The celebration of Velikiy Novgorod’s 1150th jubilee this year was the impetus behind the Artist’s Exchange project and exhibition “West Meets East: The Faces of Art”. Judy Kramer spearheaded the organization of this project. Three Sun Coast artists were invited by Judy to join her and the Novgorod Alliance for this two week trip to St. Petersburg and Velikiy Novgorod. Joanna Coke, a mixed media artist, Susan Cooper, a basketry artist, and Susan Covert, a painter, eagerly accepted Judy’s invitation. Six Novgorod artists were invited to join the Florida artists in this collaborative exhibition and week of art events.

The exhibition opening receptions were well attended and the work was well received. Several artists were interviewed by the press and coverage was shown on Novgorod TV.

The reception at the Novgorod University Campus was attended by many of the University administrators, speeches were plentiful, and there was even a performance by a folk group from the University!

The Florida artists volunteered to teach art classes to children at the Cultural Palace for Creative Activity. The students, at first shy about having an unknown teacher, took instruction well and produced successful pieces of art…..self portraits, mixed media collages, dream catchers and photographs using point and shoot cameras. All the supplies for the classes were donated by US vendors and were given to the Russian children or their art teachers to continue progress with their newly learned skills.

This Russian and American artists’ cultural exchange proved to me that we universally share in the same desires, concerns and delights of our profession. Touring their private artists’ studios showed me their work ethic and depth of talent.

When all those artists and doctors come here, I hope to share with them in the same way. I can only extend my thanks for the opportunity and my hope that the time with those wonderful Russians will be a positive memory for them. I am so happy to have given to the orphanage. If nothing else, that one thing touched me. I will carry each face in my heart.

Dr. Srur, Interventional Radiologist, and Eugene at Sarasota Memorial Hospital

In October 2008 Dr. Eugene Magonov, a Radiologist from Velikiy Novgorod, was hosted by the Kramers in Sarasota, Florida for three weeks of advanced radiology training.

Dr. Magonov had received a two-year scholarship from the Novgorod Alliance which supported his radiology training in St. Petersburg, Russia. He completed those studies in June 2008.

While in Sarasota, Dr. Magonov spent one week with Dr. Maurice Srur, an interventional radiologist at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital and two weeks with Dr. Roman Rozin, an orthopedic radiologist in private practice.

Eugene impressed his US instructors with his enthusiasm, intelligence and eagerness to learn.

Dr. Magonov commented that he had observed many techniques which are not currently being performed in Russia. He thought many Russian patients would benefit from these techniques. He also stated that most radiologists in Russia are generalists and have not received specialized training which would allow them to become proficient in these current techniques.

Invitations to the Florida radiologists have been extended by Dr. Magonov for possible radiology conferences in St. Petersburg, Russia and Velikiy Novgorod, Russia in the fall of 2009.

Eugene meeting his first manatee at Mote Aquarium.

2007 marked the fifteenth anniversary of the Novgorod Alliance! While we have achieved much over the years, we are planning new projects and continuing some successful endeavors.

When you go to our web site www.Novgorod-Alliance.org, the list of accomplishments over the past fifteen years covers four pages and continues to grow! What started out as a medical project has evolved into a people to people exchange at many levels of expertise. More than 350 people have traveled to Russia during this period to exchange ideas regarding medicine, the arts, photography, education, public safety and friendship.

We continue to interact with a community 8,000 miles from home.  We do not have official status as a sister city, but our efforts have been recognized by the Fairfax County Government in Northern Virginia and the Mayor’s office in Velikiy Novgorod. We have developed relationships and friendships that governments can only hope to achieve.  Our small organization has interacted with NASA on a Telemedicine project. We met with Niana Yeltsin on two occasions – once in the USA and once in her home outside Moscow. 

In the spring of 2007 we hosted Dr. Dmitry Lobko, a pediatric orthopedist from Veliky Novgorod.  Dmitry spent 6 weeks in Sarasota and Tampa, Florida. Dmitry spent the first week observing two private orthopedic practices.  The next four weeks were spent at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa.  Dmitry’s last week was spent with the Orthopedic staff at the All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The experience was very positive for everyone involved.

