Surgical teams from the Alfa Special Operations Centre of the Security Service of Ukraine, together with instructors from the American College of Surgeons, conducted the first certified ASSET+ course in our country for doctors and nurses of the Defence Forces.

The training was attended by a group of 24 medics from various fields and combat units who save the lives of Ukrainian servicemen at stabilisation points and as part of advanced surgical teams on the front line.

The course was conducted in a 1:1 format – one instructor per participant. This allowed maximum attention to be paid to improving practical skills and ensured an individual approach to each doctor. The training programme included practicing 26 key surgical techniques for critical injuries.

The qualifications and experience of Alfa’s doctors have been recognised by the American College of Surgeons. This allows the Service’s specialists to officially work as ASSET+ course instructors and systemically enhance practical training of Ukrainian military doctors. Currently, a group of Ukrainian instructors and technical support specialists are being trained to continue teaching other Defence Forces doctors under this programme.

ASSET+ (Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma) is an international training course for surgeons from NATO states, aimed at developing practical skills for quick and safe access to the source of bleeding and damaged organs in critical cases.

The training was made possible by the Together for Ukraine Charitable Foundation and Aspen Medical, in cooperation with the surgical teams of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence Health Department, and the Сhest’ NGO.