Albany Med Health System Donates Medical Supplies for Ukrainian War Relief Efforts
The Albany Med Health System, guided by the efforts of two physicians and lifelong friends with personal ties to Ukraine, has donated medical supplies as part of ongoing relief efforts. The donation was picked up today for shipment overseas at the System’s supply warehouse, located at 1275 Broadway Avenue, Menands.
Among the 12 pallets of medical supplies, Albany Med donated 1,200 packages of surgical gowns, 9,400 N95 masks, 2,300 pairs of surgical gloves, and 60 containers of sterile water for inhalation purposes. In addition, Saratoga Hospital contributed nearly 18,000 isolation gowns.
The donation was organized by Vadim Vaisman, DO, director of vascular anesthesiology at Albany Med, with support from Albany Med Health System leadership. Soon after the Russian invasion began Feb. 24, Dr. Vaisman, whose parents and grandparents lived in Ukraine, reached out to fellow countryman, Gennady Bratslavsky, MD, chair of the Department of Urology at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. The two have been friends since emigrating to the U.S. 30 years ago. Dr. Bratslavsky, a 2000 Albany Medical College graduate, and his wife, Katya, have raised more than $250,000 to provide medical supplies to Ukraine. Dr. Vaisman approached System senior leadership with the proposal to support Dr. Bratslavsky in his medical relief efforts. Through his humanitarian relief organization, Help Free Ukraine, Dr. Bratslavsky has delivered and distributed more than 144,000 pounds of medications to Ukraine donated by major pharmaceutical companies as well as several ambulances to various hospitals, hundreds of first aid kits, and dozens of satellite phones.
“With tremendous gratitude, I wish to thank Albany Med Health System President and CEO Dr. Dennis McKenna and System leadership for enabling these vital medical supplies be collected and donated to support war relief efforts in Ukraine,” said Dr. Vaisman. “I couldn’t be prouder to work for such an altruistic organization whose mission to deliver the highest standard of quality care extends halfway around the globe.”
System members Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital continue to organize similar donations of medical supplies and equipment. To date, CMH has partnered with Radiologists Without Borders to donate medical supplies, including bleach wipes, face masks, surgical gowns, caps, shoe covers, tourniquets, IV supplies, gloves, and aortic grafts. Glens Falls Hospital has organized shipments of medical supplies, including gauze, exam gloves, sanitizing wipes, adult and baby hygiene products, baby formula, baby bottles, and alcohol prep pads.
