Royal Parks runners help us train more doctors

We are continuously amazed by our supporters. This year's Royal Parks Half Marathon saw many of our supporters take to London's streets to raise thousands for doctors living and working in the world's most dangerous corners. Thanks to their determination, doctors in territories such as Ukraine, Yemen, Palestine and Syria will receive the surgical training needed to treat traumatic injuries and save lives.  

Our photographer and videographer, Lucy Lyon, swapped her camera for trainers and took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon with her brother, Duncan. Together, the pair have raised over £3000 for our mission.

"It was an amazing day in many ways. Golden leafed London parks with warm sun, every shape and ethnicity, age and gender moving along side by side, in a steady tide, for thousands of different causes.

Everyone smiled, no one pushed or shoved. There was a human tree, and a very hot lion, tiger, and a bear. Even a rhino.  A man with a fridge on his back, and people in wheelchairs.

The supporters were everywhere, drumming and cheering us along. It was a morning well spent and all the while jogging along beside me was my little brother.

We agreed that running that distance together was more like running with a pet - a silent but constant companion. And the best bit about running in your late 40s is the gratitude you feel to those legs and feet for their constancy and power.

We have so far raised enough to support the training of at least two surgeons from a conflict zone, who will go on to save hundreds of lives in their region."

If you'd like to set yourself a challenge or raise funds for a cause that changes the lives of communities in conflict, get started today. Thank you to each and every person who supports our mission.

Get involved

 

 


Apply for our new Programmes Officer role

Job Title: Programmes Officer at the David Nott Foundation

Summary: This role will support the planning, delivery, and evaluation of overseas Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) courses and to lead on administration for train-the-trainer and Humanitarian Sector Surgical Training (HSST) courses run within the UK. The role holder will be the lead officer for managing the supply chain for programme activity, maintaining an inventory of training materials, developing equipment manifests, procuring items in short supply, liaising with logistics contractors for international movements, and accounting for items on a routine basis. The programmes officer will also provide staff and administrative support to a range of other initiatives within the Foundation, as required. This could include helping to plan and deliver events for staff and volunteers, maintaining volunteer databases, supporting office administration, and helping fundraising and communications functions.

Accountability: Initially, this role will be accountable to the Chief Operating Officer.

The David Nott Foundation is a UK registered charity which trains doctors in the surgical skills they need to be able to provide relief and assistance in areas affected by conflict and catastrophe worldwide.

Responsibilities:

Programme Development

  • Assist in the planning of overseas Hostile Environment Surgical Training missions and help lead the planning and pre-course administration of the UK-based Humanitarian Sector Surgical Training and Train the Trainer courses.
  • Manage the Foundation’s HEST course training equipment including procurement, management and repair.
  • Manage course logistics including booking of venues, travel bookings, security planning, visa and passport applications, elucidating vaccination requirements, and preparation/shipment/customs clearance of training materials. Assist in any other pre-course preparation required by programme managers.
  • Support post-training evaluation for all courses to include student feedback and end of mission
    reports.

Programme Delivery

  • Deploy to high-risk countries, occasionally at short notice, to help administer course delivery.
  • Provide direct administrative support to the course director for all UK-based courses.

Fundraising

  • Input donor data into the Donorfy customer relationship management tool in support of the Fundraising Manager.
  • Draft and dispatch thank you letters to donors and supporters.
  • Dispatch merchandise and fundraising packs to supporters.

Communications

  • Design and schedule social media content in support of the Head of Communications.
  • Manage the enquiries inbox ([email protected]) and telephone.
  • Draft, for approval, a monthly communications/programmes update email.
  • Draft a monthly David Nott Foundation supporter newsletter.
  • Upload news stories to the Foundation’s website.

Administration

  • Support the executive team in monitoring the progress of key projects and initiatives.
  • Work with the Finance Manager to keep track of invoices and payments for teaching equipment and other course expenditures.
  • Manage office administration, e.g., booking of taxis, purchase of office supplies etc.

