The Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF) was established in spring 2020 by Dr Sharon Raymond, an experienced GP, and finalist of the 2020 Daily Express/Amplifon Coronavirus Hero of the Year award. She was shortlisted in the General Practice Awards GP of the Year category, as well as winner of Inspirational Woman 2020 and was one of the Women of the Year 2021.
At times of crisis impacting on health and wellbeing both in the UK and beyond, Dr Raymond, Director of the Crisis Rescue Foundation, has devised and set up novel health-related services and projects to bridge the gaps in healthcare and wellbeing in the UK and globally. Her projects have included the Covid Cab Service, the Pulse Oximeter Delivery Service and the Vaxi Taxi/Health and Wellbeing Pop Ups Project in the UK, the Help India Now Think Tank Project, and the Uganda Clinical Support Project.
In February 2022, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, came the widespread destruction of entire regions, particularly in the south and east, and the frequent bombardment of civilian population centres throughout the country. These attacks led to disruption in the running of 48 higher educational institutions, including the medical schools.
In April 2022, Dr Raymond established the virtual and free Crisis Rescue Foundation Ukraine Medical School UK Elective Programme for Ukraine medical students globally, including those still in Ukraine and others who have been displaced around the world. The medical school provides lectures from leading UK and Ukraine lecturers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and psychologists, as well as the British Medical Association. Sessions on war medicine and wellbeing are included in the programme. At times, Ukraine-based students have struggled to access live lectures due to power cuts and active warfare. With this in mind, on-demand lectures have been made available online. The medical school has recently started term three of studies.
The CRF Ukraine Medical School has been highlighted by the Royal College of GPs, and is supported by the Medical Schools Council and the National Brain Appeal.
So far, the project has delivered around 400 lectures and more than 21 000 feedback responses have been received from Ukraine medical student lecture attendees. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of students stating that lectures have improved their knowledge of the lecture topic.
Dr Raymond has also arranged over 30 clinical placements for Ukraine medical students.
As a plastic surgeon, used to lecturing to UK medical students, I have felt somewhat humbled when lecturing to this group on the subject of burns and trauma, knowing that some of them have, unfortunately, already been exposed to much more pathology in this field than I ever will.
The CRF Medical School is now open to medical students across the globe who may be struggling to access medical education due to war and poverty.
Now more than ever, Ukraine needs the help of the free world to maintain medical education. I have been honoured to be a contributor to this programme.
If you are interested in supporting the CRF Medical School, including by contributing lectures or admin support, please contact the foundation through the website (https://www.crisisrescuefoundation.co.uk) or by email (crfmedschool@gmail.com).