00:00:03.110 - 00:00:14.480

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: All right. And then we are recording. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Ready? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yep. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Can you briefly provide an overview of your background, training and education?

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VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yes. I'm a public health physician by training. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I went to the medical school or medical institute VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: at the time in in Kiev in Ukraine. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It used to be called the Kiev Medical Institute.

00:00:34.560 - 00:00:52.140

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I got my, this was a six year sort of program with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: my focus was on public health and epidemiology and hygiene. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I'm basically was trained as a public health physician. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then after that I I had a big

00:00:52.140 - 00:01:08.670

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: interest in sort of research and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I was graduating, I mean I'm supposed to be graduating in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: '87 but the big accident in Chernobyl happened in 86, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and there was a lot of focus on research.

00:01:08.670 - 00:01:28.580

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And particularly I really liked the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the epidemiological research on non-communicable diseases and, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, those kinds of effects, which I thought the work VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: at the Center for Radiation Medicine at the time was was a perfect

00:01:28.580 - 00:01:45.560

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: place for me. So I started my engagement with, while I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: still was at the last year of my graduation already, the engagement with the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: institute and with the Department of Epidemiology and I, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: it was really based on voluntary sort of engagement.

00:01:46.880 - 00:02:02.420

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But by the time I was I graduated, I already knew people, I already knew the projects that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: were coming. So. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I was lucky to get a job at the Institute, you know, after my graduation VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and, and between basically '87

00:02:02.420 - 00:02:19.490

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and '93, I worked for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the Center of Radiation Medicine at the Institute of Epidemiology of Health Effects VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and I was engaged into the study of effects of radiation exposure, you know, of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people, you know, affected by this accident in Chernobyl.

00:02:20.180 - 00:02:37.250

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, you know, with some specific focuses. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, like a thyroid cancer, you know, and so initially there were VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: more sort of general health effects of sort of studies and then more focused on, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: on, on the thyroid cancers, you know, then and other sort of

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VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: illnesses that people exposed to radiation. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, and then, so basically that was my sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: background and then, which I was, you know, I was also I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: think I did mention to you earlier then I, we

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VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: had a joint project together with the National Cancer Institute, with NIH and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: through that instead of connection exchange I, I was VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: supported the fellowship as a as a visiting, I guess, or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: guest or fellow for scientists, you know, to the National Cancer Institute and the

00:03:12.430 - 00:03:28.360

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: center for Epidemiological Research in Oak Ridge in Tennessee. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then I've taken a class of epidemiology at VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Johns Hopkins Center for the summer program at the time. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So but basically, it's just to sort of to strengthen my sort of knowledge base and

00:03:28.720 - 00:03:44.050

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in EPI but also biostatistics. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But mainly, you know, this was because, because I was involved in this VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: joint studies and design at that time, we were designing the protocols. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, that, sort of that, that knowledge and connection was really was

00:03:44.050 - 00:03:55.480

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really helpful, you know, just to get to know people and all this. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And was it then. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Sorry. Yeah. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Was it protocols in general or specific to the radiation effects in Chernobyl?

00:03:57.070 - 00:04:06.760

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Which was, the, EPI stuff? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah, yeah. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: The epidemiology was at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, that was just a summer VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program as part of my visit to the US.

00:04:06.760 - 00:04:25.480

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But but I was I was attached to the radiation epidemiology VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: branch of the NCI and, you know, was mainly focusing on VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the, at that time, we were working on a design study for, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for the for the long term effect of

00:04:25.480 - 00:04:43.330

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people exposed to radiation, including cleanup workers and leukemia VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: study. You know, and then coming to the design VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of the thyroid cancer sort of case control studies, in other words, just to make it VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: shorter, the epidemiological sort of studies design of joint sort of efforts

00:04:43.330 - 00:05:01.480

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: between the Center and, and and the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: NCI. And then through that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of work, I got connected with USAID because at the time Soviet Union was falling VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: apart, you know, and and there

00:05:01.480 - 00:05:16.780

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: were, already we knew that programs were coming from VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: from USAID. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I got connected with some people there through mainly was looking sort of, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: there's, there's coming from,

00:05:18.350 - 00:05:33.790

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: coming through the. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, I was I did a lot of travel in Ukraine. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, I've been in those parts related to the the regions that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: were exposed by sort of fell out of radiation, the so-called the contaminated set

00:05:33.790 - 00:05:50.140

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of areas. And, and then I saw how how people feel VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: about radiation and, you know, connecting all health effects to that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so I wanted just to explore if there is any opportunity to get more VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: support from USAID at the time of the program was coming.

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VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, I made that connection, you know, met met with some people there VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and they said they were looking for public health professionals VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in the fields, you know, and, in, you know, incidentally, you know, there was a VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: big diphtheria outbreak coming in the former Soviet Union, including

00:06:09.680 - 00:06:24.410

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Ukraine, and and it was, you know, really a fire across the former VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Soviet, you know, country. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, and that there was a program they were looking for the program to design a VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: response to the diphtheria outbreak in Ukraine.

00:06:24.860 - 00:06:38.960

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And they said, if you would be interested in joining us on that effort, but also, there VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: were a lot of other sort of pressure coming from other sort of groups, you know, to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: support the response to potential sort of incidents of breast VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: cancer as a result of Chernobyl.

00:06:38.960 - 00:06:55.550

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they said, if you want to look at that dimension from a point of view. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so kind of gradually I moved to work, to work for USAID as a VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: health program advisor, and then since then, I joined the aid in, in the health VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: office, you know, there was no health office at the time.

00:06:55.550 - 00:07:04.970

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There was just a program development office. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I was the health officer for the mission at the time. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then I should say that the mission was small. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: The mission was just starting in Kyiv.

00:07:04.970 - 00:07:20.100

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? Sort of. There were people that were. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I was only health person, you know, working with program development. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Other folks, Ukrainian and American staff. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Now the really exciting time because, you know, this, this whole new

00:07:20.100 - 00:07:34.950

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: change was coming, you know, the of the, the Soviet Union. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And there's a lot of opportunities for the country to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: change and to grow and, and to sort of make steps towards VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: improvement of health care in general.

00:07:35.250 - 00:07:47.130

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, and not just only public health. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So it's really exciting time. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I was just, you know, super excited about this opportunity, you know, and very VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: actionable kind of type of work, which I really liked a lot, and that's, that's what

00:07:47.130 - 00:08:00.480

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: made me sort of to come over to join USAID. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, I fell a little bit, you know, challenging leaving research. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, at the same time, I felt that I was probably would be better off than if I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: my, you know, next steps.

00:08:00.480 - 00:08:15.300

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's all. And then I moved to work for USAID. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, because I say a question about how was it working for USAID? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I started as a program, program, health program advisor. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And for those of us who don't know what it is?

00:08:15.660 - 00:08:28.360

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. USAID? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Program health advisor. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. Well, Program Health Advisor was more sort of a general type of position

00:08:28.360 - 00:08:42.430

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because, you know, it was clearly broader than just particular public health. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, this was, this was the time VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: when, you know, we were analyzing the key challenges VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in the health sector that Ukrainian faced.

00:08:42.430 - 00:08:58.010

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, you know, what are the opportunities for US government to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: support Ukraine through this transition? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Might be and there were ranging from the public health response like VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Diphtheria, to more sector changes, such as health sector changes

00:08:58.010 - 00:09:15.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: like reform and health sector in general. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Although at the time it was too early to say so, we were starting the program where these VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: set of opportunities to engage with the Ukrainian set of counterparts and the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: government might be were can start sort of building relationships and,

00:09:15.380 - 00:09:33.350

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and in the longer terms, you know, were the gains might be right. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know. And so as I was working on this, you know those those were essential sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: opportunities across public health, immunization, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: women's reproductive health.

00:09:33.350 - 00:09:44.240

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there were a lot of changes. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Abortions were, you know, were really high. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So the question about how do you build the effective and quality based program VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for women's reproductive health and maternal child health?

00:09:44.900 - 00:09:59.750

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We're looking in terms of engaging, you know, pharmaceutical VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: investors into the health sector. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But also we're looking in terms of improving the efficiency and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: effectiveness of care delivery in general.