Other administrative tasks as required.

Person Specification

Over and above anything else, we are interested in providing an opportunity to someone from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who wishes to enter the humanitarian sector and who has not had the benefit of privilege in their upbringing. Desirable qualifications, skills, attributes, and experience might include:

  • Knowledge of, and keen interest in, public health, current affairs, the humanitarian sector, and
    international relations.
  • Ability, personal resilience, and willingness to travel to high-risk countries to facilitate HEST
    training, which – as things stand – involves approximately 7 weeks of international and 2 weeks
    of national travel per year.
  • Willingness to travel outside of normal office hours.
  • Proven ability to manage own workload, organising and prioritising tasks to meet deadlines.
  • Good communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
  • An ability to manage time-sensitive work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent organisational skills with an ability to establish tools for effective workload
    management.
  • Willingness to grow with the role.

In common with all staff, the role holder will need to commit to:

  • Acting with honesty and integrity at all times.
  • Demonstrating respect for others through consideration and empathy in all communications with colleagues and external stakeholders.
  • Making an active contribution to developing the Foundation.
  • Being receptive to feedback, learning from experience and others, and sharing experience and knowledge.
  • Keeping others informed of issues which they need to be aware of because of their role and
    responsibilities.
  • Consciously reviewing mistakes and successes to improve performance.
  • Using discretion and being aware of issues requiring confidentiality.

The role holder must have the right to live and work in the UK, and they must not have any
restrictions on their international travel through dual nationality or an entry ban in any country
within which the Foundation might, in future, operate.

Salary: £26000-£28000, depending on skills, attributes, and experience, plus an annual personal development fund of £2000 and membership of a workplace pension scheme.

Contract Length: Permanent, with an initial probationary period of three months.

Application Details: To apply, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) stating why you want this opportunity and detailing how you meet the person specification above. State if you live in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and whether you were a recipient of free school meals. This information will remain confidential. Please send all applications to [email protected] quoting ‘Programmes Officer’ in the subject line.

Application deadline: Midnight 29 September 2023


Dr Esayas Mustefa during Train The Trainers and peers in December 2022.

Dr Esayas Mustefa - Becoming the calm in any storm

Dr Esayas Mustefa is the only general surgeon within a 130km radius in Ethiopia. When we trained him during one of our UK HEST courses, we knew we’d come across a very talented surgeon who would make an outstanding trainer. We’ve since upskilled Esayas to become a David Nott Foundation trainer, upskilling his peers. Here, he shares the impact of his new skills in the Afar region of Ethiopia.

Since my first training with the Foundation in December 2021, the war has been a bit calmer in Afar. There have been a few leftover soldiers, but it is calmer. Nonetheless, with the energy and resource invested in us, many patients have been helped because of my training.

Controlling bullet damage

I remember a patient with a bullet to the right of his groin. That day, I remember I was home. The emergency surgeon didn’t call me and did a laparotomy, but then decided he needed me to come in when he saw the damage.

There was an extensive haematoma (build up of blood) in the pelvis. I thought it was a vascular injury but didn’t have the proper instruments or stitches to fix it.

That’s when I did damage control.

I got proximal and distal control of the bleeding, which I learned on the course. I managed to dissect the haematoma and with the help of the other surgeon, I did a bypass. This means putting in a tube conduit that bypasses the dissection, allowing blood to carry on flowing through the vessels as normal.

We transfused him with blood and transferred him to specialist care, to have his vascular surgery. It was great.

Passing on life-saving skills

I’m also really, really happy to share what I’ve learned on the course. We have two emergency surgeons and I do my best to teach them.

They didn’t know how to do colectomies, resections, anastomoses, or some basic decision making in difficult times. I’ve taught them these things, and also when to operate and when not to operate.

Now they know to ask me – they call to ask me questions. We have a good working relationship.