Our most recent trip in October 2007 was very rewarding. In St. Petersburg, members of the Alliance met with the administrators and physicians of the Sokolov Hospital. Grants from USAID and AHIA allowed the Sokolov staff to interact with western hospital medical teams and to learn western medical practice concepts.  Tatiana Solovieva is now the head of the outpatient pediatric department.  Discussions were held to assist the Sokolov staff in developing a complete pediatric program. 

We also visited the Turner Institute in Pushkin.  Established in the 1890’s and specializing in pediatric orthopedics, burns, and plastic surgery reconstruction, the Turner Institute is the only hospital of its type for eleven time zones in Russia. 

New construction at the Turner Institute will increase beds and operating rooms in order to offer more services to more children. The Novgorod Alliance is working on a joint meeting to introduce the Turner staff to Shiners’ International which operates twenty children’s hospitals in the US, one in Toronto, Canada and one in Mexico City.  The mission of the Shriners is the same as that of the Turner Institute. There should be significant gains for both programs if they can work together.

While in Veliky Novgorod, we meet with many of our old friends. A two-day Orthopedic-Radiology Round Table was conducted by Dr. Mona and his staff, orthopedic physicians from the Novgorod region and two physicians from Sarasota, Florida, Dr. John Moor, an orthopedist and Dr. Roman Rozin, an orthopedic radiologist who also speaks fluent Russian!

Judy Kramer and Veliky Novgorod photographer, Alexander Orlov, participated in a photography exhibition entitled “Near and Far” at the State Museum of Artistic Culture of the Novgorod Lands. Each photographer displayed fifty photographs. More than seventy-five people attended the opening reception and the press reviews were very positive. (see the web site) The exhibition will travel to Staraya Russa, Borovichi and St. Petersburg during the upcoming year.

While in Novgorod, the Alliance met with Dr. Victor Weber, Dean of the Novgorod School of Medicine. Two candidates for the next Novgorod Alliance Scholarship were interviewed.  Yekaterina Kuzina, who will graduate in May 2008, was chosen.  She will study Psychiatry in St. Petersburg for two years and return to help the people of Novgorod.

The current scholarship recipient, Dr. Eugene Magonov, participated in the Orthopedic-Radiology Round Table.  When Eugene completes his studies in Radiology in the summer of 2008, he will return to Veliky Novgorod to bring his advanced training into practical use.  We have invited him to visit Sarasota, Florida after he completes his residency to spend time with Dr. Roman Rozin and his radiology colleagues. 

We hope that this 15th anniversary of the Novgorod Alliance will inspire you to join us in a future trip to Novgorod. The year 2009 marks the 1160th anniversary of the founding of Novgorod. The Novgorod Alliance has been invited to participate in the celebrations. Medical conferences and artists’ exchanges are being considered as possible projects.   

Sincerely,
Lloyd Kramer, MD
President, Novgorod Alliance 

Sometimes a wish can become a reality. I had a vision that the Novgorod Alliance could host a Russian pediatric orthopedist in the United States. This visit would allow the individual to learn western approach to pediatric orthopedics and put what they learned into practice in their hospital and practice of medicine. After several failed attempts to initiate this idea, I stopped pursuit.

One afternoon, I met William Austin on a tennis court. Will works for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, Florida as the Director of Development. I told him about my idea and he was very encouraging. He introduced me to key administrative people in the Shriners organization. Each individual was receptive to the idea of a visit and allowed me to proceed in finding the appropriate candidate from Velikiy Novgorod, Russia.

Dmitry, the cook, preparing Shashlik for the guests at his “Farewell Party”.

During our visit to Velikiy Novgorod in September 2006, I asked Dr. Tatiana Solovyeva if there was a pediatric orthopedist who spoke English. The next day she introduced me to Dr. Dmitry Lobko. Dr. Lobko invited Dr. Morgan and me to the Regional Pediatric Hospital where he presented four complex cases to us and answered questions about different options for each case. Dr. Lobko interacted very nicely with the children who were patients as we made rounds through the hospital ward. It was obvious to me that Dr. Lobko would be an excellent choice for the first Russian pediatric orthopedic physician to visit the United States as a guest of the Novgorod Alliance and the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Dr. Lobko arrived in Tampa, Florida at midnight after a long trip. His first comment to us was, “You must really like Novgorod a lot to do this trip every year!”