00:09:59.750 - 00:10:15.610

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's why the health care program, health care partnership program came. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And this was not a typical program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So let me just finish on USA side. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So that was part of my sort of work helping with the development of the strategies and,

00:10:15.610 - 00:10:32.590

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, maintaining relationships with the facilitating sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: collaboration with the Ukrainian government and Ministry of Health and other sectoral VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: ministries and higher level and the parliamentarians, but also VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: with care providers, with academia.

00:10:32.620 - 00:10:44.200

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, it's just a very broad sort of scope of particular counterparts that you can VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: think of who might be potentially involved in, in the in the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: collaboration on the health sector development. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right.

00:10:44.710 - 00:10:59.260

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: That makes sense. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's a, that's, that was that was my role. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So technical role: identifying opportunities, seeing, analyzing data, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: analyzing trends in health sector, seeing the opportunities, helping design the

00:10:59.260 - 00:11:10.210

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program assistance program and and and basically, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: helping with the implementation of the program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: USAID was not a direct implementer. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: USAID worked through the implementing partners.

00:11:11.050 - 00:11:25.900

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, at the stage of designing the program strategies, you know, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, I was particularly responsible for the design of the health sector strategy. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, not myself, but I was leading that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Of course, with my colleagues from from the mission and from

00:11:26.110 - 00:11:45.270

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Washington, but together with my Ukrainian counterparts. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So this was I was doing this work for basically VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: two years between '93 and '95 and then I was promoted to the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Director of the Health Unit, Health Office at USAID mission,

00:11:45.270 - 00:12:03.130

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and between '95 and '96 for that year, I was the head of the Health Office, which VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: basically already was responsible for the program implementation, further sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: development of the program, supervision of the staff, overall set of technical VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: supervision of of the implementing partners, making sure that, you know, technically,

00:12:03.130 - 00:12:18.410

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: financially, they deliver sort of planning for the next cycles. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there's a lot of, lot of exciting technical and managerial type VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of responsibilities I have taken. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, and then it was this

00:12:18.410 - 00:12:33.240

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: whole AHA, you know, health care partnership program that, you know, I was initially VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: involved in the design when I was still working for USAID. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I thought it was a great program, you know, but I always felt like, okay, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm I'm a young professional.

00:12:33.240 - 00:12:47.990

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I wanted to get into the more implementation and expand my set of geography. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then when the partnership already started, we already put the partnership in, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in, in, in Ukraine, this mission was responsible for Moldova, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Belarus, and Ukraine.

00:12:47.990 - 00:13:02.740

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus: West NIS. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: NIS is standing for New Independent States. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So so for that part actually, I should say that and a part of my responsibility VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: also was to work with my counterparts in Moldova and Belarus.

00:13:02.740 - 00:13:20.340

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: To a lesser extent, because Belarus was not as full fledged set of program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, but, you know, we're trying to build the, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, programmatic opportunities for the collaboration and technical assistance with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Belarus as well. But I did quite a bit of travel to Moldova as well as part of my work,

00:13:20.340 - 00:13:36.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, working out of the Kyiv office in Ukraine. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Then, this health care partnership VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program came managed by American International Health Alliance. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And they, so they basically offered me if

00:13:36.520 - 00:13:51.670

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I would be willing to join them, you know, for the program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And in, because of I was responsible for the management VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of the program in Ukraine, I couldn't. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I was just a conflict of interest, you know, and but, you know, they were looking

00:13:51.670 - 00:14:08.040

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: particularly for speeding up the Russia program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I said if I would be open to move to Moscow at the time to work on the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership program by taking responsibility for the for this program in Russia, but VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: also in Armenia and Georgia at the time.

00:14:08.040 - 00:14:15.870

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I thought it was a great opportunity. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Super exciting. So I jumped into that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You never moved to work for the implementing partner. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Awesome.

00:14:16.320 - 00:14:33.750

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then on that AHA partnership, I worked for another VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: seven years, you know, before I moved to another organization. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So it was basically between '96 and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: 2003. And, and that was, there was a big portfolio in this whole

00:14:33.750 - 00:14:48.690

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership. I did send to you actually a brief, just before the call, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: maybe had a chance to look at this. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There were a lot of programs, and, I mean, this whole idea of the health care VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership was really to try to build a relationship, direct relationship

00:14:48.690 - 00:15:03.570

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: between health, between hospitals or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and medical academia institutions in the former VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Soviet states. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And in the United States as well, with apartments for the drug.

00:15:03.600 - 00:15:18.250

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, the idea was really to build them and connect them directly with each other, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: right, so that they through the exchange visits. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's the idea was, you know, to see how this is working in the United VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: States, what the Americans that have.

00:15:18.250 - 00:15:34.770

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Professionals, physicians, nurses, administrators VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: can see and how they can advise or see the opportunities for the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for the NIS counterparts in that matter. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I don't want to solve the Russians because the model was the same as for Ukraine and for

00:15:34.860 - 00:15:49.660

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: other countries, you know, so the NIS, rather counterparts, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: would be able to sort of get an advice and then, well, travel VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: into the United States. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: They can see how this program is implemented and working in a specific

00:15:49.660 - 00:16:03.950

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: hospital or in a specific community. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, or in a specific service area. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And they could take these ideas back and they would work together and develop some VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of action implementation plans.

00:16:03.980 - 00:16:18.710

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Okay, so follow up. So this was, first some people were saying this was like VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: technology exchange. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Could be, you know, to me, technology, knowledge exchange, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: ideas exchange, you know, but ultimately, this was the

00:16:18.710 - 00:16:29.630

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: idea of building relationships, direct relationships for the longer term kind of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership opportunities, right? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So when you ask me a question about sustainability, so it's not only about

00:16:29.630 - 00:16:48.050

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: technical sustainability of the change, but it's really about the sustaining the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: relationships, you know, like in a partnership is the boosting of to start to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of program. But then you can sort of bring resources you can VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: through the, necessarily, not necessarily traveling, but also through distant

00:16:48.050 - 00:17:01.190

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: communication. Internet was already in place, we were getting into VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the internet communication. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We did not have that at the time, you know, telemedicine thing. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, we, Zoom was not still in place, but, you know, the internet

00:17:01.190 - 00:17:17.600

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: connections were already there, you know, and and then we supported with, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: it was a kind of cross-cutting initiative called the inter, Information VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Resource Centers or Learning Centers. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: The idea was really to, you know, just to create this kind of hub where people could

00:17:17.600 - 00:17:34.280

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, check for the information, for guidelines, for exchanges, you know, for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: opportunities to communicate with their counterparts, learn from others. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there were success stories, there were a set of best practices sharing. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So it's just like early stage of knowledge management type of

00:17:34.280 - 00:17:45.650

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: type of hubs that was coming into place. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Okay. I thought it was really helpful, you know, because we would support the hospitals VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to create this kind of resource centers. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And the idea is because not everybody can travel to the US, right?

00:17:45.650 - 00:18:02.690

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, or from the US, but people who are part of this facility or hospital VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: can come to the Center, which is accessible, operational, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, provides internet connectivity. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then with the coordinator for the resource center, they could gauge information

00:18:02.690 - 00:18:17.720

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: about, you know, the specific need, you know, including guidelines, including VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: checking with their counterparts, discussing clinical cases. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, you can name it, you know, there's just a huge opportunity for somebody, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, to communicate and build this professional connections.

