Ukrainian Radiation Oncology specialists train in Pittsburgh through a partnership supported by the BBF, bringing advanced radiation therapy expertise back to patients in Ukraine

By Alexander Kirichenko, MD, PhD
Radiation Oncology, Allegheny Health Institute

A remarkable international partnership is helping bring advanced cancer treatment closer to patients in Ukraine. Through the collaboration of the National Medical University of Ukraine (NMU) in Kyiv, the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute (AHNCI), Radiating Hope, and the Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF), Ukrainian physicians and medical physicists are gaining access to modern training and technology that will help strengthen radiation oncology services in their country.

At the heart of the project is the donation of an Elekta Infinity medical linear accelerator, secured by Radiating Hope and shipped to Kyiv through the support and logistical leadership of the Brother’s Brother Foundation.

The linear accelerator was successfully shipped to Ukraine in May 2023, and NMU has since received the equipment. Ukrainian authorities and NMU leadership are currently preparing and upgrading facilities for the installation and operation of the system. For patients in Ukraine, this technology represents hope — access to modern radiation therapy that can save lives.

Above: The donated Elekta Infinity linear accelerator arrives at the National Medical University in Kyiv (NMU) (May 20, 2023). Professor Sergey Zenskov, Vice President of NMU accepts equipment on behalf of the university, marking the important milestone in expanding modern radiation oncology capabilities for Ukrainian patients.

Training the Next Generation of Ukrainian Radiation Oncology Experts

A central component of the partnership is hands-on training for Ukrainian physicians and medical physicists at AHNCI in Pittsburgh. Through a BBF-supported training grant, three Ukrainian professionals traveled to the United States to participate in an intensive educational program:

Oksana Zemskova, MD – Radiation Oncologist, National Medical University of Ukraine, Kyiv;

Volodymyr Vashchyshyn – Master in Medical Physics, Chief Medical Physicist at NMU and Oberig Hospital Radiation Oncology, Kyiv; Marilia Sosnovska – Master in Medical Physics, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Physics, Taras Shevchenko National University

Between October 18 and November 1, 2025, the Ukrainian specialists completed a two-week intensive training program at the AHN Cancer Institute Department of Radiation Oncology.

The training was led by a multidisciplinary team including: Dr. Chirag Shah – Department Chair;

Dr. Alexander Kirichenko – Director, SBRT and GI Cancer Program;  Daniel Pavord – Department Chief Medical Physicist;

Matthew Goss – Senior Medical Physicist and Residency Program Director

The program was designed to provide advanced clinical, technical, and operational expertise in modern radiation oncology, with particular emphasis on image-guided and adaptive radiotherapy technologies.

Above right, from left to right: Mariia Sosnovska, Alexander Kirichenko, Matthew Goss, Daniel Pavord, Ozzy Samad, Oksana Zemskova, and Volodymyr Vashchyshyn pictured at the Elekta linear accelerator at Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute—a key training site where Ukrainian professionals gained hands-on experience in advanced radiation oncology technologies.

Hands-On Clinical Experience

A highlight of the program was hands-on exposure to some of the most advanced treatment platforms in radiation oncology, including the Elekta Unity MR-Linac and Elekta Versa HD systems. Ukrainian physicists participated in daily machine calibration procedures, quality assurance protocols, and independent dose verification under the supervision of AHN medical physics staff.

The trainees observed adaptive radiotherapy workflows, motion management techniques, and modern treatment planning approaches including patient positioning, immobilization device selection, and image registration techniques used for modern treatment planning designed to maximize tumor control while protecting healthy tissue.

Above Left: Lee, Senior MRI physicists explains the workflow and quality assurance procedures of the Elekta Unity MR-Linac during Teaching Session at the AHNCI. Above Right: Matthew Goss, Senior Medical Physicist at AHNCI and Training Project Leader, discusses key principles of modern radiation therapy physics with visiting Ukrainian trainees during a hands-on training session.

They also gained experience with stereotactic radiosurgery concepts with Gamma Knife techniques for intracranial lesions. The program also introduced stereotactic radiotherapy principles on Elekta Versa HD Linac, emphasizing imaging integration, precision dose planning, and safety protocols — knowledge that will be essential when the Elekta Infinity system begins treating patients in Kyiv.

Beyond the technical training, the visitors took part in daily case reviews, multidisciplinary tumor boards, and peer-review planning sessions, experiencing multidisciplinary collaborative approach that defines modern cancer care.

For Dr. Zemskova and her colleagues, these discussions demonstrated how physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, and therapists work together to design the safest and most effective treatment plans for patients. This multidisciplinary approach represents a model the Ukrainian team hopes to further develop at home institutions.

Building a Sustainable Future for Cancer Care in Ukraine

Beyond the immediate training experience, the partnership aims to establish a long-term collaboration between NMU, AHN Cancer Institute and BBF, plans include continued educational exchanges, joint clinical learning opportunities, and an ongoing information-sharing network between institutions.

Through the generosity of the Brothers Brother Foundation and the dedication of the clinical teams involved, this initiative represents an important step toward expanding advanced radiation therapy capabilities in Ukraine and improving outcomes for cancer patients.