The first week Dr. Lobko visited the orthopedic offices of Drs. Moor and Morgan to observe private practice. He also observed Dr. Moor doing arthroscopic procedures.

John Moor, Dima, Roman and Larisa Rozin

The second through fifth weeks were spent at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Dennis Grogan, Chief of Pediatric Orthopedics, and his staff hosted Dr. Lobko during his visit. Dr. Lobko observed numerous surgical procedures each week. He saw patients in the outpatient department and visited the orthotic/prosthetic laboratory. The librarian from the Shriners Hospital donated a large number of pediatric orthopedic texts for Dr. Lobko’s hospital.

Dmitry’s final week was spent with Dr. Sheila Love and her staff at the All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where he observed complex orthopedic procedures and participated in outpatient clinics.

Weekends were spent with Lloyd and Judy Kramer. Special cultural activities Dmitry enjoyed included a visit to the beach, a jazz performance at Selby Gardens, the Ringling Museum and the Mote Aquarium. Numerous parties were held to introduce Dmitry to friends and family.

Wherever Dr. Lobko visited, he was well received. His great smile and friendly personality made the visit a very pleasant one.

Karen and Randall Morgan, John and Krista Moor, Kramers and Dmitry

We need to thank all the people who invited Dr. Lobko into their homes, hospitals and clinics. As we watched Dr. Lobko become more comfortable with his surroundings, his English improved rapidly. Watching him visit with his wife and son by video E-mail was a very special treat for all of us. The contact with his family made the 6 weeks go by a bit quicker.

The following letter, written by Dr. Lobko, is most insightful as to how special he felt this visit was for him.

An essay about my trip to America.

It seemed to me unbelievable and very easy at the same time… to happen to me.

It was unbelievable because of the fact that I never expected such a thing happen to me for real. And it was easy because I never expected that thing happen to me without any complex arrangement. It happened as if it was meant for me. As if I was a particular person. And I was not (but I hope I will be someday).

At the very start (taking planes and further) I was a little bit frightened… to be alone in a foreign country etc. But from the very moment when I was met by Lloyd and Judy I realized that I would not be alone! And sometimes I really wished my further education steps to be delayed for a while letting me enjoy their company more.

1st week was quite hard to get used to the things going around. The main problem was my English, both conversational and medical. I spent 3 days with John Moore and 1 day with Randal Morgan. And sometimes I had a feeling that I understood not a word (especially from what Dr. Moore said). But now it is obvious that I was getting then a great supply for my mind to assimilate and use for the rest of the time. It was the first times I saw an American doctors work, and heard them speak. I was a sponge then, getting knowing about the way they work (examining a patient, performing operations, whatever else) and the way they talk (about what they were doing, explaining things to patients etc). And of course I should line out arthroscopy surgery cases I saw then. They really enhanced a surgery mind of mine. This week is also remarkable for making friends with Dr. Rosin who has Russian backgrounds and is a very intelligent person and very skilled orthopedics radiologist. Without his guidance on orthopedics MRI features I would not create a whole image of orthopedic science and facilities in the USA.

At Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa I spent the next four weeks. It took about a week to observe the whole place. The hospital contains small town facilities and infrastructure. I was pretty much amazed with the efficiency with which different services collaborate with each other for patient’s benefit. Clinics, surgery, prosthetic and orthotic department, rehab department, laboratory etc. Sometimes it is very hard to provide a step-by-step treatment of an orthopedic disorder tying together different medical facilities, but the problem does not seem to exist at all at Shriners. I enjoyed very much the time spent in clinic with doctors Grogan, Kim, Mausel and all the nurses. And it was also very interesting to observe rehab department facilities and prosthetic-orthotic department working process (which I visited three times). It was a real surprise to have an opportunity to choose and take back with me some of the books donated to the library. Having some books right there and reading them in the evenings helped me much to understand many things going around at working time. And of course, visiting surgery was the most important thing for me there. Watching doctors Grogan, Kim, Leffar, Hess, Kabal work performing spine, pelvis, hand, plastic surgery and knee arthroscopy was fascinating and useful. It was also very useful to see simple procedures, the way they are being done, the results for the reason to compare all these with what my colleagues and I did in Novgorod. Some of the days at Shriners did not seem to be loaded much with work and study and it was difficult to find some place to go without having a good guide. But I always had some pages to go through.