00:18:17.750 - 00:18:32.480

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah, absolutely. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there are multi set of faceted sort of approach you know based on relationships VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: travel and see make connections with people, build the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership, build friendship, longer terms set of relationships,

00:18:32.480 - 00:18:49.950

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and implement the ideas at your place as you see the potentials VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: might be. And then together, you know, working on the implementation of it, you know VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and. So it's not a it was not a typical which I really, I like the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: age program. You know, there was a particularly for that part of the world was

00:18:49.950 - 00:19:03.990

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: not a real prescriptive program, but still, more like, you know, USAID, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: more typical program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You would have more predetermined kind of results. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You would build some sort of a, I guess, a logical sort of

00:19:03.990 - 00:19:18.750

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: framework or a theory of change or something. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So you think about how would you sort of work and then, you know, help to improve VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in more sort of predetermined type of results. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: This was also predetermined based on the specific areas, but was not but, you know,

00:19:18.750 - 00:19:33.820

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: maintain a certain level of flexibility. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think that was as an important part of it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Flexibility, because every time something might come, you know, engagement of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: nurses, you know, was not necessarily initial set of just, just I thought it was a

00:19:33.820 - 00:19:52.030

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: perfect example because it was really across all partnerships, including Central Asia, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Caucasus, western Russia, because, you know, the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: roles of nurses and delivery of care, you know, in the former VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Soviet system was not as elevated, as enhanced

00:19:52.540 - 00:20:06.400

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: as as they could see this as in the United States. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? So, so a lot of reasons. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, they were seeing that nurses are much more engaged, responsible VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for delivery of care, you know, and controlling the set of delivery processes a

00:20:06.400 - 00:20:23.830

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: lot. And that was really stimulating factors, you know, for the for the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: NIS, or Russian for that matter, nurses to be involved and, and, and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: increase their own sort of potential in understanding they can do differently. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so our role was really to try to facilitate this process by building

00:20:23.830 - 00:20:40.990

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: leadership capacity, competencies, enhancing competencies, and delivery. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So. So I'm just throwing an example because, you know, this program was not VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really prescriptive for improving a specific area. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, this program was ranging from emergency medical services because

00:20:40.990 - 00:20:57.190

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: it came from the earthquake in in Armenia. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, big earthquake was, you know, which involved a lot of physicians, including VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: from the United States and this Armenia sort of diaspora. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then with and they saw that how ineffective in a sense, the

00:20:57.190 - 00:21:13.510

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: emergency care system was, particularly for the pre-hospital care. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then and they sort of wrote the recommendations and how they came up with the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: new emergent initiatives building the capacity for emergency medical VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: response. And we created emergency medical training centers.

00:21:13.960 - 00:21:31.600

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And similarly, we're looking for the, you know, more sort of holistic approach to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: women's wellness program, not just a women's reproductive health, but broader citizens, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: including conditions of mental health of, I was particularly advocating for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: incorporating mental health program as part of the primary care and women's wellness

00:21:31.600 - 00:21:46.000

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program, you know, because a lot of domestic violence issues were how would you deal with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: this? How would you how would you identify that? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So how how would you build a set of knowledge of providers to to see VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that and then build the system around, how would you refer them?

00:21:46.000 - 00:21:56.980

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Where do you refer them? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So so once you start sort of dropping into the idea and the fertile sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: soil, as I said, you know, that starts at a ground, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: People see the potentials.

00:21:56.980 - 00:22:12.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's, that's the that's the beauty of the partnership was, you know, there was not VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really necessarily prescribed, but came as a second year of the partnership program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And so we need to do something with the mental health, or we need to do something VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: with broader sort of addressing issues of chronic diseases as part of the wellness

00:22:12.310 - 00:22:27.820

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program. Okay. So this was the idea creating women's wellness centers. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So the center where you can address health issues, but also you can be broader in terms VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of more, you know, wellness type of approach to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: health, right? Preserving health and improving.

00:22:28.600 - 00:22:43.390

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And just out of curiosity, you talked about so many different regions and so many ANNIKA NAMBIAR: different countries. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Was there any concern for either, like language changes, ANNIKA NAMBIAR: cultural competency based on different practices throughout the region?

00:22:43.390 - 00:22:59.580

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And how did you guys incorporate these into the programs that you implemented, or was it ANNIKA NAMBIAR: mostly because you were working directly with partners already in the region? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, it's a great question. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Well, first of all, you know, there were, you know, some of the, some of the providers

00:22:59.580 - 00:23:16.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: are able to speak English, and English was the barrier, you know, for communication, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know? So, we had to find opportunities to support with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: interpreters, when the American set of providers or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: physicians or partners traveled to this part of the world, right?

00:23:16.110 - 00:23:31.170

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So we would provide with some translation services, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: including also that were traveling there. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there were some people who were, you know, who, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: former immigrants, you know, from that part of the world, you know, and they were engaged

00:23:31.170 - 00:23:44.160

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: into some other programs. We would engage them as well. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there were there were different sort of modalities, like, for instance, Armenians VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: work together. There were partnerships built between the Armenian diaspora so they could VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: speak Armenian.

00:23:44.310 - 00:23:58.690

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There were similar set of opportunities for the Ukrainians. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, they would travel to the partners, you know, sites, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: like in Buffalo for instance. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And they would have to they would be able to speak with American,

00:23:58.690 - 00:24:10.270

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: with physicians or providers of Ukrainians that have sort of heritage that would be able VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to communicate. Right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But there was a lot of obviously focus on helping, you know, making sure that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: understanding is there because that's very important.

00:24:10.930 - 00:24:25.750

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And the language. So translation was one of the helping with translation services VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: was one of the one of the support from AHA, but at the same VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: time, you know, like as I said, you know, they were looking for because the program was VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: very much focused on voluntary sort of participation.

00:24:26.470 - 00:24:44.800

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We didn't pay physicians and nurses or administrators to come to the Ukraine or to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Russia for that matter. And we did not, of course, pay the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: other, you know, sort of to we were just simply giving them sub VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: grants to the American fund holders, you know, American organizations

00:24:45.010 - 00:24:56.980

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that were responsible for travels. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You know, this was just a travel. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Travel was supported, you know, hotel, meal, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: airfare, in-country transportation.

00:24:56.980 - 00:25:12.100

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That was that was that was a necessary expense. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But but basically the time was very much donated, you know. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there was a it was a big leverage, sort of, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: resource leverage opportunity.

00:25:12.100 - 00:25:28.930

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I think that allowed to, you know, to the program to sort of have a broader sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: scope. As I said, we were focusing on infection control and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: prevention practices in hospitals, you know, neonatal, primary, neonatal VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: resuscitation, emergency medical services, primary

00:25:29.560 - 00:25:42.610

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: health care, community based primary health care at the time was going to be. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, I was just thinking about, you know, what else? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there were just such a broad set of focus of programs that, chronic care VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: management, diabetes management, and education.

00:25:43.300 - 00:25:54.550

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's initial program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Then our partners develop more like asthma management type of approaches, you know, for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: as part of the chronic care. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, and that, you know, and then you have a physician,

00:25:55.060 - 00:26:09.010

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you have a primary care physician who is willing to travel to dedicate time and then VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: make this project as part of their own. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But they were never paid for them. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so, what I was

00:26:09.010 - 00:26:23.500

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: saying, you know, to you, to the question that you made, you know, so the but it's VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really important was to make sure that communication is right, so that, you know, we VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: provided translation services, particularly to the programs that were VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: lacking that sort of knowledge.

00:26:23.500 - 00:26:40.000

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But always you find somebody else, you know, in the site in the, in the, in the location VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that has some, the people speak the language. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You know, they were engaging them to help, you know, and, you know, some some of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: them were even, partners, physicians like Odessa Partnership was a funny

00:26:40.000 - 00:26:56.290

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: example. There's a lot of people who moved from Odessa to New York, and we had Odessa VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership between New York and Odessa in Ukraine and Coney Island and, and some VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people who really actually moved time again, you know, time ago from, from Odessa VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to New York, you know, ended up being partners together.

00:26:56.290 - 00:27:06.040

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they had no issues of communicating with each other. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Oh that's awesome. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, yeah. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I think we were just trying to utilize all possible opportunities to, to

00:27:06.070 - 00:27:22.300

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to make sure that communication is right. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's consistently sort of going, you know, as VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: well as people realize that you need to improve English and a lot of people just VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: there was a really big stimulus for the NIS folks to improve the language, you

00:27:22.300 - 00:27:38.230

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know? So, yeah. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah. And I know you've already touched on this concept of creating sustainable ANNIKA NAMBIAR: partnerships. Just for clarity purposes, how do you choose to define ANNIKA NAMBIAR: sustainable and how do you approach this concept

00:27:38.860 - 00:27:53.750

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: and what specific qualities make it successful? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And I know you talked a lot about relationships, so if there are also anything ANNIKA NAMBIAR: else. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Well, I mean, sustainability is something that this program was, was

00:27:53.750 - 00:28:08.960

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really sort of more initially designed, I would VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: say demand and supply sort of driven. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. So you can come with a prescription. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You really need to kind of like exchange and see and see where the opportunities and

00:28:08.960 - 00:28:28.070

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: what would you be finding a priority for you to improve and whether VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: this is management or financial management, you know, human resource VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: management, or nurses capacity development, improving VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: delivery of services, you know, integrating for infection, disease and infection

00:28:28.070 - 00:28:44.780

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: prevention control protocols as part of the hospital management, you know, hospital VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: delivery. So so our job was really to show where the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: potential opportunities might be, you know, and then also to, to to kind of facilitate VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that sort of demand and supply side of it.

