Medical Center – University of Freiburg Strengthens Radiology Training in Ukraine

International Project Trains Ukrainian Radiology Professionals / Hands-On Workshop in Warsaw at the End of July / "Train-the-Trainer" Approach Aims to Embed Knowledge in Ukraine for the Long Term

The Department of Radiology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg has taken on the responsibility of providing advanced training as part of an international project for Ukrainian radiology professionals. An advanced training course was held in Warsaw from July 27 to 31, 2026. It is part of the project “Building Competencies for Medical-Technical Radiology Assistants in Ukraine,” which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing in cooperation with Siemens Healthineers as part of the develoPPP program. Through develoPPP, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) promotes strategic partnerships in which public and private actors jointly implement long-term and effective solutions. The goal of this project is to establish long-term educational structures and thereby promote safe and high-quality radiological diagnostics for patients in Ukraine.

“It is important to us to support sustainable training and continuing education structures in Ukraine,” says Prof. Dr. Christopher Schlett, head of the project’s technical implementation at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and deputy Medical Director of the Department of Radiology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “Close collaboration with our project partners lays the foundation for permanently embedding knowledge locally while also further developing key structures within the Ukrainian healthcare system.”

Sustainable Training for Radiological Care

The project focuses on developing a training and continuing education concept for radiological care in Ukraine that is tailored to the specific needs of Ukrainian healthcare facilities. To this end, 20 selected professionals from hospitals in various regions of the country were trained as part of a train-the-trainer program.

In addition to medical-technical and radiological content, the program also teaches instructional skills. Participants are then expected to pass on the knowledge they have acquired to their colleagues at their own institutions. This multiplier effect creates a scalable transfer of knowledge that extends beyond the group directly trained and supports the development of a nationwide network of qualified professionals.

“It is crucial that the advanced training does not end with the workshop,” says Schlett. “Participants are expected to bring the content back to their hospitals, train additional professionals there, and adapt the program to their respective local conditions. In this way, a single advanced training session becomes a sustainable process of skills development.”

Image 1: Hands-on learning at the computer: Ukrainian radiology professionals practice using medical imaging and radiological diagnostics during a hands-on workshop in Warsaw.

Image 2: Working together for better radiological care in Ukraine: Participants in the international Train-the-Trainer program at the workshop in Warsaw with Prof. Dr. Christopher Schlett (1st from left)

Image source: Medical Center – University of Freiburg