Observing All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg last week of my visit was an icing on the cake. There I met a very friendly and professional team of doctors, PAs, nurses. I enjoyed very much being with them at clinics and in the surgery. I had a feeling that they treated me like a person they knew for a long time and as a doctor they saw performing operations (but all they really knew about me was my stories and my opinion on some of their cases). We had conversations and discussions about cases and methods of treatment. I was shown the latest spine surgery method that used infrared navigation and 3-dimension MRI image model. I also showed pictures of how we treat some orthopedic disorders and proved that some simple methods could also be efficient.

I am sure that the study I began in the USA is still going although I am back already. And I also believe that both sides can benefit from continuing communication. And it would be great if sometime it were possible to create a program allowing practical surgery training.

And it still seems to me unbelievable and easy…
Thank you very much.

Lobko Dmitry, MD. Novgorod the Great. RF.

The Sarasota Art Center

The two-week visit in March (11 – 26) was full of interesting experiences – from missing a connection in Atlanta, lost luggage, jet lag (of course), and quick adaptation to life in the artists’ “fast lane” in Sarasota. A visit to Siesta Beach on Sunday afternoon provided them with a picnic and the participation in the “Drumming” event before sunset. A two-day visit to Orlando gave them an overview of Disney World and Animal Kingdom.

The primary focus of the exchange was a one-month exhibition of art by these four artists. The front gallery of Art Center provided a wonderful space to spotlight the paintings, prints, pastels, tapestries and baskets created by these four artists. The Opening Reception was lively and attended by more than 300 people. The “Art of Travel” exhibition in the Main Gallery tied into the Russian exhibition theme. Longboat Key Art Center collaborated with Art Center Sarasota on the “Art of Travel” theme and work by the four Russian artists was submitted to the exhibition. Two of them received awards in the exhibition!

Curator Kevin Costello presented a talk about the Russian artists work and the connection of their art with historical themes and processes in Russia. An enthusiastic crowd of more than forty people attended and the Russian artists were asked questions about their art and life in Russia as artists. Women Contemporary Artists invited the Russian artists to present a program at one of their meetings. A slide show of Velikiy Novgorod was shown along with slides of the Russians work and discussions about the challenges of an artist’s life in Russia.

Local artists invited the Russian artists to visit their studios…some in commercial spaces and some in their homes. Many thanks go to Melody Oxarart and David Gonya, Peppi Elona and Wendy Surkis, Ruth Hook Colby, and others who generously opened their studios and hearts. Process and materials were discussed and exchanged between the artists.

Lloyd and I hosted the artists in our home and it was a wonderful experience for all of us. The Jacuzzi provided much needed relaxation for everyone at the end of the day.

Each artist taught a class at Art Center Sarasota. Although the attendance was not large, the enthusiasm shown by the students was inspiring for the artists and great friends were made as a result.

My co-chairman for this exchange was Judy Lyons Schneider who had gone with us to Velikiy Novgorod in 2004. We did a lot of brainstorming to make this happen. Both of us think the most amazing part of the visit was the warmth and outreach that was evident from the community of Sarasota and from Novgorod Alliance Board members. Judy Canyock came to Sarasota from Northern Virginia to help with translation and communication for the artists. Since her friendship with the artists was already established, she made them feel so comfortable. We’ll be forever indebted to her, again! George Long came from Frederick Maryland and enjoyed many of the art and social activities associated with the visit.

