Poltava State Medical University hosted a meeting with world-renowned British neurosurgeon, writer, and philanthropist — Professor Henry Marsh. His visit became a remarkable event for both students and faculty of the university.
Greeting the distinguished guest within the walls of PSMU – the prominent higher medical institution of Ukraine, Rector Viacheslav Zhdan spoke about the university’s long-standing and successful cooperation with leading universities around the world, including Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse (France), University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), University of Porto (Portugal), Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Keele (UK), and others, including several in the United States. The discussion also touched upon the prospects of international learning and practical training opportunities for PSMU students. In this regard, the vast experience, profound knowledge, and life of the distinguished neurosurgeon serve as an inspiring professional example.
Henry Marsh, in turn, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome and shared stories of his long-standing relationship with Ukraine. He noted that, among other things, today’s event was made possible through the efforts of the meeting’s initiators — neurosurgeon and translator of Dr. Henry Marsh’s books, Andrii Myzak, and Head of the State Service for Education Quality in Poltava Region, Yurii Krashchenko.
Professor Marsh also visited the Folk Museum of PSMU History, where Director Tamara Dashevska conducted an informative tour. The guest learned about the history of medical development in the Poltava region and viewed a collection of unique exhibits.
Finally, Professor Marsh delivered a lecture to students titled “The Challenge of Medicine.”
Professor Valentyn Dvornyk, First Vice-Rector for Research and Education, introduced the guest to the audience, emphasizing that the world-renowned British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh is an outstanding physician, documentary writer, and a long-time friend of Ukraine. Since 1992, he has collaborated with Ukrainian doctors, contributing to the development of neurosurgery and hospice care. Thus, PSMU has once again become a meaningful platform for advancing medical education, practice, and neurosurgery.
In his lecture, Professor Marsh focused not on the technical aspects of medicine, but on its moral and human dimension:
“Being a doctor is an extraordinary honor, but also an enormous challenge. The hardest thing in medicine is not acquiring knowledge or mastering skills — it is remaining human,” he emphasized.
Speaking about ethical challenges, Henry Marsh noted that every doctor inevitably faces their own mistakes, and true maturity comes with the ability to analyze them and draw conclusions while preserving humanity and compassion. He also discussed self-deception and cognitive biases, illustrating them with examples from psychology — in particular, the Müller-Lyer illusion and ideas from Daniel Kahneman’s book “Thinking, Fast and Slow.”
After the lecture, students actively asked questions about professional stress, leadership, teamwork, and the specifics of medical education in the UK.
At the end of the meeting, Professor Marsh shared his vision for the development of Ukrainian medicine. He remarked that one of the key challenges remains the practical component of postgraduate education but expressed confidence in its gradual improvement thanks to the energy and initiative of young doctors.
“Ukraine has enormous potential in medicine. I can see that the new generation of doctors thinks differently — more openly, honestly, and courageously,” he added.
The visit concluded with an autograph session and informal communication with students.
The event was organized with the support of Rector Viacheslav Zhdan, and coordinated by the PSMU Student Trade Union, the Folk Museum of PSMU History, and moderated by Volodymyr Dobrovolskyi, a student of the Faculty of Medicine No. 1 and head of the student trade union organization.
Reference:
Professor Henry Thomas Marsh (born March 5, 1950) is a British neurosurgeon, writer, and philanthropist, best known for his work in Ukraine.
Until 2015, he served as the Lead Consultant Neurosurgeon at St George’s Hospital in London, specializing in brain surgery under local anesthesia. Since 1992, he has been actively collaborating with Ukrainian doctors — training new generations of neurosurgeons, performing surgeries, and contributing to the development of healthcare. His work in Ukraine became the subject of the 2007 documentary “The English Surgeon,” which gained international acclaim.
In 2022, Marsh co-founded the charitable organization Hospice Ukraine, which supports palliative care in Ukraine during the war.
Henry Marsh is the author of three internationally acclaimed memoirs translated into Ukrainian: “Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery,” “Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery,” and “And Finally: Matters of Life and Death.”
The meeting with Professor Henry Marsh reminds us that true medicine — both within and beyond the walls of PSMU — is a constant synergy of science, deep humanity, and responsibility grounded in mutual trust.