At Uzhhorod National University (UzhNU), future doctors are already learning how to tackle some of the biggest health challenges of our time — starting with chronic diseases.
Olena Chernenko our healthcare advisor, recently led a session for first-year residents in “Internal Medicine” and “General Practice – Family Medicine” at the Faculty of Postgraduate and Pre-University Education.
Her lecture covered:
• 90% of premature deaths and over 85% of healthcare costs are driven by chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Diabetes is growing fast: today, 550 million people live with diabetes globally; by 2050, this number will rise to 1.3 billion.
• Diabetic retinopathy is responsible for 50% of vision loss in working-age adults, yet up to 50% of diabetes cases are undiagnosed.
• Screening saves sight — early detection can prevent up to 100,000 cases of blindness in Ukraine over the next decade.
• Digital screening solutions like CheckEye’s platform allow nurses to conduct fast, reliable screenings in just 30 seconds without invasive procedures.
Thanks to Vitalina Ivachevska (Deputy Dean for Research, FPOPD UzhNU) and Svitlana Rudakova (Associate Professor of Therapy and Family Medicine) for creating a space where innovation meets real-world medical education.
🥼Training future doctors to think ahead — because prevention always beats cure.
The future of healthcare starts with education
