In a therapy gym at Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation, Yuliia Derevianko, a visiting clinician from Ukraine, gently adjusts a patient’s arm as an Atrium Health therapist offers guidance nearby. They’re working together with a robotic device designed to help patients relearn how to walk after a stroke or injury, technology that reflects Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation’s commitment to advancing neurological care and sharing it with others.
As they talk, Derevianko explains how rehabilitation is delivered back home in a country still facing the realities of war.
This moment is part of a broader collaboration
For two weeks, a team from Ukraine’s National Rehabilitation Center UNBROKEN traveled thousands of miles to train alongside therapists and physicians at Carolinas Rehabilitation. The goal: to exchange knowledge, refine techniques and strengthen patient care on both sides of the globe.
While onsite, the Ukrainian clinicians participated in hands-on learning focused on patient safety, clinical pathways, workforce training, teaching methods, research strategy and more insights they can take back to strengthen their rehabilitation system in Ukraine.
The partnership is part of Atrium Health’s Global Health Care program, which connects international partners to share best practices and improve clinical outcomes worldwide.
“This is more than just a visit, it’s a powerful exchange of expertise,” says Kristen Barboza, director of rehabilitation services at Carolinas Rehabilitation. “By working alongside Ukrainian care teams, we’re helping to strengthen their rehabilitation system while learning from their experience delivering care under extraordinary conditions. Together, we’re lifting lives and leading the way in recovery, a true reflection of the Advocate Health Purpose in action.”
Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation is one of only two U.S. hospitals using this robotic technology and the only U.S. rehabilitation hospital invited to join the World Health Organization’s World Rehabilitation Alliance. For five consecutive years, it has ranked among the nation’s top 10 rehabilitation hospitals.
From Charlotte to Qatar to Ukraine, Carolinas Rehabilitation’s global partnerships show the power of connection and the future of recovery. With every exchange, they’re building something bigger: a world where advanced rehabilitation is accessible, collaborative and grounded in shared purpose.
