The all-Ukrainian association of public health specialists: cross-border partnerships in strengthening Ukraine’s health system
UPHA emerged as a linchpin in Ukraine’s public health resilience strategy, particularly since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Beyond national coordination, UPHA’s efforts are firmly rooted in international partnerships, serving as a conduit between domestic needs, the Ministry of Health, and global expertise.
From February 2022, UPHA’s emergency response has been driven by cross-border technical and logistical support. Mobile medical teams deployed in conflict-affected regions were guided by WHO frameworks, and mental health services were developed with input from global best practices. Infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, targeting COVID-19, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/AIDS in overcrowded shelters, have been bolstered by protocols aligned with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and U.S. CDC guidance.
A strong example of transnational cooperation is the partnership between UPHA and the Lviv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Serving over 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), this collaboration led to mass vaccination drives, hygiene promotion, and public health education—all supported by international organizations and donors. This multi-stakeholder approach highlights how local implementation can be rapidly scaled through global alliances [6].
UPHA’s capacity-building initiatives have similarly relied on international linkages. In coordination with the Ministry of Health, WHO/Europe, and WHO/Geneva, UPHA has advanced epidemiological training, infectious disease surveillance, and deployment of mobile health units. Academic partnerships with institutions across the EU and U.S. have enabled fellowships, curriculum modernization, and mentorship for Ukraine’s next generation of public health professionals.
Support from USAID and U.S. CDC facilitated AMR surveillance, emergency preparedness programs, and the rollout of IPC training in Ukraine. Moreover, UPHA’s engagement with advocacy-based associations such as APHA (See: https://vafgz.org.ua/anna-mari-tomoski-gromadski-obyednannya-dayut-mozhlyvosti-ta-instrumenty/ and https://vafgz.org.ua/kris-chanyasulkit-problemy-yaki-nas-obyednuyut-cze-mozhlyvosti-dlya-spivpraczi-vzayemodiyi-doslidzhen-ta-obminu-znannyamy-u-pobudovi-micznoyi-systemy-gromadskogo-zdorovya/) and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) has enabled policy innovation and harmonization with international standards.
Beyond immediate response, UPHA became a thought leader in advocating reforms aligned with global strategies—such as integrating mental health into primary care, updating national IPC protocols, and strengthening disease surveillance in conflict-affected areas. The association’s work earned recognition from the Stop TB Partnership and KOCHON Foundation in 2022–2023 for its adaptive response under crisis conditions [7].
In essence, UPHA exemplifies how national professional associations serve as cross-border conduits—translating global solidarity, funding, and technical expertise into actionable public health interventions. Ukraine’s experience illustrates the indispensable value of transnational collaboration in safeguarding health during war and beyond.
The European society of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases (ESCMID): cross-border action against AMR
ESCMID demonstrates how regional professional health associations can shape transnational strategies to tackle infectious disease threats. Through extensive global partnerships, ESCMID has contributed significantly to Ukraine’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infectious disease challenges during the ongoing war.
Working closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, WHO/Europe, WHO/Geneva, and U.S. CDC, ESCMID, USAID, and World Bank provided technical, scientific, and monetary support across borders (https://oig.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/D-121-23-002-A-rev.pdf and https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/us-cuts-ukraines-foreign-aid-hit-health-workforce). This work included antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) frameworks, IPC protocols for healthcare settings and shelters, microbiology training tailored to wartime conditions, and humanitarian assistance workers. These collaborative efforts have ensured that frontline clinicians in Ukraine benefit from harmonized, science-based practices grounded in European and global guidelines [8].
ESCMID’s European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) has helped integrate Ukraine into pan-European diagnostic and prescribing standards. These efforts have reduced unnecessary antibiotic use and improved resistance tracking.
Key cross-border initiatives include:
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Joint AMR surveillance and stewardship programs with the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS).
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The 2024 AMS training course in Ukraine, attended by frontline Ukrainian physicians and pharmacists [9].
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Mentorship and research collaboration networks offering displaced Ukrainian scientists access to funding, publication support, and scientific community integration.
Beyond Ukraine, ESCMID’s fellowships and research grants have created pipelines for Eastern European and global microbiologists to train, work, and publish results with leading European institutions. Since 2022, these programs have expanded to support scientists affected by conflict, enabling continuity in research and public health practice.
Through sustained advocacy, ESCMID promotes cross-border AMR policy alignment and sustainable antimicrobial usage. Its partnerships highlight the role of scientific societies not only as centers of expertise, but as vehicles for global resilience and equitable scientific engagement.
The American public health association (APHA): a global advocate for health equity and crisis response
APHA also typifies how advocacy-based professional health associations operate across borders to strengthen global public health systems. Rooted in a mission to advance health equity and human rights, APHA’s cross-national activities support policy reform, education, and emergency preparedness and response worldwide.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, APHA issued global appeals to mobilize support for the Ukrainian health system [10]. Its leadership in international forums—such as the 2022 session “The War in Ukraine: Public Health Perspectives”— amplified global awareness of the conflict’s humanitarian consequences. Expert discussions on health infrastructure destruction, toxic environmental exposure, and nuclear risk highlighted the urgent need for coordinated international action [11].
A strategic Academic Partnership Collaborative has united Ukrainian institutions (National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, and Sumy State University) with American counterparts (Temple University and Drexel University) and UPHA to enhance public health education and workforce competencies. This initiative aims to align Ukrainian public health curricula with U.S. and European standards, foster faculty development, and establish professional training programs that will sustain long-term improvements in health governance and service delivery. The collaboration with APHA and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) further strengthened Ukraine’s integration into the global public health community. By advancing these efforts, Ukraine is addressing immediate health system challenges and building a sustainable foundation for future resilience and population health improvements [12].
