In December 2025, Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA) officially became a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Acute Care Action Network (ACAN). 

ACAN is a global alliance established by the World Health Organization through the strategic collaboration and support from the Laerdal Foundation and the American Heart Association. Its mission is to save millions of lives by improving access to and the quality of emergency, critical and operative care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, through dissemination, implementation and evaluation of WHO tools and resources.

WHO ACAN brings together up to 80 organizations worldwide across 194 countries. Tbilisi Medical Academy is the first university from Georgia to join this strategically important network.

TMA’s nomination to the ACAN Secretariat was made at the initiative of Dr. Mariam Jashi, Chair of the TMA Advisory Board and the CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA). GSA closely collaborates with the World Health Organization and co-chairs one of the working groups of ACAN.

TMA’s successful membership in ACAN was substantially facilitated by the development of a joint grant application for the EU Horizon Programme, led by Prof. Eka Kldiashvili, Vice-Rector in Research, and with the active contribution of Dr. Dea Goderdzishvili, Medical Education and Research Specialist at the Academy. The proposal was developed under TMA’s coordination with a consortium bringing together 12 ACAN member organizations. The results of the application review are expected in 2026.

The TMA’s delegation chaired by Rector Irene Shotadze looks forward to participating in ACAN’s Annual Meeting, tentatively scheduled for May 2026 on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Tbilisi Medical Academy is deeply honored to join this strategic initiative and to contribute to the advancement of emergency, critical, and operative care worldwide.