From crisis to catalyst: wartime transformation of medical education in Ukraine

Abstract

This study analyzes the main challenges and innovative responses of Ukrainian medical education (2022–2025) amidst full-scale war, focusing on the experience of KhIMU and other institutions. Wartime conditions (shelling, blackouts) forced a rapid, creative shift toward digital, flexible, and competence-based learning.

Key innovations include: using 3D anatomy platforms and virtual simulators; implementing asynchronous formats and short modular units to counter blackouts/alerts; intensifying psychological support; and integrating Basic Life Support (BLS) and civil defense into the curriculum. The crisis served as a catalyst for modernization, proving the system's extraordinary resilience and stimulating international integration (e.g., Kharkiv-Oxford partnership). This experience offers a model for educational adaptation during severe crises.