ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S2253

Interdisciplinary – Global health

ESTRO 2025

institutions is essential to fully realize these benefits. This study underscores the role of international training programs in advancing development of radiation oncology in LMICs/UMICs.

Keywords: observerships, experience sharing

4509

Digital Poster OncoHUB: Elevating Oncology Training During Wartime in Ukraine Yuliia Lozko 1 , Andriy Beznosenko 2 , Oleksandr Stakhovskyi 3 , Yurii Kondratskyi 4 , Ruslan Zelinskyi 5 , Kseniia Bolgarina 6 , Zoia Shepil 7 , Serhii Brovchuk 7 , Natalka Suchowerska 8 , Viktor Iakovenko 9 , Nataliya Kovalchuk 10 1 Radiation oncology, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 2 thoraco-abdominal oncology, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 3 Oncological urology, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 4 Stomach and Esophageal Tumors, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 5 Radiation oncology, Spizhenko medical center, Kyiv, Ukraine. 6 Bone Marrow transplantation, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. 7 Radiation oncology, Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology, Kyiv, Ukraine. 8 School of Physicist, School of Physicist The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 9 Radiation oncology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, USA. 10 Radiation oncology, Stanford, Palo Alto, USA Purpose/Objective: The war in Ukraine has disrupted traditional medical education, particularly in oncology. OncoHUB has provided a lifeline, enabling oncologists—including radiation oncologists—to enhance their theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This abstract highlights OncoHUB’s multifaceted educational projects and its collaborative efforts with Help Ukraine Group (HUG) to ensure the continuity and advancement of oncology training during the war. Material/Methods: A survey was conducted among Ukrainian physicians of a various specialties, including radiation oncologists and medical physicists who participated in observership programs abroad. 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: Of the 55 physicians who participated in the survey, 62% (34/55) rated the overall effectiveness of their training as perfect (10 out of 10). A significant 89% (49/55) reported a paradigm shift in their medical practice perspectives due to the training. Furthermore, 84% (46/55) learned new procedures pertinent to their specialties during the observerships. Among the respondents, 100% of medical physicists and 88% of radiation oncologists reported improvements in treatment planning skills, including hypofractionation techniques (observed by 70% of participants) 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. Knowledge dissemination efforts included informal training (68%), organized training courses (21%), and national level presentations (19%). Additionally, 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 include the preparation for the first linear accelerator in one center and the development of educational programs for radiation therapists (RTTs). Participants emphasized improved confidence in clinical decision-making and highlighted the value of multidisciplinary team approaches observed abroad.