OPM Hosts Roundtable with Ukrainian OHFU and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy
Chief Trauma Surgeon Highlights Massive Ongoing Challenges; OPM’s Efforts to Provide 3D Printed Custom Implants for War Wounded Continue
OPM hosted a delegation from Ukraine, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and executives from Hartford Healthcare at their facility on April 5th. The team from Ukraine consisted of Dr. Serhiy Hariyan, Chair of Orthopedics & Trauma at Ternopil Regional Hospital, and the co-founders of Orthopedic Help for Ukraine (OHFU), Janine Ignatenko, and Andrii Ivanov. The event highlighted the transformation of Ternopil from a teaching hospital to a major regional trauma hub and OPM's ongoing support to Ternopil, including supply of over 150 3D printed implants since September.
OPM founder & CEO Scott DeFelice moderated the roundtable discussion, in which Dr. Hariyan discussed their urgent situation along with ongoing complications and supply needs that have resulted from a ten-fold increase in trauma cases since the Russian invasion. During the event, Senator Murphy said: “Ukraine is not asking for American troops to be deployed. Ukraine is not asking for American soldiers to fight and risk their lives - Ukraine is willing to stand up for itself. It just needs funding and supplies to fight for itself.”
In addition to Senator Murphy, Dr. Hariyan and Ms. Ignatenko, the Q&A featured Mr. Bimal Patel, President of Hartford Healthcare.
OHFU founder Janine Ignatenko commented on OPM’s supply of 3D printed custom implants, instrumentation and suture anchors: “When OPM reached out and offered support without charging us, we were quite surprised and grateful. And we now understand how much this technology can do to help our injured troops and civilians.”
OPM has committed to continuing to supply Ternopil Regional Hospital with custom implants, and is the only U.S. company currently providing supplies to the hospital or OHFU on a pro bono basis. OPM’s OsteoFab® devices are designed off patient scans to address complex segmental bone defect cases and are then manufactured at the company's facilities in South Windsor for immediate shipment. Through an interpreter, Dr. Serhiy Hariyan said: "When I first evaluated the OPM implants, I immediately understood the potential, because they have mechanical properties similar to cortical bone, the body reacts to them as if they are natural bone, and OPM’s custom implant solution also allows us to reduce the incidence of amputations. These implants are exactly what we need.”
About Orthopedic Help for Ukraine
Orthopedic Help for Ukraine (OHFU) was established as a non-profit humanitarian organization – a charity fund assisting Ukrainian hospitals to provide surgery, health care and recovery services to save the lives and address quality of life needs of the victims of the Russian invasion. Established in May 2022 by volunteers and doctors, OHFU is a nonprofit with no political or religious affiliation working to ensure rapid and flexible funding and supply of medical equipment, disposables and medicines to Ukrainian hospitals that are working tirelessly to provide surgical procedures and treatment utilizing high-quality implants and prostheses. OHFU also helps relieve pressure on the European public health system by aiding the funding and provision of medications, diagnostic means, disposable and consumable materials, spare parts and/or necessary medical equipment and supplies to the orthopedic and surgical departments of Ukrainian hospitals that provide healthcare and emergency services to patients in critical condition.