Leading UTHealth Houston Expert Visits Uzhhorod Neurosurgery Center Through GMKA Initiative to Advance Stroke Care in Ukraine
As part of an initiative led by Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA), the Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology (RCCNN) in Uzhhorod hosted an important international collaboration focused on strengthening stroke and neurovascular care in Ukraine.
On May 6–7, 2026, RCCNN welcomed Mark Dannenbaum, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon and Associate Professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. Dr. Dannenbaum is also a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
During the two-day visit, Dr. Dannenbaum worked alongside RCCNN specialists and the GMKA team to evaluate and strengthen stroke care pathways — from emergency triage and diagnostics to surgical intervention, multidisciplinary coordination, and post-acute management.
The collaboration is part of GMKA’s broader strategy to help Ukrainian hospitals develop sustainable Centers of Excellence that can serve as national leaders in advanced neurosurgery and stroke care.
“I came to Ukraine to share my experience in treating stroke patients and traumatic brain injury patients. I was hoping to be able to share some lessons I've learned through the years with the practitioners here when they're hoping to develop their program further,” said Dr. Dannenbaum. “The team here has a great desire to learn.”
According to GMKA Co-Executive Director Kateryna Potapova, MD, PhD, MHA, the visit focused not only on supporting one institution, but also on developing scalable systems and expertise that can strengthen stroke care nationwide.
“Together with Dr. Dannenbaum and the RCCNN team, we reviewed the entire stroke patient pathway,” she said. “We assessed diagnostic capacity, clinical protocols, triage systems, interdisciplinary coordination, and operational workflows. Our goal is to help develop systems of care that deliver faster, higher-quality treatment — and ultimately create scalable models that can strengthen stroke care nationwide.”
The program included patient consultations, hands-on operating room collaboration, and multidisciplinary case discussions focused on comparing treatment approaches and identifying opportunities to further align care with international standards — particularly in the field of endovascular neurosurgery.
One major focus was expanding endovascular treatment capabilities — minimally invasive procedures that are transforming the treatment of vascular diseases worldwide.
“Dr. Dannenbaum specializes in endovascular techniques and neurosurgical treatment of vascular diseases — an area we have been actively developing for years,” said Andriy Smolanka, MD, Director of RCCNN. “Our center already has the necessary infrastructure, including an angiography system that enables us to perform mechanical thrombectomy procedures for stroke patients. These are highly specialized interventions that require both advanced technology and deep clinical expertise. International collaboration helps our team continue strengthening these capabilities and advancing the level of care we provide.”
Dr. Dannenbaum highlighted the strong clinical foundation already established at RCCNN and emphasized the importance of long-term mentorship, collaboration, and ongoing exchange of experience in advancing complex neurosurgical care.
“The level of care provided in the endovascular cases we observed was very high,” Dr. Dannenbaum said. “The team was eager to learn and explore different approaches through the perspective of someone with more than 15 years of experience in the field — learning not only from successes, but also from the challenges, lessons, and complexities that come with performing this type of surgery over time.”
The visit also included in-depth discussions on complex stroke treatment decision-making, workforce development, integration of nursing and rehabilitation services, clinical quality metrics, and operational challenges impacting care delivery.
“I think the most obvious thing is just the passion of the community around here and seeing the collaborative effort of all the individuals involved in patient care,” he said. “From morning rounds to my time in the operating room to my time in the angio suite and the conference discussions at the end of the day, everyone was fully engaged and very collaborative. They seem to have a very deep commitment to learning and are very receptive to different ways of doing things.”
A key outcome of the visit was a comprehensive assessment of RCCNN’s current capabilities, along with alignment on strategic priorities for continued collaboration, long-term partnership, and future development.
“At GMKA, we are committed to supporting the development of Ukrainian hospitals and helping patients overcome the challenges created by war,” said Dr. Potapova. “Stroke care is an area where advances in medicine continue to rapidly improve outcomes and redefine global standards. Our goal is to ensure that Ukrainian physicians working with acute cerebrovascular conditions have access to the latest evidence, training, and international expertise. By strengthening institutions like RCCNN, we are helping create scalable models of excellence that can transform stroke care across Ukraine.”
Dr. Smolanka emphasized RCCNN’s readiness to play a leading role in that transformation.
“Our team is ready for growth because continuous learning and professional development are already embedded in our culture,” he said. “For many years, our institution has been one of Ukraine’s leading neurosurgical centers, with specialists from across the country coming here to train. We are committed to building on that foundation and developing a center that can serve as a national leader in neurosurgery and comprehensive stroke care.”
GMKA’s long-term strategy, developed in partnership with international experts and Ukrainian hospitals including RCCNN, is focused on strengthening sustainable healthcare systems during wartime and long-term recovery. Key priorities include establishing Centers of Excellence, expanding the HealUA consultation platform, translating international clinical protocols, supporting physician training and observerships, improving patient education, and advancing women’s leadership in medicine.
Together, these efforts aim to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system in Ukraine and expand access to advanced stroke and neurosurgical care nationwide.