Over 160 Ukrainian doctors now trained to treat war wounds
David Nott and Faculty Trainers Dr Pete Mathew and Dr Ammar Darwish recently returned from delivering two back-to-back surgical HEST courses in Odessa, Ukraine. The team upskilled 74 doctors in a city battered by targeted missiles and heavy shelling.
Standing in solidarity
Continuing our mission of standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainian healthcare professionals, David, Dr Ammar Darwish and Dr Pete Mathew returned to Ukraine in August with UOSSM International, this time running two of our surgical training courses in the southern city of Odessa.
Over an exhausting six days, the team delivered a condensed version of our HEST course to 74 healthcare professionals, taking the number of Ukrainians who have received our training this year up to 160.
We deliver our training to those in need of our help, no matter their experience or seniority. During the two courses, the team trained junior doctors, senior consultants, anaesthetists and Ukrainian army officers.
From burr holes to skin grafts
To prepare the group for any trauma injury, our trainers used cutting-edge teaching tools to illustrate a range of techniques such as how to pin and stabilise the pelvis, drill burr holes to relieve cranial pressure, repair heart tears, prepare healthy skin grafts for burn injuries, or how to insert and stitch emergency chest tubes using our prosthetic skin pads (pictured below).
Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, David said: “I was fairly sure it (the war) would go the same way as Aleppo in Syria. I knew we would see a lot of blast injuries, such as lung trauma, shrapnel wounds and burns."
David was right. Speaking to frontline doctors in Odessa, they are seeing multi-organ injuries for the very first time, such as penetrating damage to the heart and lungs, caused by flying shards of metal. The confidence and skills learned on our courses better prepare doctors for war injuries like these, not commonly presented in standard medical training.
We are incredibly proud of David and our Teaching Faculty as they continue to upskill and support healthcare professionals in Ukraine. "If I was a pessimist, I’d never be able to do what I do”, says David. “You can always make things better for people.”
David's story in The Telegraph
Inspiring the next generation of war doctors
On Friday 21st October, David and a key member of our Training Faculty, Dr Ammar Darwish, met over 100 sixth form students at Whalley Range School in Manchester. The pair shared their experiences as frontline doctors and some of our cutting-edge teaching equipment, such as our war wound model Heston, 3D printed hearts and model blood vessels.
Earlier this year, we received a letter from Waad Fellag, a sixth form student who dreams of becoming a doctor. After reading our Co-Founder’s book, War Doctor, Waad shared: “David Nott showed me the impact he and his team have had on families, especially children. I grew to understand that the simplest and slightest words or actions make a real difference in a person’s life.
Waad asked if we would visit her school to meet the “many bright minds who are passionate about become doctors”, some of which have lived in war-torn countries such as Syria, Libya and Afghanistan.
“A medical degree gives you a passport”
Speaking to over 100 female students, David shared stories from 31 surgical missions and his time treating the wounded following two natural disasters. His first humanitarian mission to Sarajevo in 1993 will always stay with him.
Students listened intently as he reflected on operating in a makeshift hospital, nicknamed ‘The Swiss Cheese’ due to gaping holes in the walls caused by bomb blasts and artillery. Steam escaped the edges his mask as he operated in the freezing cold with no electricity.
David shared: “A Lancet article revealed that 17 million people die every year due to conditions that require surgical treatment. It’s a wonderful thing to have the skills, hands and brain to make people in need better again. A medical degree gives you a passport to help people anywhere in the world.”
Future leaders
Elly Nott, our CEO and Co-Founder, said: “David receives dozens of invitations to speak each year, but Waad’s message, with her desire to inspire her fellow students to become humanitarian doctors, struck a chord with us. Encouraging the next generation of humanitarian doctors, in particular those attending state schools and young women, is an important and valued arm of our work.
I was also pleased to share with students that there are many different ways to lead a humanitarian life. Your contribution may not be medical but is just as valued no matters its form, be that legal, administrative, operational or diplomatic. It was an incredibly uplifting and inspiring afternoon for our team.”
After David’s stories, Faculty Trainer, Dr Ammar Darwish, talked the group through our one-of-a-kind war wound model, Heston. Students gasped as he used Heston to illustrate the damage caused by penetrating head injuries, the benefits of using skin flaps to encourage wound healing, and how to stop severe bleeding in the heart and lungs.
Scrubbed Up
Dr Darwish was followed by Scrubbed Up, an outstanding student-led organisation that supports prospective and current medical students, offering guidance on every career step from university applications to exam preparations.
Miss Toyin Bakare, Assistant Head Teacher at Whalley Range School, said: “We are grateful to David Nott, Scrubbed Up and the team for going above and beyond the request made by one of our incredible students, Waad, to visit our school.
It was a demonstration of the power of the written word, which can sow seeds, nurture ideas, and empower others to make a meaningful impact in their spheres of influence.”
What can you do?
We were in awe of each and every student’s enthusiasm, vibrancy and determination to make a difference in the world in their own way. In Waad’s words, “I ask you all – what can you do to help those who need us the most?”
Running London's streets for war doctors
We have been overwhelmed by the determination and generosity of our supporters this running season. Here, we reflect on the achievements and stories of some of our runners in this year’s London Marathon and Royal Parks Half Marathon.
Beth Needham (pictured above), a fourth-year medical student at the University of Liverpool, ran this year’s London Marathon in our name and has raised almost £1000. Beth dreams of becoming an army doctor and was so inspired by David’s story that she decided to get involved in the Friends of David Nott Foundation (FDNF) Society at her University, raising awareness of our mission and vital funds for our surgical training.
“David is such a massive inspiration to me. I’m over the moon to raise some money for the charity he set up.”
“Worth every painful second”
Reflecting on her marathon experience, Beth shared: “It was so, so difficult, but worth every painful second. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we received on the day and, even though it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I’ve already entered next year’s ballot!
The sheer amount of love, teamwork and pride made for a very emotional finish! I’ll now be wearing my medal for the foreseeable.”
Crossing the finish line together
This weekend, eight supporters ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon with our name on their shirts, raising a fantastic £3000 for our mission. Our Faculty Trainer Dr Ammar Darwish took on the race with his son Mohammad. It was not an easy task for the pair, but Mohammad’s determination pushed them to the finish line.
Dr Darwish shared: “Not sure how, but I just completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon! Having my son Mohammad run next to me constantly calling “come on!” is what no doubt got me through.”
A race to be proud of
Fi Nicholson ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in an impressive 1 hour 50 minutes – the fastest finishing time of all of our runners this year. Fi has raised an outstanding £1000, which will help us train more doctors serving devastated communities in conflict zones.
“David Nott, to be honest, is an inspiration. I know each penny will go directly to training of surgeons in war-torn areas. If only his work wasn’t needed. I got a shout out from the David Nott Foundation at Westminster. Every shout was a boost," shared Fi.
"Thank you (to all) for the support and friendship, and to the David Nott Foundation for what you do.”
If you’re raising funds for us or would like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you.