ROUNDTABLE WITH SENATOR SHERROD BROWN

On October 2, 2023, UMANA Ohio Chapter treasurer Dr. Bohdan Pichurko joined the Ukrainian Museum – Archives in Cleveland at a roundtable discussion with Ukraine supporter Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown as well as members and allies of the Ukrainian-American community of Northeast Ohio. It was an opportunity to hear from the Senator who was presented with our concerns and asked questions. We are grateful to Senator Brown for his leadership and support of Ukraine.

UMANA OHIO BIENNIAL PICNIC

The Ohio Chapter held its biennial picnic on September 10, 2023 at St. Pokrova in Parma, Ohio. The 2021 picnic was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic causing a long pause between events. It was a successful event on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, attended by more than 70 adults and children attended to mingle with old and make new friends. We recognized Mr. Hans Bloom, Mr. John Dunn, the United Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland and Mrs. Ann Schneidhorst for their contributions to the Ohio Chapter. In addition, our member Dr. Michael Samotowka presented a slide show of his experiences in Ukraine where he as a trauma surgeon provides treatment to the wounded and advises our chapter about the needs in the field.

MEETING WITH OHIO TREASURER OF STATE

Ohio Treasurer of State, Robert Sprague, met with Ukrainian-American community and leaders including UMANA Ohio Chapter President Dr. Maria Strus and United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio in Parma, Ohio, on July 24, 2023. Mr. Sprague asked for a prioritized list of the medical items in greatest need in Ukraine right now which we provided him so that he could share with healthcare executives that he has contact with.

UMANA SENDS 19 PALLETS TO UKRAINE

UMANA Ohio Chapter packed 19 pallets with supplies from MedWish International and sent them to our partners in Ukraine to distribute to the injured in war zones. Between January and March of 2023, several UMANA members including Drs. Maria Strus and Bohdan Pichurko, packed 19 pallets of supplies based on guidance from Dr. Michael Samotowka who has been traveling to Ukraine to provide surgical care to the injured.

UMANA SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

The XLVI Scientific Conference “Technology and Medicine Friend or Foe” and XL Assembly of Delegates were held in Nashville Tennessee June 14-18, 2023. Topics were a vast array from Current Therapies in Rheumatic and Inflammatory Diseases to 3D Printing in Orthopedic Surgery to AI in Medical Imaging and others. The Young Investigators Program Presentation and Abstract was also included in the program. It proved to be a very informative and inspiring event held at the OMNI Hotel in Downtown Nashville.

MEDWISH BANDAID BASH

MedWish International Bandaid Bash 2023 was held on June 10, 2023 at FWD Day and Nightclub on the east bank of the Flats in Cleveland. Several UMANA members attended with other members of the Ukrainian community. Founder Dr. Lee Ponsky is first on the right of the photo. From RIGHT to left: Dr. Lee Ponsky, Dr. Natalya Mahlay, Dr. Taras Mahlay, Mrs. Chrystia Pichurko, Dr. Bohdan Pichurko, Dr. Jurko Jaskiw, Dr. Maria Strus, Mrs. Marta Kelleher (president United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio), NN, NN, and Mr. Sean Kelleher.

MEETING WITH OHIO GOVERNOR DEWINE

The Ukrainian Community visited with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Ukrainian Community leaders, including UMANA Ohio President Dr. Maria Strus, met with representatives of our Ohio Ukrainians displaced by the war and visited with Governor Mike and Mrs. Fran DeWine at their residence. The focus of the visit was for Governor DeWine to hear directly from them on a variety of topics regarding their experience in the state of Ohio; their personal stories, issues of employment, education, housing, and language, their successes and challenges.

roundtable with Deputy Secretary of State Sherman and Governor DeWine

UMANA Ohio president Dr. Maria Strus attended a roundtable with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Governor DeWine on Tuesday January 24th, 2023, organized by the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio and held at the Cleveland Selfreliance Federal Credit Union in Parma, Ohio. Secretary Sherman had just returned from Ukraine and she focused on greeting refugees in attendance, hearing their stories, discussing the war with diaspora leaders, and informal conversation.