The difference between life and death

I’m now also confident with abdominal injuries. I’m a better surgeon, and those I teach are better, because of the training I had with David.

Explosive injuries, I was never used to. I usually see bullets. Even seeing photos of explosive injuries used to get to me. But seeing David’s live videos in training stimulated me to be ready for anything.

Calm in a storm

In all honesty, no matter how many patients I saw or the injuries I faced – bullets, road traffic accidents – every time I opened an abdomen, I used to get nervous. No matter how much I’m used to these patients, I don’t know how to describe it. The anxiety would come.

After I met David, I thought how many years will it take me to get to that level of calmness?

But with the course, I learned to be really calm and collected in demanding situations.

For me, my patients, my future patients, and those willing to learn from me - have all benefitted from my training.

More on our latest Train The Trainers course


Hospice Ukraine raises over £50,000 to better serve the terminally ill

Photo credit: Hospice Ukraine and the Royal Society of Medicine, London

As part of a special Hospice Ukraine event raising funds for palliative care in Ukraine, our Co-Founder David Nott was invited to share his reflections of upskilling over 200 Ukrainian doctors during eight missions, and the importance of fighting for continued holistic healthcare - from the beginning of life to the end - during war.

Since Russia’s violent attacks against Ukraine began last February, the Ukrainian people’s access to healthcare has suffered immensely. We know conflict leads to reduced medical equipment, medicines, specialist care and hospital staff numbers. Despite our mission focussing on saving lives with skilled surgery, palliative care for the terminally ill remains of equal and vital importance.

Hospice Ukraine is a charity that believes everyone deserves access to high-quality palliative care, no matter where they live. But the upheaval of war has overwhelmed the ability of Ukrainian healthcare professionals to support those nearing the end of life.

To better provide comfort, dignity and care for the terminally ill, Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel came together at the Royal Society of Medicine in London to host a special fundraiser organised by palliative care doctor, writer and Co-Founder of Hospice Ukraine, Dr Rachel Clarke.

When asked how David copes working in war zones like Ukraine, he shared: "Humans become incredibly resilient under pressure. It's what we train (during our courses too). We're not going to waver, we'll be here for our friends in Ukraine until this war is over."

David was joined by fellow speakers such as writer and comedian, Adam Kay, and world-renowned former neurosurgeon, Dr Henry Marsh, who holds deep connections with doctors and academics in Ukraine. Guests also heard a selection of beautiful songs from a Ukrainian refugee choir now based in the UK.

Speaking of the remarkable ability for the terminally ill to exude love and concern for others as they near death, Adam Kay shared, "The thing I realize (during a 2-hour conversation with a patient) is that none of her many concerns are about herself; it's all about the kids, her husband, her sister, her friends. Maybe that's the definition of a good person."

A Ukrainian refugee choir performed a selection of beautiful Ukrainian songs.
A Ukrainian refugee choir performed a selection of beautiful Ukrainian songs.

A live auction, which included a piece of work donated by Grayson Perry, led to a final fundraising figure of £50,000. We will continue to advocate for healthcare excellence and the people of Ukraine, for as long as this war wages on.

More on our impact in Ukraine


Join our team as Programmes Manager

Job title: Programmes Manager

Summary: This role will be responsible for the planning and execution of overseas and
UK-delivered Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) courses including
all related logistics. The Programmes Manager will be the key person
responsible for maintaining day-to-day relationships with operational
partners on-the-ground and liaising with HEST course leaders. They will also
be principal point of contact with our Training Faculty, highly committed and
experienced senior medical professionals who volunteer their time and skills
to deliver HEST. This role will carry additional functions including managing
and developing online teaching resources and events and ensuring the supply
and delivery of David Nott Foundation (DNF) surgical models.

The David Nott Foundation is a UK registered charity which trains doctors in
the surgical skills they need to be able to provide relief and assistance in areas
affected by conflict and catastrophe worldwide.

