 million people in eastern Europe. Just as a co-pilot acts as another set of eyes and ears for the pilot, our mission is to send surgeons from North America to mentor and aid Ukrainian surgeons through difficult cases.
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Oblast Competitions
In 2018 we’re planning to cover expenses for 30 teams (6 people per team) at Oblast STEM competitions.
Total Budget is $4500
Ruslan Batytskyi
Director, writer and cinematographer with three completed award-winning shorts as well as a feature documentary in post-production. After starting his filmmaker career at 2009, Ruslan brings his skills in project management, process analysis and systems models (received during obtaining MA in cybernetics 2003-2008) and applies them to the creative thinking and artistic thought-processes of film. He also holds BA in Film and Television directing (from the Kyiv National University of theatre, cinema and television by Karpenko-Karyi).
“A chance to participate in The Co-Pilot project it’s an amazing opportunity to help others and to tell the story that will engage and inspire people around the world”
2017 Trip Itinerary
We are gearing up for our 2017 Mission trip. It’ll be a 3-month adventure during which we plan to work with neurosurgeons from several centers from all around the country. Dr.Tomycz has also been invited to deliver an address at the annual Ukrainian Neurosurgery Conference 2017 in Kharkiv.
May 20: arrive in Kyiv, Ukraine
May 22-26: meet with area surgeons at participating centers
May 29- June 9: two week master class with Igor Kurilets MD at the International Neurosurgery Center
June 12-13: Visit to Medical Institute of Sumy State University
June 14-16: Ukrainian Neurosurgery Conference 2017 in Kharkiv
June 19-23: one week course and master class operating in complex spine and craniocervical with Ukrainian spinal surgeons and trainees from Romadanov Institute and International Neurosurgery Center
June 24-July 7: Come back to United States for two weeks
July 10-21: two week master class with Dr. Schlegov at the Neurovascular Institute
July 24-August 4: two week master class in pediatric neurosurgery with surgeons at Lviv Children’s Hospital
August 5-18: travel to out-lying centers of excellence (Stryii, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa)
August 21-31: operate with surgeons at Central Military Hospital and International Neurosurgery Center in Kyiv
September 15: leave Ukraine for United States
Surgical Mentors and Medical Support Staff
The best way to train surgeons is by providing hands-on mentorship and assistance in the operating room. One of the primary goals of the Co-Pilot Project is the continued recruitment of high quality surgeons from United States and Canada to spend time with Ukrainian counterparts, consulting on patients and performing procedures.
Surgical Mentors traveling to Ukraine
- Jefferson Miley, MD – neurointerventionalist
- Jonathan Forbes, MD – skull base neurosurgeon
- Matthew Geck, MD – orthopedic spine surgeon
Not all of the healthcare volunteers will be able to travel to Ukraine but they still will play an important role from home. Utilizing contemporary technology, including live streaming of surgeries and communication via social media the medical support staff will advice and mentor Ukrainian neurosurgeons as they confront difficult cases.
Medical Support Staff
- Bido Patel, MD – neuroradiologist
- Chandra Krishnan, MD – neuropathologist
- Ginger Harrod, MD – neuro-oncologist
Advisory Staff
- Tim George, MD – pediatric neurosurgeon
- Jim Rose, MD – vascular neurosurgeon
- Ryan Murdoch, MD – orthopedic spine surgeon
- Patrick Combs, MD – craniofacial surgeon
- Nestor Tomycz, MD – functional neurosurgeon
- Aaron Stayman, MD – vascular neurologist
- Jim Rutka – pediatric neurosurgeon
- Ben Warf – pediatric neurosurgeon
Participating Centers in Ukraine Page
Since our exploratory trip in 2016 we have identified a cohort of motivated and talented surgeons who are hungry for additional instruction and eager for collaboration.
