GMKA Leads ATLS Training in Ukraine’s First Comprehensive Military Trauma Surgery Program
Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) delivered Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training as part of Tryzub, Ukraine’s first comprehensive international military trauma surgery and resuscitation program, initiated by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense,co-organised by Razom for Ukraine. The initiative marks another step in GMKA’s efforts to establish sustainable, nationwide access to internationally recognized trauma training.
In collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS), GMKA organized the simulation-based ATLS component, training physicians to rapidly assess severely injured patients, identify life-threatening conditions, and prioritize lifesaving interventions.
The weeklong Tryzub program trained 16 military physicians through three complementary courses:
- ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support): Initial trauma assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization.
- DSTC (Definitive Surgical Trauma Care): Surgical decision-making and management of severe injuries.
- ASSET (Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma): Surgical exposure techniques for hemorrhage control and emergency interventions.
Together, the courses strengthened clinical decision-making, surgical skills, and coordination between surgeons and anesthesiologists.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has identified the program as a pilot initiative for a new approach to military medical training, with plans to expand access to comprehensive training for surgeons and anesthesiologists across the Defense Forces.
“Service members need to know that if they are wounded, there will be people ready to do everything possible to save their lives. That trust matters enormously on the front lines. It is built on training, experience, and coordinated teamwork. We want our medical teams to have the best possible knowledge and skills and to be able to work together as one,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Yevhenii Khmara.
The Tryzub program was delivered in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons, the International Society of Surgery, and GMKA, with financial support from Razom for Ukraine and Expertise France. Program partners: the Department of Healthcare of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the NGO CHEST!
Building Sustainable ATLS Training Across Ukraine
GMKA is leading efforts to implement ATLS in Ukraine, moving beyond individual training courses toward a sustainable national training system.
In partnership with the American College of Surgeons, Mass General Brigham, and Harvard Medical School, GMKA is advancing a long-term strategy focused on training and certifying Ukrainian ATLS instructors, developing national training centers, and expanding access to standardized trauma education across the country.
The integration of ATLS into Tryzub program reflects growing demand for standardized trauma training and demonstrates how GMKA’s work supports broader national efforts to strengthen emergency and trauma care.
“We had been dreaming of taking an authentic, ACS-certified ATLS course for several years. It provides the framework to structure knowledge and systemize the approach to care—directly impacting a patient’s chances of survival. If ATLS courses are conducted regularly in Ukraine, I am more than convinced that over time we will see significantly improved statistics regarding patient survival and injury outcomes,” said Dr. Kateryna Maslyak, anesthesiologist and Medical Director of the NGO CHEST!, who participated in the Tryzub program.
By developing Ukrainian instructor capacity and a national network of training centers, GMKA is helping establish the foundation for long-term access to standardized trauma education—strengthening Ukraine’s ability to care for severely injured patients well beyond a single training event.