This year, Co-Pilot Project neurosurgeons completed two additional volunteer trips to Ukraine.
During the March trip, which spanned 4 cities and 14 days, doctors performed 12 craniotomies for brain tumors, consulted over 70 patients in Lviv alone, and talked to medical students and young doctors about residency programs, learning approaches and evidence-based medicine. In September, three American doctors traveled to Ukraine where they consulted approximately 90 patients and helped perform 8 craniotomies, 2 spinal surgeries, and 3 aneurysm coilings.
The trips demonstrated a very high degree of motivation on the part of surgeons in Ukraine to receive practical learning and to improve their skills.
Stateside, we were pleased to have Ukrainian doctor Ivanka Nebor as the first participant of the new observership program.
We started a new project called Razom Ticket, whose mission is to increase engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines among Ukrainian children.
The project took off to a great start by providing support to the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in Physics in Sumy, Ukraine. A total of 218 students participated in the competition and came away with increased motivation to get involved in STEM professions.
At the 2018 International Astronomy Olympiad in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Ukrainian team won three bronze medals. Four participants (aged 14-18) attended the Olympiad representing Ukraine. Razom Ticket is grateful to Infopulse Ukraine and all our individual donors for providing financial support that allowed the team to attend the Olympiad, represent Ukraine and gain the precious experience.
As part of the yearly Razom IT pitch event, five Ukrainian tech startups had the opportunity to pitch their products to a VC and investor group of 60 people in New York City. The event was organized by Razom IT and the US Department of Commerce SABIT Program.
Razom volunteers created eConsul – a new online platform where Ukrainian citizens can apply for biometric passport for travels abroad, reducing the time and complexity of the process. Ukrainian citizens can book an appointment for certain date and time online, and complete the application form in advance, so they come to the consulate for only 5-10 minutes to finalize the application process by having their picture and fingerprints taken. The eConsul platform lets citizens be ready in advance, saving them and diplomats time. The platform is being used by consulates in New York, Chicago, and Dubai.
Razom Culture volunteers provided on-the-ground organization to create a showcase of the creative industries in Ukraine through the installation “Fashion Experiment 01” with Ukrainian Fashion Week in Tribeca and assisted Ukrainian designer Bevza in showcasing unique designs on the runway at New York Fashion Week.
The Razom Lounge again made its appearance at the St. George’s Ukrainian Festival! We had a variety of engaging conversations, and lots of fun. A special face box made by our creative volunteer Sashko Danylenko produced unique portraits for visitors.
This year we also started Razom Book Club to unite those that love to read and would like to learn more about the vibrant Ukrainian literary world. We hosted two meetings in December where we discussed My Dead Parents by Anya Yurchyshyn and Lviv author Victoria Amelina’s latest novel ‘Дiм для Дома’. We were lucky to have both authors join us for both events.
Volunteers and supporters kept busy at various community events throughout the year.
A conversation with Marci Shore about her new book “The Ukrainian Night” looked back at Maidan and led to discussions about the existential moment of revolution. Ukrainian author Yevhen Polozhyi presented “Ilovaisk”, his book about courage, incredible heroism and humanity of Ukrainian soldiers and fighters of volunteer battalions who were in “Ilovaisk mousetrap” at the end of August 2014.
At volunteers meet-ups, we discussed the upcoming US midterm elections and American politics as they relate to Ukraine with a group of Ukrainian journalists observing the midterm elections in the US and enjoyed an intimate night of music with Maria Burmaka.
The North American film-screening tour for the documentary film “Invisible Battalion” showcased the faces and stories of the women on Ukraine’s frontlines.
Marking the 5th anniversary of Maidan, Razom and the Ukrainian Institute of America organized an event to share stories of the Revolution of Dignity and pay tribute to those who are working for Ukraine’s future, and to those who were killed in the process.
Razom led and joined various actions to raise awareness of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and to demand their release. A #FreeSentsov performance-protest at Times Square expressed solidarity with the illegally imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov’s hunger strike in a Russian prison, while grassroots work of volunteers on social media encouraged support and acknowledgement from U.S. politicians.
In February, Razom hosted an event at the Shevchenko Scientific Society to introduce our partner Building Ukraine Together (BUR) and promote grassroots initiatives in Ukraine.