APHA’s collaboration with EUPHA further reflects its role in unifying regional public health communities and embedding Ukrainian institutions into global policy and research networks. APHA’s attention to marginalized populations is also visible in its support for refugees and racial justice: for example, the 2023 APHA Film Festival featured stories of African students caught in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, raising awareness of intersectional vulnerabilities in war [13].
Additionally, APHA’s advocacy campaigns on air quality, infectious diseases, and emergency preparedness are globally referenced models. The association’s support for Ukrainian health professionals—including professional development resources and global engagement opportunities—illustrates how advocacy groups can act as cross-border platforms for resilience.
In all, APHA’s engagement in Ukraine exemplifies the evolving role of public health associations, in harmony with Ministries of Health, as global partners—not just national bodies—working across borders to influence health policy, education, and humanitarian response.
The American society for microbiology (ASM): cross-border leadership in microbial science and crisis response
ASM, with over 30,000 members globally, serves as a vital cross-border engine of microbial science, capacity building, and infectious disease response. ASM’s international collaborations—particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine—highlight the strategic role of scientific organizations in strengthening global health systems through evidence-based microbiology (ASM 2020).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ASM delivered international guidance on diagnostics, laboratory biosafety, and pathogen surveillance. Its open-access training resources and advocacy for research funding supported diagnostics scale-up in both high- and low-resource settings, including Ukraine. This global knowledge dissemination model proved essential as Ukraine’s health infrastructure came under strain following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Responding rapidly, ASM’s Ambassador to Ukraine coordinated efforts to improve infection control in shelters across the country. Drawing on support from the global ASM network, these efforts culminated in national-level adoption of minimum IC standards—an example of international scientific engagement directly informing policy and field practice. These standards helped prevent outbreaks of COVID-19, rotavirus, and influenza among internally displaced persons.
Beyond emergency interventions, ASM has played a foundational role in scientific solidarity. Through its Laboratory Capacity Strengthening Initiative, ASM expanded access to diagnostics training across LMICs—including Ukraine, Africa, and Asia (ASM, 2022). It waived membership fees for Ukrainian scientists, offered publication support, and maintained Ukrainian access to global conferences and fellowships. These cross-border gestures ensured continuity of research and professional development even amid war.
ASM’s actions extend beyond technical assistance. By spotlighting Ukraine in its policy communications—including the elevated risk of polio resurgence and the urgent need for vaccine access [14]. —ASM has used its platform to elevate global awareness and mobilize international response. These activities underscore the organization’s function as a transnational conduit for microbiological science, humanitarian aid, and policy alignment.
Through its decentralized ambassador program, co-hosted AMR conferences with ESCMID, and ongoing support for displaced scientists, ASM exemplifies how scientific societies can act across borders to address not only diseases, but the systemic vulnerabilities they expose.
Cross-border synergies and challenges: comparative insights
Despite their differing mandates, the interventions of UPHA, ESCMID, APHA, and ASM in Ukraine reveal significant thematic convergence—particularly in the areas of capacity building for the detection, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases, IPC, workforce development, and alignment with international standards. At the same time, challenges persist, including the disruption of partnerships due to displacement, varied pace of program implementation, and dependency on external funding in a protracted crisis context (https://www.devex.com/news/what-loss-of-usaid-funding-could-mean-for-ukraine-109290 and https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/us-cuts-ukraines-foreign-aid-hit-health-workforce).
UPHA has collaborated with WHO, ECDC, U.S. CDC and Euro CDC to implement emergency health interventions, including mobile medical teams, mental health service integration, and hygiene promotion in conflict-affected regions. These efforts have been grounded in internationally recognized protocols, demonstrating effective translation of global expertise into local practice.
ESCMID, through EUCAST, has supported Ukraine’s integration into European antimicrobial resistance monitoring frameworks. Beyond technical support, ESCMID played a pivotal role in knowledge transfer—organizing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) training, supporting local guideline development, and launching targeted initiatives for clinicians operating under wartime conditions. Its collaboration with the ASM extends further through joint conferences such as the ASM–ESCMID Conference on Antibiotic Resistance, as well as co-sponsored AMR education events, mentorship programs, and clinical microbiology summer schools.
ASM has been equally active, offering Ukrainian scientists free or discounted membership, publication fee waivers, and open access to ASM journals. Through its Laboratory Capacity Strengthening Initiative, ASM has supported IPC and biosafety training while ensuring Ukrainian participation in fellowships, visiting lectureships, and research dissemination. Guest lectures on microbiology, diagnostics, and global health topics have been delivered remotely and in person, preserving scientific continuity amid disruption.
Together, ESCMID, APHA and ASM have served as consistent sources of credible information and professional solidarity in the face of war-related disinformation and systemic breakdowns. Their coordinated efforts have not only mitigated professional isolation among displaced scientists but also preserved access to scientific dialogue and advancement.
Importantly, these associations have taken ethical stances on the broader implications of the conflict. Through official statements and programming choices, they have condemned violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians and academic institutions. In doing so, they underscore that professional societies are not merely technical bodies but also moral agents in times of crisis—defending the rights, safety, and dignity of scientists, healthcare workers, and the populations they serve.
By maintaining operational support, open scientific exchange, and principled leadership, these organizations exemplify how transnational health associations can act as stabilizing anchors in volatile geopolitical contexts. Their work in Ukraine illustrates the enduring role of professional networks in upholding both scientific integrity and human rights during armed conflict.