Perhaps the most interesting connection we made was the finding of Russian-speaking Sarasota residents who were able to help us with day-to- day translation. Not only did these people help us translate, but they invited the Russian artists into their homes for dinners and they became great friends!! Many thanks go toYakov, Tamara, Larisa, Violetta, and Irina to name just a few.

Visits to Selby Botanical Gardens and Ringling Museum were included in the program. A ride along the Braden River in a pontoon boat and lunch at Linger Lodge was hosted by the Griffins, and lunch and/or dinners at the homes of the Kaidens, Marquets, Elonas and Subotkys rounded out the schedule.

An ambitious program like this could never have happened without the help of so many individuals and the community. We are proud to have brought Boris, Dmitry, Nadya and Vladimir to Sarasota and hope that the memories will fill them with warm thoughts.

Judy Kramer

All photos ©2006 by Judy Kramer unless otherwise stated

The market side of Velikiy Novgorod in January 2006.

When I mention this to people they shiver and say they could never stand such cold. My answer: try it. I have been making trips to Novgorod since 1992 and my friends there have repeatedly told me I should come and visit during the Winter, to experience a “real Russian Winter”. This year I had a chance to do this. It was very pleasant and a whole new experience.

Most Americans look at cold and winter as something to be endured. When the weather gets bad, we stay inside and huddle by the fire, so to speak. The Russian attitude is different: they look at Winter more than as just another season. Of course, it takes some effort to cope with the cold. Russians take pride in how well they deal with it. I get the impression that the colder it is the better they like it— in the sense of “Nobody has colder weather than we do!”

Novgorod in winter is a different world to Americans. For one thing, the days are much shorter than ours; they have about five hours of daylight in late December. Waking up at 8:00 AM and seeing that it is still pitch black outside takes a little getting used to. Their snow pattern is different from ours as well. While we get only a few storms that can bring a lot of snow, they get smaller amounts of snow almost daily. When Judy and I were there it seemed to snow daily from about dawn until 10:00 AM and then quit for the day.

Walking through the city was fun and it produced some great photos. Judy and I especially enjoyed strolling around the market side of the river, and we spent two hours one morning walking in the Kremlin with a young friend, Max Kalinichenko, who was kind enough to take time from his job to be with us. I was surprised to see that souvenir vendors had their tables set up around the Kremlin. Standing outside all day in that weather must take special stamina.

I do regret that we didn’t get out into the countryside on this trip, like we do in summer. As Max explained, the snow is much deeper there and the roads do not get plowed as they do in the city. However, Dr. Shulmann, Director of the Ambulance Service in Novgorod, has been very active in cross-country skiing for years in the area and recommends it highly. If you like skiing you should try this! Sasha Savin says the hunting for deer, boar, and bear is quite good. The slopes around the Kremlin are good for sledding and there is ice skating. I have been told the Russian banya (bathhouse) is especially good in winter. After your bath, you can go outside after soaking up the heat and roll in the snow. I didn’t have a chance to try this. Maybe next time…

(Interesting factoid: -40 ° Centigrade is also -40 ° Fahrenheit. This is the one place where the two temperature scales meet.

George Long, MD

Dr. George Long and the Rector of the Novgorod University Medical College, Viktar Veber after interviewing this year’s scholarship candidates.

Photos ©2006 by Judy Canyock

Drs. Mona and Moor behind the masks.

“Good job!”

All photos ©2006 by Judy Kramer unless otherwise stated

Our 2006 Novgorod, Russia, is a most unique and pleasurable memory. Far from the typical tourist trips to Saint Petersburg or Moscow, we were able to experience the actual day to day lives of wonderful Russian people. This safe, yet exciting excursion allowed significant cultural exchange and opened my eyes to a completely different world. It was a most efficient and organized trip. Time passed all too quickly with the companionship of Lloyd and Judy Kramer, Judy Canyock, and George Long. Communications are still ongoing regarding the transfer of orthopaedic information and equipment to Novgorod. I remain delighted to have had the opportunity to visit Russia with this wonderful group

John T. Moor, MD

All photos ©2006 by Judy Kramer unless otherwise stated