Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background and where are you from?

I’m a Canadian physician initially from Toronto, Ontario; though once I finished my medical training I moved out to Kelowna, B.C. to live closer to the mountains. I work as a full-time emergency physician at Kelowna General Hospital, the region’s tertiary care medical center.

How did you hear about Global Care Force?

When the war started, I knew I wanted to help in any way I could, and as an emergency physician, I had a wide breadth of skills where I could contribute in a meaningful way. When I was looking for opportunities to volunteer, Global Care Force stood out for the consistency in the care they provide to the Ukrainian citizens and the organization’s strong personal connection to Ukraine.

You volunteered in Ukraine in October. What motivated you to serve and what did you do?

I was part of a team that provided medical care to residents in the south-east of Ukraine, not far from the frontline in Kherson. The villages we visited had been previously occupied during the earlier parts of the war and suffered significant damage to both the physical infrastructure and the psyche of the residents. Many had horrible traumatic stories to tell from their time of occupation and had no access to regular medical care since the start of the war. We were able to provide them with much-needed care as well as a 2-3 month supply of their necessary medications.

Tell us about the experience. What will you remember? Are there stories you can share, whether a patient, Ukraine team member, or another volunteer that impacted you?

Volunteering with Global Care Force was a fantastic experience. We were able to provide good quality medical care within our target scope, and the residents we served were incredibly grateful for our presence. We heard more impactful stories from these patients than I could ever do justice to, but some of the encounters that stood out were those with the younger children. Many had nightmares from their time in occupation; many were struggling to progress normally with returning to life outside the occupation, whether at school, at home, or even with basic things like learning how to speak.

Although you were not on the front lines, you served in villages previously occupied by Russian troops. What was that like?

It was horrible to see the degree of destruction the Russian forces had wreaked in all the different villages we visited. They did so much damage and in many cases, put the residents through so many horrible experiences. It was, however, quite impressive to see how much the residents of the villages had been able to rebuild in such a short period since being liberated. It showed just how strong and resilient the Ukrainian spirit is.

The purpose of Global Care Force is to inspire transformative life experiences through volunteering. Would you agree?

Absolutely. It was wonderful to be able to give back to people whose lives have been so horribly affected by the war and to be able to provide some small modicum of support to people who have suffered so much.

If someone is considering volunteering with Global Care Force, what would you tell them?

Global Care Force is an incredible organization to work with – everything was smooth and well-organized, and we were well-supported before and during our mission in Ukraine. I’m looking forward to working with Global Care Force again and would highly recommend it to those looking to volunteer!