- Igor Kurilets, MD (International Neurosurgery Center)
- Ivan Protsenko, MD (Romadanov Institute)
- Kostiantyn Kostiuk, MD (Romadanov Institute)
- Vitali Ganjuk, MD (Central Military Hospital, Kyiv)
- Taras Mykytyn, MD (Lviv Children’s Hospital)
- Dmytro Shcheglov, MD (Neurovascular Institute)
Luke Tomycz, MD
Dr. Luke Tomycz is the newest addition to the pediatric neurosurgical team at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Tomycz finished first in his high school class of over 200 students and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA where he double-majored in biology and chemical engineering. He accepted the prestigious Dean’s Full-Tuition Scholarship to attend medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he first developed an interest in neurosurgery. After medical school, he began his formal neurosurgical training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where he trained under the late Noel Tulipan, MD, a pioneer in fetal neurosurgery for myelomeningocele. During his seven-year residency, he spent two years obtaining an in-folded fellowship in endovascular surgery, becoming proficient in the treatment of aneurysms, AVMs, Moya-Moya syndrome, and complex dural AV fistulae of adults and children. After this, Dr. Tomycz spent an additional year at Seattle Children’s Hospital performing a large volume of complex epilepsy surgery with Jeff Ojemann, MD. Following an exhaustive job search, Dr.Tomycz was attracted to Austin as the city was in the process of launching a new medical school at the University of Texas.
Dr. Tomycz specializes in all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery including brain tumors, epilepsy, Chiari malformation, tethered cord syndrome, CSF shunting, and intracranial endoscopy. As one of the only dual-trained, pediatric and endovascular neurosurgeons in the country, he is particularly interested in Moya-Moya, brain aneurysms and AVMs, arteriovenous fistulae, and other complex neurovascular disorders in children as well as adults. His research interests include the use of engineering innovations to improve treatments for hydrocephalus and he has published on a wide variety of neurosurgical topics. Outside the operating room, Dr. Tomycz enjoys playing guitar and hiking in the mountains. He has travelled extensively to perform neurosurgery and take part in short-term medical mission work – in Cuba, Kenya, Honduras, Ecuador, and Ukraine.
Dr. Tomycz grew up with four grandparents who told stories of their youth and taught their grandchildren the language of their homeland – Ukraine. His parents were both born in refugee camps following the second world war, and came to this country in the early 1950s with virtually nothing. His father excelled in academics and went into medicine, and both Luke and his brother Nestor followed suit, pursuing a career in neurosurgery. During a long period of study and training that lasted more than 15 years, Luke resolved to return to the homeland of his grandparents and provide the kind of high quality care that children receive in the United States.
Mariya Soroka
In 2014 at the peak of protests in the Maidan, Mariya joined several fellow Ukrainians living in New York City to create Razom, a young, energetic, and progressive start-up which seeks to amplify the voice of Ukraine to an American audience. An active member of the board, she is responsible for organizing cultural events as well as cooperating with government representatives, activists, and various civic groups and human rights organizations in support of Ukraine’s quest for democracy.
CPP info
Mariya is also heavily involved with fundraising for Razom’s projects via crowdsourcing, charity events, and online petitions. After graduating from Penn State University with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations and a dual minor in Entrepreneurship and International Studies, Mariya spent over 5 years in Manhattan working within the content marketing industry. She believes in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers around the world working to rebuild Ukraine one project at a time.
Mariana Magala
Mariana Magala was born in Lviv, Ukraine. She graduated from The University of Chicago in 2013 and holds a B.A. in Economics and Slavic Languages and Literature. Currently, Mariana is a Strategic Analytics Manager at Interline Brands (subsidiary of The Home Depot) in Jacksonville, Florida. She specializes in analytics, business strategy, and nonprofit development. Mariana was the co-chair of a pro-bono consulting group for nonprofits in Chicago for 3 years and is currently the treasurer for a young professionals group at MOSH (Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville).
Mariana joined Razom’s Neurosurgical initiative in 2016. She is very excited to collaborate with the team and develop the initiative into a highly successful program.