00:28:44.780 - 00:28:59.980

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. So, some areas, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: like as I mentioned earlier, mental health was not really recognized very well, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, by the, by by the. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Let me just say, can I ask?

00:28:59.980 - 00:29:09.550

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I don't want to say necessarily Russian because. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Because there was just a very typical rate of the lack of acknowledgement about need for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the mental health and counseling and support. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's just an example. Right.

00:29:09.550 - 00:29:26.260

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So but that came as part of the conversation that came as part of the discussion or part VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of the knowledge exchange and interactions with the American VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: counterparts. Right. You know, and then started to kind of grow as something that you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: can build more broader as a more systematic approach.

00:29:26.590 - 00:29:42.490

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I think the one factor that sort of built into the sustainability is, is VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: this demand is a priority. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I want to change this because I think it's important and it's my home, and I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: want to keep it and sustain and make sure that it's it's been becomes part of the

00:29:42.490 - 00:29:58.810

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: system. So, so from the technical side, that's I would define VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sustainability in the sense, and there's a lot of terminologies. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: As you know, there's a whole team of USAID right now about sustainability. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I don't want to sort of frame this way, but at that time we were looking

00:29:58.810 - 00:30:14.640

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because this. You need to see that, understand that, you know, this was VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the early period for the post-Soviet time, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And everything was just growing and sometimes unpredictably growing. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, um, so it's very hard to think about sustainability

00:30:15.660 - 00:30:25.710

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: terms like, what are you going to do? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Or how do you want to see this in five years from now? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: From now, you know, there might be a change of the leadership in the hospital or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: something, you know, change within the ministry.

00:30:26.970 - 00:30:41.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Overall, the, the political environment was very supportive VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to the partnership kind of concept. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You know, both sides were really looking for the opportunities to build VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: stronger set of relationships after the Soviet Union, particularly after the Cold

00:30:41.520 - 00:31:00.150

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: War. So, so everyone was eager to kind of establish that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of longer, firm relationships based on trust and friendship. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So that was a really supportive environment for, that resonated, you know, and translated VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to the level of the particular set of heads of hospitals or local ministries,

00:31:00.240 - 00:31:15.150

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: etc.. So there was, there was a big support, political support for the sustainability as VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: well, you know, because, because they were seeing the value of that change, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: they wanted to find solutions to, to, to build into the system and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: financially support it.

00:31:15.150 - 00:31:30.830

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So that it sustains. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. And then the relationships is not the important factor. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think, you know, from the, obviously we were recognizing this cannot go forever. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So you guys have the sort of run for between maybe 3 to 5 years or something, you

00:31:30.830 - 00:31:47.690

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, and that's over. So but if you build your relationships with your partners, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, you might start sort of getting into more, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, private set of practices development or something, you know, and that's an VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: opportunity for you to start thinking from a business side of it.

00:31:47.900 - 00:32:01.880

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And how do you utilize that sort of knowledge? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, American system is not a state system. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, they knew that this is a private sort of, private health systems, private VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: institutions, private care providers and Russians were going through that sort of

00:32:01.880 - 00:32:18.320

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: trajectory and, you know, and the post-Soviet states as well. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, it's part of the, it's part of the health system. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You can start sort of building your business type of thinking, you know, like, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that was a perfect example of Hospital 121 in Saint Petersburg.

00:32:18.320 - 00:32:31.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there's the the head of the, the head of the hospital was kind of very VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: business sort of focused guy, you know, like he wanted to start. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: How do you how do you make money to for the hospital, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: How do you earn? You know, there was nothing wrong about it.

00:32:31.520 - 00:32:46.460

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So as long as you sort of clean and managed your resources VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: transparently. But how do you build the efficiency into the system, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: How do you optimize your bottom line, for instance, expenses, you know, well, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you can earn more.

00:32:46.460 - 00:33:01.370

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And how do you build on the quality side of it? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there was a lot of business type of thinking that was embedding into the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: minds of, of, of the, of the administrators and of and, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and that cannot be done within the partnership model only.

00:33:01.370 - 00:33:18.380

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, you really need to, you know, plant the seeds, you know, in terms of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: relationships. And that's what I saw the relationships were going after. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Even now, even I was talking to my former colleague who is, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: who was the director of the program in, in Ukraine.

00:33:18.920 - 00:33:30.440

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. You know, for the, for the West NIS. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And she is now totally with a different organization. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: She's the country director for another project, but she's still engages the partners VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that she had from the time.

00:33:30.440 - 00:33:45.200

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And the reason is because they know each other, not just because she knows them, but VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because they know their Ukrainian counterparts and they built a system. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So it's really a matter of, of, of finding the people. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And obviously it's based on relationships.

00:33:45.200 - 00:34:00.320

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Some can go better, something may not work directly well, you know, because of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the because of local politics, ambitions, etc.. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, you know, but people maintain connections. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I think that's important because you start sort of thinking about, okay, how do

00:34:00.320 - 00:34:16.430

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you, how it helps you to not only sustain the changes that you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: made, but help you to be become part of the larger set of community, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: right? Professional. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's part of our job, was really to try to facilitate that sort of environment.

00:34:17.120 - 00:34:33.470

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But I think once you part of it, you know, I mean nursing, nursing leadership VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: initiative is is perfect example. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, a lot of associations of nurses were created in in the former Soviet VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: states and they do still maintain the relationships with the American

00:34:33.470 - 00:34:45.530

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: nurses and International Society of Nurses, you know, you name it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And it has nothing to do with USAID funding right now. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's just purely based on professional relationships. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Because people know.

00:34:45.680 - 00:34:57.890

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. So so I think that's sustainability to me is, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: looking in terms of what is sustained, you know, so things might change. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, at the time something was relevant, of course. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, it was a really great, you know, example.

00:34:58.460 - 00:35:13.400

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But then, you know, circumstances have changed. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But what what has not changed or what has stayed is really I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know that I have my counterparts somewhere in Louisville, in Kentucky, okay. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I can reach out to her to them for a question.

00:35:14.330 - 00:35:22.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Or I can always communicate with them. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can always engage them. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can always invite them because I have more money. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can pay for it so they can pay for themselves.

00:35:23.240 - 00:35:37.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's not about the money now. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's not about the money. At the time, there was a really a question about resources and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: then, okay, are you going to be able to kind of pay for it? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, sustainability, if someone if you want to engage them into more, sort

00:35:37.520 - 00:35:50.120

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of private type of, you know, more business type of relationships, maybe you can. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Of course you can. But now you have a partner, you have you have a trusted sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partner with whom you can work together. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I think, I think that's, that's important consideration.

00:35:50.900 - 00:35:59.660

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And I know, okay. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Schools of diabetes was another example. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We created a school of diabetes education in, in in Dubna.

00:35:59.660 - 00:36:14.900

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There was, one of the partnership early partnership in Dubna City VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: near Moscow, with the partnership with La Crosse in Wisconsin. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So one of the one of the objectives for this partner. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There were a broader scope of the program.

00:36:14.900 - 00:36:29.630

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: They created the School of Patients of Education based on, on, on totally sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: dropped facility. They renovated this facilities. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, the Russians, you know, they put the content, they put the educational classes, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: etc. and then we started to see how this could be replicated

00:36:29.630 - 00:36:43.460

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: throughout the region. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. Which has less to do with the partnership directly. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But partners were still bringing a lot of knowledge and content, you know, and, in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: terms of how do you educate patients about, you know, diabetes medicines.