Yuriy Didula, one of the BUR’s founders talked about the organization’s mission and current projects. BUR is a rapidly expanding ground organization that has seen wide-scale domestic involvement in the years since its inception, and even some international participation. Our own volunteers, Andriy and Sashko Falenchuk, joined BUR camps this summer and had a firsthand experience of the incredible impact that the organization is making. Razom’s and BUR partnership has raised over $2,000 in 2018. The funds went toward procuring construction supplies at the camp sites.
Our next step is to support the rollout of BURfriend, a recurring monthly donation program. This step is vital for the sustainability of the organization, as it is getting harder and harder to depend on unreliable grants, and not being sure whether the next project can be fully financially covered. Already over 100 donors became BURfriends, and the organization is targeting to reach 1,000 supporters.
In the third year of its partnership with MathOlymp, we have a special achievement to celebrate as Ukrainian team placed 4th at International Olympiad in Mathematics 2018 in Romania! All six team members won gold or silver medals which grant them amazing prospects for the future studies.
In May 2018, Support Hospitals in Ukraine delivered the fourth shipment of medical equipment valued $0.74 million, part of which was supported by Razom’s $10,000 grant. The humanitarian medical cargo successfully cleared customs and arrived at hospitals in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhya.
In March 2018, Istorychna Pravda, a publication that fosters the responsible study of the history of Ukraine, and Razom teamed up to make it easier for donors in North America to join the hundreds of reader-supporters in Ukraine to grow the online publication. One of the uses of funds will be to translate some of their materials into English and other languages.
Every year Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation (BHFF), which promotes the democratic transformation of Ukraine by creating a critical mass of patriotic pro-active young Ukrainian professionals, sends two United Nations youth delegates to observe General Assembly proceedings. Razom has been hosting the delegates for the past two years in New York.
In November we officially started our work with The Ukrainian Leadership Academy (ULA), a program of personal and social development, main element of which is the 10-month formational course for secondary school graduates, and look forward to partnering on fundraising efforts to support general operations and various projects of the academy.
This year, we formed new partnerships with Serhiy Zhadan Charitable Foundation (SZCF). With the support of Razom, SZCF has conducted a successful fundraising campaign Мандрівники зі Сходу, a summer trip for a group of high schoolers from Zolote, which had fulfilled childrens’ dream of visiting places outside of their native Luhansk region. Part of the $4,000+ raised by the Zhadan-Razom partnership went towards purchasing train and bus tickets for the group. Future plans include supporting the Foundation’s work with the children and teachers of the Ukrainian east, including the EdCamps movement and inclusive education initiatives.
North-American tour of the documentary Invisible Battalion marked the beginning of Razom’s partnership with the Institute of Gender Programs, organization involved in women’s rights protection in the defense sector and rehabilitation programs for the veterans. Following the screening and meetings with the real heroines of Invisible Battalion, discussions were held on how to best support war veterans’ re-adaptation to “normal” life. Razom vice-president Lyuba Shipovich with the help of many volunteers, raised a scholarship fund of $9,300 that would give four veterans an opportunity to study in the master’s programs at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
This year, Toy Drive partnered with a number of similar organizations to maximize the impact of helping Ukrainian children in need.
One of such successful partnerships was with Big Brother Foundation. Toy drive co-sponsored trips across Ukraine where many children of Ukrainian ATO heroes had an opportunity to attend and participate in master classes with leading artists and received small gifts.
During Christmas, volunteers facilitated the collection of many donated toys, gifts, clothes and shoes from Ukrainian schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn. $2,000 donated to the project was passed on as gifts from Saint Nicholas and winter coats and boots. Also as part of the Christmas season, we initiated a letter cards exchange between Ukrainian students in USA with the ones in Ukraine.
Thank you to our incredible volunteers and supporters who donated their time, smarts, and money to make all of this possible.
You can mail a check to 140 2nd. Ave., Suite 305, New York, NY, 10003
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In 2018 we’re planning to cover expenses for 30 teams (6 people per team) at Oblast STEM competitions.
Total Budget is $4500
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”
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
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
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
Advisory Staff
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.
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.
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 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.