American Ukrainian Medical Project

Terry Ayers, HT (ASCP) is a founding member of American Ukrainian Medical Project. She was among the very first to realize the value of our East-West partnership in 1998. As Treasurer she is responsible for financial reporting and disbursements in support of AUMP’s goals. In an even more important capacity she serves as our technical advisor and expert on matters relating to histology, immunohistochemistry, and more. She works with our Medical Advisory Boards in Ukraine and America to develop practical programs for AUMP. When AUMP is in the field she works ceaselessly to carry out our mission.

Terry has been a registered histotechnician (HT) in the United States since 1973. Her medical background and training began even earlier at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since that time she has established, reinvigorated and even sold several pathology and histology laboratories in the western United States. Some of the hospitals where Terry has worked include Northwest Hospital, Pacific Medical Center, and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Dr. Zakhartseva is Chief Pathologist at Kyiv City Oncology Hospital. She is also a founding member of AUMP and has worked with AUMP since the very beginning.

Svetlana has been involved with AUMP since the very beginning. Her help has made a big difference both in the US and in Ukraine.

Bret has been a tireless helper for AUMP. Working with us since the very earliest days he has helped AUMP and USAID to make the most of their resources. As a medical supply vendor he is always helping to connect us with donors of surplus medical equipment which might otherwise become trash.

Elena is one of our many contacts from our first visit to Ukraine in 1999. She has helped us to navigate official Kyiv and provided invaluable assistance for our visits and AUMP in general.

Michael Urbaitis, our Secretary, is another co-founder of AUMP. He is an attorney with a focus on intellectual property law. Admitted to the Washington State Bar he is a resident of Seattle, Washington. He entered the practice of law as a second career after working over twenty years as a biomedical engineer specializing in hospital-based cardiovascular, surgical and critical care medical devices. Much of Michael’s career was spent in service at the Texas Heart Institute, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. He has played an active role in technology evaluation and management, applications support and training, including interdisciplinary collaboration among a wide range of health care professionals.

Mr. Urbaitis completed his studies at the Seattle University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree. He also holds degrees in biomedical engineering and business administration. In his role as Secretary Michael draws upon this rich background to provide invaluable technical assistance and counsel.

Dr. Deneka completed his medical studies at Chernivtsi Medical University. Upon completion of his PhD he became one of the university's youngest professors in the 1980s.

Today he is Chief Pathologist at Kyiv Clinical Hospital No. 10.

Ruslan was one of our very first "virtual volunteers" who found AUMP on the Internet. At the time he was attending high school in Arizona through a student exchange program. He helped us translate newsletters and webpages. Later he translated a technical manual for one of our machines, a laboratory incubator. Today that machine is in service in Kherson, Ukraine, with the technical manual Ruslan helped create.

Dr. Rakul completed his medical studies at Odesa State Medical University in Ukraine. After serving with distinction in the hospital's surgery department he won a Edmund Muskie Fellowship to study in the US. While here he helped us put together some excellent outreach materials. We show these to service groups and other organizations to raise awareness and funds for AUMP.

Bruce is a longtime friend and stepped in to help AUMP at a critical time. We will always be grateful for his faithful support and timely help.

Kate has been a long-time supporter of AUMP and our effort to bring immunohistochemistry to Ukraine. She is highly trained in immunology and was an original participant in the early days of the Kent - Kherson Sister City relationship. She is a native of Kherson.

Online Shoppers help AUMP simply by doing their online shopping through certain websites with which AUMP has an affiliation. It costs nothing extra and helps us to raise needed funds. To learn how you can help, at no extra cost to yourself, email us at: volunteers@aump.org

You can also visit an AUMP-affiliated web shopping portal and hundreds of stores at: www.iGive.com

Mia arrived at AUMP as a breath of fresh air. A cancer survivor and highly educated, Mia is one of our indispensable people who help make and cement relations across the country.

Online Shoppers help AUMP simply by doing their online shopping through certain websites with which AUMP has an affiliation. It costs nothing extra and helps us to raise needed funds. To learn how you can help, at no extra cost to yourself, email us at: volunteers@aump.org

You can also visit an AUMP-affiliated web shopping portal and hundreds of stores at: www.iGive.com

Thanks to many volunteers who are no longer with AUMP we have been able to advance our mission of improving healthcare technology in Ukraine. Our work and progress would not have been possible without their contributions of time and talent. We are sorry they are no longer with us but also very grateful, too for their invaluable help along the way.