ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S2252

Interdisciplinary – Global health

ESTRO 2025

4473

Digital Poster The value of observerships abroad: lessons from diaspora collaboration supporting Ukrainian cancer care during the war. Yuliia Lozko 1 , Ruslan Zelinskyi 2 , Zoia Shepil 3 , Serhii Brovchuk 3 , Natalka Suchowerska 4 , Viktor Iakovenko 5 , Nelya Melnitchouk 6 , Vitaliy Poylin 7 , Nataliya Kovalchuk 8 1 Radiation oncology, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 2 Radiation oncology, Stanford, Spizhenko medical center, Ukraine. 3 Radiation oncology, Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology, Kyiv, Ukraine. 4 School of Physicist, School of Physicist The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 5 Radiation oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA. 6 Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA. 7 Colon and Rectal Surgery, Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center, Chicago, USA. 8 Radiation oncology, Stanford, Palo Alto, USA Purpose/Objective: This study evaluates the influence of international observerships organized by Help Ukraine Group, Global Medical Knowledge Alliance, and Northwestern hospital on professional development, knowledge transfer, and clinical practice improvement among medical professionals of different oncology specialties, including radiation oncologists and medical physicists. Material/Methods: A total of 65 international observerships were organized for various Ukrainian oncology professionals during the war. Most of the observers spent 4 weeks training at hospitals in US, Canada, or Australia and attended professional conferences. A survey was conducted among the observers to access the effect of observerships on supporting oncology care during the war. Fifty-five observers responded to the survey. Respondents detailed their experiences, including training topics, procedural knowledge gained, and challenges faced when implementing learned techniques in Ukraine. Data was analyzed to identify trends in practice improvements, knowledge dissemination, and institutional advancements. Results: Among the 55 respondents, the average satisfaction scores with observerships were 9.4±1.0 out of 10. Ninety-six percent of respondents reported the shift in perception of how to practice medicine. Among the radiation oncology trainees, all observers learnt new procedures and techniques, and 100% of medical physicists and 88% of radiation oncologists reported improvements in treatment planning skills, including hypofractionation techniques (70%) and dosimetry on CT and linear accelerators (63%). Implementation of SBRT and radiosurgery techniques was initiated by 24% of participants, while 33% began preparing their institutions for advanced treatments such as brachytherapy and adaptive radiation therapy. Majority of observers (81%) continued mentorship contact with the training institution. Encouraged to disseminate knowledge. observers provided informal training of colleagues (68%), organized training courses (21%), and delivered talks at national conferences (19%). Importantly, 89% of respondents incorporated materials from their observerships into their daily practice. Despite the progress, barriers to implementation included lack of material resources (37%), human resources (21%), and institutional support (12%). Significant institutional advancements included the preparation for the first linear accelerator in one center and the development of educational programs for radiation therapists (RTTs) in another. Participants emphasized improved confidence in clinical decision-making and highlighted the value of multidisciplinary team approaches observed abroad. Conclusion: International observerships enhanced the skills of cancer care professionals in Ukraine fostering improvements in clinical practice and education. Addressing systemic barriers through collaboration with international and local