A lessons learned workshop was hosted by the Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (NATO MILMED COE) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium from 21-24 May 2024. The workshop was a pivotal gathering focused on identifying medical lessons from near-peer conflicts and large-scale combat operations, with a significant emphasis on recent events in Ukraine. Over 100 participants from 17 NATO Allied and Partner nations came together to review and analyse observations related to medical support of military operations in current and past contested environments. Representatives from Partner nations, including Ukraine and Georgia, provided valuable insight, and participated in all discussions, underscoring the relevance of firsthand experiences from recent conflicts.

The workshop discussions were fruitful, with insights from Ukrainian military and medical personnel, who played a critical role in highlighting practical challenges and innovative solutions in warfare medicine. Attendees discussed a wide variety of topics, from casualty care to medical logistics, evacuation, and rehabilitation in combat settings. The workshop outcomes will directly influence NATO's medical doctrine and training paradigms to improve readiness, resiliency, and collective defence. The identified lessons will be integrated into NATO's operational standards and educational frameworks, reinforcing the Alliance's medical response capabilities in the evolving global security environment.