00:36:43.610 - 00:37:01.290

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But the people who were not necessarily directly involved in the partnership from VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: other sides of, of the region, in other words, see, we're seeing this VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: opportunity as something valuable and they started to build the same programs in their VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: locations. Building on the curriculum, building on the knowledge, building on the

00:37:01.290 - 00:37:15.030

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: scope. We were kind of concerned about whether they have enough VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: resources. But they come up with resources, you know? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, we provided a little bit of educational equipment, maybe. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: At the time they were really thanked us.

00:37:15.030 - 00:37:23.700

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there was really helpful, you know, and relevant. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, have they sustained a program? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yes. They build on those programs. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: They build the programs for asthma education.

00:37:24.270 - 00:37:41.040

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: They build the classes for chronic disease management and integrated into primary care VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: services. So, I think it's not about only the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership, but I think it's about this whole environment, about a partnership with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: really a catalyzing sort of mechanism for, for that sort of type of thinking.

00:37:41.040 - 00:37:59.940

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? Because once you start relating directly with your vis a vis VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that in well, first of all, that I think is significantly sort of increases VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: your self-confidence and ability in doing what VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you think you were thinking of doing, whether you were sure or not sure of what you

00:37:59.940 - 00:38:13.800

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: read, but someone tells you, this is what I'm doing in my location in in Los VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Alamos, for instance, and somewhere. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's how we can sort of work together. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so I think there were, there were really strong examples.

00:38:13.980 - 00:38:31.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Not every partnership was necessarily perfect, let's face it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So obviously, and because of because of reasons, because of relationship, because VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of dynamics between the people, but I would say the majority came with very strong VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: relationships, very strong relationship and that sort of created the ground for change

00:38:31.110 - 00:38:44.190

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and then for ability to work on on the trustful relationships and say, hey, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I didn't think you were doing this right, and let me just make an example, maybe send VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you an advice and I'll be open to listen to the advice. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So that's a.

00:38:45.070 - 00:38:56.980

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's a that's to me, one of the ingredients for the sustainability VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: as well. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And it really has to be based on the openness of the two partners working. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: But that's that's awesome to hear.

00:38:56.980 - 00:39:09.310

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And do you guys have any idea of how many of the sustained partnerships that you guys have ANNIKA NAMBIAR: built because of the partnership? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Good question. That was, yeah, I was thinking about this question before the call. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, like, I can take a look.

00:39:09.340 - 00:39:27.280

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, based on my sort of connections with people who I've worked in the past, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and some people leaving the session, doing totally different things, but they still VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: maintain this nursing leadership kind of activity in the United VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: States. And they still bring the partners from that part of the world, you know, from,

00:39:27.280 - 00:39:40.830

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for the for the zoom calls for the sessions. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I would definitely say that there are sustaining. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. I, I think in Ukraine, yes. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm less knowledgeable.

00:39:40.830 - 00:39:55.380

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think it's probably there. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I've less knowledge about about Russia, particularly these days. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But, well, I left the country, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in 2012, you know, plus I was working for another organization, but I knew I saw

00:39:55.380 - 00:40:11.580

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that, that the connections were VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in place. You know, people were talking to each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: People were connecting with each other in terms of the, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, professional relationships and, you know, personal relationships type of things.

00:40:11.730 - 00:40:18.300

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah, at least if not formally. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I cannot I cannot give you a numerical numbers. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can I can take a look.

00:40:18.300 - 00:40:35.370

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Actually, something will probably be useful to take a look at. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And then I know you talked about how it wasn't about the money, but just back ANNIKA NAMBIAR: then, approximately how much time and funding would you guys ANNIKA NAMBIAR: put to initiate the average partnership of 3 to 5 years?

00:40:35.700 - 00:40:52.380

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Though my understanding is that it wasn't really needed afterwards. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Well, it's probably was between 300, between 3 to 400. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can't I think if I'm accurate about this per year, per partnership. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. So but, initially you know, but then we were kind of like looking for the, for the

00:40:52.380 - 00:41:11.010

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: reduction of the funding because you would assume that, you know, the peak of the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program maybe will be for the third year of sort of kick off and start VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of understanding how do you guys work together, you know, getting VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to know each other instead of us sort of performing by the year three and year four,

00:41:11.010 - 00:41:28.590

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, with some sort of graduated sort of funding by year three. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then and then you sort of, we were looking for giving a small, I mean, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: small one year kind of sustainability grants, and that's just to finish up things VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and then see how can you if there is something unfinished.

00:41:29.110 - 00:41:37.990

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So my, my guess was about between 3 to 400, maybe per year VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: per program. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: In what currency? Per year? So

00:41:37.990 - 00:41:54.040

times, and in five years, maybe close to maybe a couple of million per five years or something, roughly. Well. But I have to double check.

00:41:54.040 - 00:42:10.390

I have to be careful because some programs were more efficient and have less costly because of the travel cost. Right? There were more set of relationships based already in terms of direct communication through internet and lines, less trips.

00:42:10.630 - 00:42:24.400

So every year was not necessarily the same focus. But again, the trajectory was starting. Where was starting up, uh, with funding allocated for the first year, you know, trying to make sure you develop the work plan, you develop some

00:42:24.400 - 00:42:39.310

sort of understanding how you guys going to be working together, how many trips per year, how many people are there? So the year three four was most funded. So some programs were even at a level of sustainability of grants were given.

00:42:39.310 - 00:42:53.830

There were even less than $100,000 maybe for, for the year. So, not really costly. But, you know, there were a lot of partnerships, as I showed you that sort of brief. Right? You know, you look at this number of partnerships started in 92.

00:42:53.830 - 00:43:03.040

Some of them we call the graduated partnership. They finished. We gave them a little bit of sustainability grants. There were new partnerships coming into the place because already they built their

00:43:03.040 - 00:43:18.490

relationships that people knew and then and people really want it. Like, you know, the partnerships I started to work had two waves. One is the initial was wave, sort of there was incepted in, I guess in early '90 in, in '92, '93, through basically

00:43:20.560 - 00:43:36.370

'98. But at the time we were seeing the development of the, of the new initiatives, particularly cross-cutting initiatives. There were more people coming into the place, and they wanted to build the same thing, you know, and we gave them a new set of, round of grants, which was less than initial rounds

00:43:36.370 - 00:43:50.050

because you don't have to start building on the same, right? You can simply sort of implement this already. Refine, you can build on. But I think it's more like iterative process of, of, of engaging in

00:43:50.050 - 00:43:58.180

other groups of partners into this process. So you don't have to do the same next time. In other words, you know, okay. So we build on it and learn it.

00:43:58.390 - 00:44:07.480

There's cross learning. Others will come and they might think about, yeah, we can inculcate this model. We can add on this. It doesn't have to be that much.

00:44:07.480 - 00:44:21.250

Okay. Plus I think we need to also be mindful that, you know, these people, you know, the US a particular providers, you know, they're they're you know, some of them have very limited ability to commit time. You know, because, you know, we need to be respectful of that because they really do

00:44:21.250 - 00:44:29.800

make time for them, right? So they can travel. They can provide guidance. You know, I mean, if you have a neonatologist who can

00:44:29.800 - 00:44:48.440

travel. That means that people have to find a way to get out of the work and of and then to spend time in, you know, in Russia or elsewhere. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: It really comes down to the kindness, then, of people, their willingness to work

00:44:48.440 - 00:45:00.610

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: together for better outcomes for everyone. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: That's amazing. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And then how was your career impacted by your work on the programs funded ANNIKA NAMBIAR: by USAID or AIAH?

