Author Matt Salter
Nova Ukraine is dedicating funds to a vital and often underserved medical necessity in conflict areas: acoustic trauma. In partnership with Pivnyk Charitable Foundation, this new program will train Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctors in Ukraine to treat hearing loss and ear injuries.
Why Hearing Restoration Is Critical
An estimated 60% of people injured in combat zones suffer acoustic trauma, hearing loss, or both. Ukrainian troops and civilians throughout the country suffer acoustic injuries. Without proper treatment, the pain and sensory loss of such injuries can last a lifetime.
Hearing loss has a profound negative impact on patients’ overall well-being. A recent study by ENT experts at the US Naval Health Research Center and Illinois State University found that hearing loss can cause a threefold increase in severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is already a known problem for both soldiers and civilians in war zones; symptoms exacerbated by the pain and hearing loss of acoustic trauma can damage patients’ overall health and limit their ability to safely return to normal life.
Facts On The Ground
- Approximately 60% of combat-related injuries are accompanied by acoustic trauma or hearing loss.
- An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Ukrainian troops require surgical intervention to treat ear injuries and restore lost hearing.
- Ukraine currently has only 25-30 specialists capable of performing the ear microsurgery necessary to treat these injuries.
- Due to the lack of trained specialists, patients are sometimes forced to wait 10 months or more for this vital treatment.
- Unless treatment capacity is increased, it will take an estimated 10 years just to clear the backlog for these procedures and begin to take on new patients.
How Nova Ukraine and Pivnyk Are Helping
Nova Ukraine and Pivnyk Charitable Foundation are dedicated to increasing capacity and providing needed treatment to all current and future patients in Ukraine. Nova Ukraine’s partner in this program is dedicated to providing that treatment. Pivnyk and Nova Ukraine are both committed to NU’s HEAL pillar, training Ukrainian doctors in the ear microsurgery procedures they need to restore hearing, reduce suffering, and provide sustainable treatment strategies to the people of Ukraine far into the future.
Pivnyk Charitable Foundation is a globally recognized authority in hearing restoration and acoustic trauma treatment. Founded by one of Ukraine’s leading otolaryngologists and ear microsurgeons, Pivnyk has provided over 200 best-in-class free surgeries to restore the hearing of Ukrainian service members. By sharing their expertise with a new generation of doctors in Ukraine, the Foundation is building sustainable national capacity to restore hearing, reduce long-term disability, and improve care for thousands of current and future patients across the country.
Pivnyk’s joint program with Nova Ukraine will deliver four specialized training courses by the end of 2026. Each course consists of two full days of instruction. Through Nova Ukraine’s funding, 40 ENT surgeons will be able to attend each course free of charge. Pivnyk has already opened applications to interested participants and shared this promotional video: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dax4blBNt1c
This is a full-service program, training working medical professionals to carry out vital health interventions in the field. The curriculum combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical training on surgical simulators and opportunities to observe experienced specialists performing all necessary procedures. With the help of donors, Nova Ukraine and Pivnyk will bring lasting improvement in hearing healthcare throughout Ukraine.
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