00:45:00.760 - 00:45:17.970

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And how did this initiative to help developing democracies ANNIKA NAMBIAR: improve their underlying health care problems come about? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, my career was impacted. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Well, first of all, I think I learned a lot, you know, because, you know, the the success

00:45:17.970 - 00:45:36.120

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of collaboration, although, um, it was not was not an eye opening necessarily, but it VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: helped me to build my, my skills and understanding. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So if you want to become effective in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: your collaboration, and this is all about collaboration, technical assistance, as we

00:45:36.120 - 00:45:52.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: call this, it's all about working together, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Engaging, helping them to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: solve problems, build skills. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, you know,

00:45:52.310 - 00:46:07.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: helped to build own set of solutions for that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's, it's a model that requires a lot of. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There's a lot of leadership, you know, but it's also the same a lot of diplomacy, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And tactfulness, you know, like a professional set of, you have to be

00:46:07.520 - 00:46:19.280

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: professionally credible, but at the same time, you have to see where the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: potential opportunities and how do you talk to people, how do you engage people with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: different sort of set of settings? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That was really helpful.

00:46:19.280 - 00:46:37.140

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think that was a tremendous learning for me as a young professional at the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: time. Working on that set of fronts with, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, people who were in the ministry's positions and of people who VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: were with a lot of years of experience more than you had.

00:46:37.780 - 00:46:54.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So and then you still kind of engage them into this kind of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: activities and working together in some settings there, there were, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, you had no hope that this is actually going to happen. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So so it's really helped me to, to, you know, to

00:46:54.580 - 00:47:08.830

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: be, you know, professionally comfortable working in different VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: settings, in different cultural settings. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Because that's not about just Russia, you know, like after that I, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: when I left AHA I worked for another group.

00:47:09.500 - 00:47:22.280

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I traveled, you know to around the world. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I worked on Zika in Jamaica. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I worked on, in Africa, I worked in Mongolia, I worked VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in countries outside of the former Soviet Union

00:47:23.630 - 00:47:36.500

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and Central and Eastern Europe. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I worked in Albania. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But every time you start sort of building the program, you have this thing in mind VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that, you know, you got to start working together in a very trustful

00:47:36.500 - 00:47:52.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: manner. So I think that's where that's where the success comes. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think you are not coming with the recipe. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You're not coming with the prescription, although you sometimes know that, okay, I can VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: help you with that. But particularly, you know, the reason I

00:47:52.310 - 00:48:07.790

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: actually I wanted to move from AHA side because I already felt like this is already VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: up and running. There's a lot of, you know, programs established. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, and in '98, there was a big push made for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: quality improvement in health care, which came from business.

00:48:07.790 - 00:48:19.520

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And quality, quality became part of the, it's a big thing became in the United VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: States. You know, the book came "improvement," "guides on quality VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: improvement." I read that book. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I got super excited about this.

00:48:19.520 - 00:48:34.010

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There was a new project coming into Russia at the time on quality. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And so I joined that group, you know, to work on the quality side. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But when you look at the quality improvement, it's all about change, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's how to make things better.

00:48:34.100 - 00:48:50.000

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's not about you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm not I'm not a a health care administrator that I'm changing, that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm controlling the culture and and controlling this environment where I VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: can implement, I can administer a change, I can direct change, I can facilitate change.

00:48:50.330 - 00:48:59.930

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But I'm your coach. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm your sort of advisor. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm your sort of partner. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So my skill is is much more challenging because I'm here to help

00:48:59.930 - 00:49:16.080

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you. To change your professional behavior so that every time you can VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: do this better, it's just like the concept of, in health care improvement, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: have to know your job, but you have to do this better every time because you have to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: think about, am I'm improving?

00:49:16.080 - 00:49:29.670

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Am I measuring, am I? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Am I sort of having enough objective evidence that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: tells me that I'm improving my care, you know, delivery of care? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. And if someone works as a coach, as an advisor is that I really have to have, you

00:49:29.670 - 00:49:45.900

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, possess just a lot of technical skills, system thinking skills, people VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: skills, and then relationship skills. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And so I think that partnership program really helped me, you know, to apply VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that sort of thinking and systemic thinking as well, because when I started

00:49:46.050 - 00:50:01.340

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: with USAID. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, I was, I was a physician, I was trained, I was focused on epidemiology, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, when you sort of narrow this down to the radiation studies you're really looking VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: at what are the risks of leukemia associated with exposure or those particular cancer.

00:50:01.340 - 00:50:18.350

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But you're not necessarily thinking about the larger system that is behind. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? You're not thinking about how people react to a particular set VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of concern of radiation phobia, for instance, you know, living in contaminated VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: territories because you sort of accept that, you acknowledge that, but it's not

00:50:18.350 - 00:50:33.500

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: necessarily part of your research focus. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That helped me actually to understand, because when I started to work together with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: those people I got engaged in, there were some examples where I had to come to school VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and then then then, you know, collect blood from kids who were exposed to radiation

00:50:33.500 - 00:50:48.920

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because we were doing immunity sort of status analysis. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And people were really tired about this old researchers coming and taking the bloods VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because they were studying, you know, immunoglobulins or whatever. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And then I came and the doctor, you know, the, the, the, the head of the school said,

00:50:48.920 - 00:51:00.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: okay, no, I totally understand you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I totally I'm supporting you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Here's what you need to do, you know, bring the mothers to the class of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the evening and explained the purpose of your of your work.

00:51:00.110 - 00:51:12.260

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Okay, if you will get the support, you'll have the case lined up for the for your for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: your study, you know, if you get an agreement, etc. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's up to you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So and that was the first set of learning experience for me to start working with

00:51:12.260 - 00:51:25.790

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people and be able to persuasively explain and the purposely and trustfully explain the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: purpose. Why? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And this is through all these years, in fact, actually, that was my sort VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of main motto.

00:51:25.850 - 00:51:42.710

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, like, you know, you're starting the program a totally VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: different country, you know, and and you come and you see the nurses or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: physicians and you try to sort of convince them that during the quality VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: improvement, for instance, is the right way of doing.

00:51:42.950 - 00:51:55.070

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But they also know that's a that requires data collection, that requires data review. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's extra burden. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's extra time. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So how do you address that particular challenge with your with your focus on

00:51:55.070 - 00:52:07.850

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: improvement. But at the same time with recognition that these people are these VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people need to change their sort of way of thinking. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And how do you help that in a particular time frame? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So, so it's really helped me to build that set of

00:52:09.390 - 00:52:23.640

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: much, much broader sort of sense of understanding that, yes, we do have to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: have a system thinking we have to focus on, we have to be competent technically on VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: specific area of expertise. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But we got to be able to work with your counterparts.

00:52:24.270 - 00:52:38.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And the way that this expertise is VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: accepted and relationships were trustful instead of, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: flourishing. You know, that's that's, to me, sort of determination of success. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's, that's how it helped me.

00:52:38.310 - 00:52:44.330

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: No, that's that's incredible. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: That's something you can't teach or learn in school. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: So that's.

00:52:44.330 - 00:52:57.140

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: True. That's very true. It's actually it's just a very basic experience. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But also you have to have some sort of, I guess, empathy or some passion for that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Understanding that it's, it's just about. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Exactly. Exactly.

00:52:57.140 - 00:53:06.170

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's about people. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's all about between people. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And then how do you, how do you guys identify these partnerships

00:53:06.170 - 00:53:19.550

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: within communities. Is it people from the communities coming and talking to you? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: You're looking at some form of data? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Where where are you finding these? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Turn. Yeah, yeah, there is no there is no one answer to that.

00:53:19.550 - 00:53:29.240

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, there was I mean, part of my job was really to see where the potential VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: opportunities are and then through the networks. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's another thing. You've got to be able to maintain the network of your VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: providers. You know, people need to know you.

00:53:29.480 - 00:53:41.480

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You've got to be able to speak somewhere publicly so they can explain the program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And people start sort of you will start seeing that some people express an interest. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? I'd like to be part of the program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'd like to join the group.

00:53:41.480 - 00:53:52.400

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm not coming to your town and say, hey, here's I'm bringing your program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, I want you to participate in this program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Never done it before. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, it's like, yeah, there were some other maybe political considerations, for

00:53:52.400 - 00:54:09.710

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: instance, like, you know, the the program, particularly in Russia, was, we had some VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: several partnerships with so-called closed nuclear cities. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That was a push from the Nuclear Cities initiative or VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: something, because they wanted to build more sort of connection between the people so that

00:54:09.710 - 00:54:26.100

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that was a self-selected sort of, I guess, category of the cities that you would have to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: work together. Right, because there were closed cities related to the research VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program and defense program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There were communities that, you know, there were kind of more

00:54:26.100 - 00:54:41.510

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: neglected, you know, and then you had to see where, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: how can you sort of bring that sort of knowledge and that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: connection dimension to that part of the world and a part of this country, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they can start sort of growing there, you know.

00:54:41.630 - 00:54:54.470

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: People, some somebody can sit, you know, in that little town in Kurgan Oblast, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and say, oh, I know this partnerships in Saint Petersburg, in Moscow or in Kiev VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: somewhere or in capitals. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We're too small for that.

00:54:54.470 - 00:54:59.900

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know. We're not going to be able to make it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: No, that's that's not true. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, we are seeing you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We know where to find you.

00:54:59.900 - 00:55:13.370

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We want to make sure that you also participate, you know, so we were looking for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: geographical sort of balances, for, for some, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know, more technical targeted focus. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Like, as I said, nuclear cities or, or chemicals.

00:55:13.910 - 00:55:31.680

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, I'm just bringing the Kurgan is just small town in Kurgan Oblast. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, that huge facility for chemicals that have, storage for chemicals that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: have, weapons and facilities. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So. So the question is, okay, people are concerned about living in there instead of

00:55:31.680 - 00:55:45.150

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: how do you help to build the capacity for making sure the system is responsive, just in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: case any accidents, just in case, any concerns. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So you're not going to be able to solve this problem, but I think you can still sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: make that connection. And people can see yes, somebody is thinking about us.

00:55:45.150 - 00:56:00.510

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, we're thinking about that sort of dimension as well. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So so I think there were a lot of, as I said, considerations of varying VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: kinds, you know, like, you know, how feasible is you can build a program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's initial was, initial thinking was, you know, that's how we brought in the

00:56:00.510 - 00:56:18.170

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: diaspora initially into this partnership considerations, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, just to make a quick set of connections to get going. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But later that was that was not necessarily the case, though. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: The case was more about the the type of programmatic necessities.

00:56:18.170 - 00:56:29.720

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, you know, there were some pre-established connections. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's true, that some people knew each other, some people worked together, but it VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: was not a targeted grant. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We put the solicitation for the grants, and other people had to submit proposals for

00:56:29.720 - 00:56:45.920

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that. Okay. You know, they had a chance, those who have connections VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: already established and, you know, knew each other work together through various formats. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, they had they had they had, I guess, more sort of chances of getting that program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: That's that's okay.

00:56:46.190 - 00:57:01.370

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But there was a fair competition. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: People were submitted proposals and we would consider them, you know, and, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: but at the same time, my, my job was really on, on this side, I mean, on the side of, of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the NIS. Right. Really to see where the potential opportunities

00:57:01.370 - 00:57:17.280

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: for partnership might be, where the demand is, where are the gaps, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and who can be a potential player, and particularly if you're reached out VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: by someone who is really willing to do that, I think that's a big sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: authentication for the successful program.

00:57:19.960 - 00:57:35.590

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So but I mean, technically the connection, I mean, the technical solicitations were made VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: through the AHA website, you know, and in fact, I was looking the other day about this VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: whole sort of request for applications, you know, and they had to submit the request for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: application, the criteria we'll review and proposals.

00:57:37.080 - 00:57:50.980

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, obviously there were more more proposals that than we had, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: administrative partnerships. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And so that was a competition. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And I know your focus wasn't necessarily Kazakhstan and we discussed

00:57:50.980 - 00:58:04.920

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: that. But for the Houston Semipalatinsk Partnership, was that ANNIKA NAMBIAR: something that was also a proposal that was submitted and went through the processes that ANNIKA NAMBIAR: you were talking about to be formed? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, yeah, I understand that.

00:58:04.920 - 00:58:16.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There was the same thing, you know. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. I mean, partially it's just because of the interest in radiation, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, Semipalatinsk was the testing site, you know, and arming, being VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: involved in this area.

00:58:16.110 - 00:58:28.500

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there was a lot of. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I guess there was a lot of, you know, other professional interests in terms of, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: maybe making a register of counselors, you know, counselor VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: registry. Yeah.

00:58:28.500 - 00:58:40.380

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they had an advantage, you know, they had an advantage. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, they had the knowledge, you know, and, you know, particularly for that specific VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: scope, I mean, they had the opportunity. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And then also actually,

00:58:40.440 - 00:58:54.560

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I must say be careful because I was not involved in that sort of review of that VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: particular proposal. But, you know, but I know that through my interactions with Armin VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: even even before AHA, because he was engaged into the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Chernobyl studies. Right.

00:58:54.560 - 00:59:10.620

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Uh, that was kind of the lives that have brought us back into this different set of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: angle and connection, you know, and he was traveling to Russia because he had a VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership with, with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Sakhalin, you know, in, in Sakhalin.

00:59:10.740 - 00:59:27.060

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And the Sakhalin and Texas, they were kind of, you know, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I guess geographically more sort of proxies and. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Actually, how do you how do you match the partners like that from such different ANNIKA NAMBIAR: regions? Is there interest on both ends or?

00:59:27.090 - 00:59:41.940

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Well, I think there was. Well, interest was, interest was, the interest was not VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: necessarily unless you had already established partnerships with, with VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: US counterpart. Right. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, like, you know, we had some partnership in, in Bicol region, I remember

00:59:41.940 - 00:59:52.110

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: they already had this knowledge about each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they submitted a proposal. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: They they simply jumped into the proposal because they saw this as just an opportunity. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah.

00:59:52.590 - 01:00:08.420

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think Sakhalin I can't remember exactly how this came, to be honest with you. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There was just a long time ago. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But I think this came as a result of the, we were looking for the partnership in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Sakhalin. And, and I think, you know, because

01:00:09.020 - 01:00:23.000

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: maybe there were some people connections earlier, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can't remember, but you know, and he already been in part of the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: part of the partnership. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So they responded and it's just got into the system.

01:00:23.420 - 01:00:37.790

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So so you would you would get a partner on the US side, sometimes they don't know each VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: other. So they had to get to know each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So there were some situations. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And then if people on I guess the US side or even in different

01:00:37.790 - 01:00:53.960

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: regions didn't, were new to the partnership. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Like this was their first partnership - they hadn't previously been involved. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Were those just through connections based on regions and people ANNIKA NAMBIAR: moving or how how were those formed?

01:00:56.770 - 01:01:09.880

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Because of the solicitation. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: We're looking for a partnership, you know, with, let's say with, I don't know, with the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: hospital in Moscow, for instance. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. Or in Samara or something.

01:01:09.880 - 01:01:27.490

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: In Saratov, you know, and, and we were looking for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that specific scope, you know, for that specific focus of the program. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Okay. And, and some people might find them relevant to respond to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: that. There is always was something like, you know, there was always something to

01:01:27.490 - 01:01:39.970

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: me like, you know, someone who speaks the language, someone who is a former sort of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: resident, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I saw that, I said, oh, I can help, I can, I can, I can put I can help VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to make that happen. Right.

01:01:39.970 - 01:01:58.400

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And that's, and that's how sort of it came together. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So and then the leadership of this, you know, like Brigham and Women's Hospital VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in, Was it VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in? In Boston,

01:01:58.400 - 01:02:14.930

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: right? I think, you know. There was, I know that, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: you know, I was not at the time I was not involved in the inception of this partnership VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: because I came in '96, but I knew there were people who already knew each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, they built this relationship, but apparently there were Russian speaking sort

01:02:14.930 - 01:02:30.950

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: of staff or something who actually helped to put that proposal VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: together. Okay. So and that helped to cement the relationship because I think that's VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: people connection at the time, particularly when you have no language. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And I think even now, maybe things might be a little bit different because you have that

01:02:30.950 - 01:02:45.860

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of knowledge of the language, right. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, you would get more sort of focus on the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: technical appropriateness, although, you know, every partner was really technically VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: super great. You know, like you said, they were bringing a lot of technical knowledge,

01:02:45.860 - 01:02:58.670

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: expertise. There was no question about it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's not just it's not because of the we were imposed because somebody knows each VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: other. No, no, that's that's a plus or someone who is speaks the language and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: therefore catalyzing for this particular proposal.

01:02:59.270 - 01:03:07.940

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. That's great. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know. But I think that gives you a chance that, you know, this program can start VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of evolving. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Wow. That's that's very impressive.

01:03:08.270 - 01:03:19.730

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: That so many were. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's like I'm seeing the response right now to the situation in Ukraine. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, you can believe how many Ukrainian, American Ukrainians that are VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: physicians are engaged.

01:03:19.730 - 01:03:33.430

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right? So you put the partnership right now. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, they will probably jump into every single city of this country. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's not only about the Ukrainians, it's about also bringing the Americans as well. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's like I'm looking at trauma care and emergency care.

01:03:33.820 - 01:03:49.240

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, yeah, there were there were people who speak the language, but also there were VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Americans who would come over and teach the Ukrainians and work with them, you VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: know? Yeah. Because the Ukrainians already speak a language. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Okay. So a lot of young generation of young physicians speak a

01:03:49.240 - 01:04:02.950

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: language. I just recently had a dinner together they came to for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: another study. Young people, you know, the group of eight Ukrainian physicians, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: everybody speaks English. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There's no question I thought about, wow, this is just a great I mean, it's like you

01:04:02.950 - 01:04:17.020

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: build a partnership. Partnership would be a perfect solution right now. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah. Wow. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And actually, speaking of that, given the current climate throughout the region ANNIKA NAMBIAR: between Ukraine and Russia, is there anything worth considering or

01:04:17.020 - 01:04:31.450

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: funding to reconnect with those partnerships throughout, you know, Russia, Ukraine, ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and others? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Is there a way to reestablish some connection? ANNIKA NAMBIAR: What. Do you think there's a way to benefit that and restore peaceful relations

01:04:31.450 - 01:04:40.090

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: or. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Ukraine can certainly benefit. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I'm going to speak on Ukraine side of it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think Ukraine can benefit from the, from the particular specialty care.

01:04:40.090 - 01:04:48.190

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Right. But it's not about that, you know, like in tourism network of providers. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But the partnership is an opportunity. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You cannot pay for everything. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You cannot pay for mental health.

01:04:48.190 - 01:05:01.270

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You cannot pay for trauma care. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You just a lot of people I know personally, people who have the trainings on zoom, just VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: like you and I are sitting together, do this regular training. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So trauma care stuff, bleeding care, I mean, so the programs, you know, and and they

01:05:01.270 - 01:05:15.130

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: engage large set of groups of, of of the Ukrainian set of counterparts on the other VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: side. So should the environment be more peaceful? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think that would allow for a more travel b ecause you can simply, you know, cannot VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: do everything based on zoom.

01:05:15.130 - 01:05:30.430

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You can just a hands on experience and talking to people and coach and kind of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: mentoring would be very helpful. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think that's a, that's, that's a big plus of the program that if the program could VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: pay for that, I am sure people will be will be open to travel.

01:05:30.430 - 01:05:42.760

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: There's no question about it. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. I mean, nobody expecting to be compensated for the for the work. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, it's really time. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I know that similarly Armenians in Armenia and American

01:05:42.760 - 01:05:53.170

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Armenians talk to each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I don't know how much of this Azerbaijan, I can double check. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I have my connections there still. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean. And similarly, you know, the programs like

01:05:53.170 - 01:06:07.180

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Kazakhstan, as you mentioned, about Azerbaijan, others, you know, I think they VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: probably would benefit. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I mean, it's really depends on how open the sort of the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: country is. And I was in Moldova, I can see a lot of potential for Moldovans to be

01:06:07.180 - 01:06:23.760

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: working together on that partnership side as well. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I don't know how much that would be the case in Tajikistan somewhere else, because of the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: more totalitarian type of sort of kind of environment right now and people might VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: travel, but how much that sort of brings the trust and openness,

01:06:23.760 - 01:06:37.170

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: right? It depends. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It really depends. You might be able to make it, but I'm not 100% sure. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Russia probably is is off the case right now because I'm not sure who would VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: want to work together.

01:06:38.090 - 01:06:54.330

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Although people do maintain relationships. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I know that some people who speak, you know, who spend time in Russia, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Americans who leave secretly have this kind of mixed VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: marriage. You know, they understand the complexity of the situation,

01:06:54.330 - 01:07:04.590

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: but they do talk to each other. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So it could be a potential opportunity. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So but it's very hard to tell to me, honestly. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's just so much of.

01:07:06.320 - 01:07:18.890

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah, so much damage about the relationships and trust has been made, you know. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I think time will show and tell. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Yeah. No. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But I can tell you that for the needs, you know that, you know the

01:07:18.890 - 01:07:32.160

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: partnership for other countries in, in the, in the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: region like Georgia. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, I was working in Georgia, you know, on another project already. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I knew they were engaged in Georgia and, you know, physicians as well as, you know,

01:07:32.160 - 01:07:47.310

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Americans as well. You know, there were a lot of people who just simply want to be able VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: to, you know, contribute, to donate, and it really depends on the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: focus. Because I said it's a voluntary sort of driven VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program. You cannot be prescriptive.

01:07:47.310 - 01:07:59.070

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You cannot expect someone be so much focused as a consultant, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: right, on the deliverable of your results because you're not paid for that. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So just contributing with your knowledge. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Okay.

01:07:59.460 - 01:08:15.840

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And, and making that sort of donation to happen. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I think it's a very strong model because I think it brings an opportunity, particularly VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: in this situation right now, environment where you can look for bringing VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: business and, and engage them into, into potential

01:08:16.380 - 01:08:31.820

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: sort of development. I mean, think about this. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Telemedicine opportunities, electronic health, you know. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Data, you know, I mean, there's a lot of firms that might be willing to kind of tap VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: into this opportunity and see.

01:08:32.000 - 01:08:42.950

ANNIKA NAMBIAR: And see what you can get done. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: To be able to. Yeah, to look broader. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: I guess is there anything else you want to chat about or anything else ANNIKA NAMBIAR: you are interested?

01:08:42.950 - 01:09:00.440

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: I can talk a lot about this because I had this whole his nice history and passion about VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: this. But obviously if you have any more specific questions, let me know, you know and VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: and then have sort of this comes out, I can certainly take a look and see VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: if we can, you know, tweak it somehow or um, one of the questions I

01:09:00.440 - 01:09:17.710

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: think you had about, I was looking at, how my VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: career is impacted. I think I did respond. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Did you ever become a US citizen and become licensed to practice here? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: No, I did not become licensed to practice because I worked on the on the health care

01:09:17.950 - 01:09:32.290

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: improvements field in quality improvement. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Yeah. So but I did domestically and internationally then mainly internationally, VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: but I also did work on my, it was a great program that was engaged in VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: 2020 during Covid.

01:09:32.800 - 01:09:47.500

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: The Echo Program for VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Covid-19 network across the nursing homes in the United States. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I was the faculty for quality improvement on behalf of the Institute for Healthcare VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Improvement that is in Boston.

01:09:47.500 - 01:10:03.730

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I was really attached to the domestic program, was on on the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: on the Echo, you know, the Echo Program, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's a Zoom-based sort of tele, you know, mentoring type of program called the Echo. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: It's a model, but it's really, you know, like mentoring session of of on on

01:10:03.730 - 01:10:20.530

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: Zoom-based sort of, tele sessions. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I had, the I was attached to the nurse, to VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as, as the VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: hub. You know, we had about 70 nursing homes from eastern part of the

01:10:20.530 - 01:10:38.270

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: US engaged into the kind of learning VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: program that we're basically talking about how to improve safety of VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: care of nursing homes that are impacted by Covid, right? VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: You know, so, honestly, you know, it's

01:10:38.270 - 01:10:51.740

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: like it's slightly different set of regulations. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: But I think the, the, the notion, the concept is, is the same. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: And people were and you were talking like you were talking to the other conference. VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So I'm becoming a citizen soon.

01:10:51.740 - 01:11:02.240

VICTOR BOGUSLAVSKY: So hopefully so. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Fingers crossed. Oh well I think ANNIKA NAMBIAR: then that is the end of the interview. ANNIKA NAMBIAR: Let me stop recording.