Accountability: This role will managed by and accountable to the Chief Operating Officer.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Programme Delivery

  • Support the executive team in the delivery of all training activities, both in the UK and overseas.
    This will include management of logistics, travel and risk management in close collaboration
    with our operational partners in-country. It will also include preparation of the courses ahead of
    time and attendance at each course to ensure that they run smoothly.
  • Manage the logistical planning and deployment of the HEST Faculty when they run the HEST
    courses internationally. Be their primary point of contact for all missions and respond to any
    enquiries that they may have.
  • Manage the planning and delivery of all training activities, both in the UK and overseas,
    including:

    • Identification and prioritisation of high-impact locations and training audiences.
      Building of preparedness to enable a quick and effective response to new and emerging
      crises.
    • Identification and management of potential course locations to judge the suitability of
      venues, partners and delegates both in the UK and overseas.
    • Liaison with key partners and facilitators such as the World Health Organisation (WHO),
      Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Action for Humanity.
    • Management of course logistics including booking of venues, travel bookings, security
      planning, visa advice, elucidating vaccination requirements, and shipment of training
      materials.
    • Point of liaison for the training Faculty, including managing their availability and
      providing support functions such as risk management ahead of trainings.
    • Working with the Head of Communications and Engagement to respond to enquiries
      from the media and relevant media content from courses.
    • Managing post-training evaluation for all courses to include student feedback and end
      of mission reports.
    • Responsibility for all the DNF’s HEST course training equipment including procurement,
      management, and repair.
    • Management and organisation of Webinar Series including liaison with Faculty and participating
      doctors to organise cases for discussion.

Administration

  • Support in monitoring the progress of key projects and initiatives.
  • Maintain contact lists and databases such as Donorfy.
  • Identify, evaluate, report, and mitigate risk associated with the planning and delivery of
    programmes.
  • Assist in the management of any interns working on the Programmes at the Foundation.
  • Work with the Finance Manager to keep track of invoices and payments for teaching equipment
    and other course expenditures.
  • Management of contracts with training venues and partner organisations.
  • Other administrative tasks as required.

Person Specification

  • A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent professional experience.
  • A good knowledge of, and keen interest in, public health, current affairs and international
    relations.
  • Ability, personal resilience, and willingness to travel to high-risk countries to facilitate HEST
    training, which – as things stand – involves approximately 7 weeks of international and 2 weeks
    of national travel per year. Including travel outside of normal office hours.
  • Proven experience of contributing to overseas projects, trainings, or events, particularly in high-risk countries.
  • Proven experience of risk management and mitigation strategies.
  • Proven ability to manage own workload, organising and prioritising tasks to meet deadlines.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
  • The ability to manage time-sensitive work in a fast-paced environment.
  • A natural diplomat, with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
    in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, together with the ability to communicate
    and negotiate at all levels.
  • Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to establish tools for effective workload
    management.
  • Willingness to grow with the role.

All staff will commit to:

  • Act with honesty and integrity at all times.
  • Demonstrate respect for others through consideration and empathy in all communications with
    colleagues and external stakeholders.
  • Make an active contribution to developing the Foundation.
  • Be receptive to feedback, learn from experience and others and share experience and
    knowledge.
  • Keep others informed of issues which they need to be aware of because of their role and
    responsibilities.
  • Consciously review mistakes and successes to improve performance.
  • Use discretion and be aware of issues requiring confidentiality.

Salary: £40-45,000 per annum, based on experience.
Contract Length: Permanent, with a probationary period of six months.

Closing Date: Monday 3 July 2023.

Application Details: To apply, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter (no longer than 2
pages) detailing how you meet the person specification above. Please send all applications to
[email protected] quoting ‘Programmes Manager’ in the subject line.


FDNF Conference 2023 brings future war doctors together

We brought 54 medical students from Universities across the UK together for our first in-person Friends of David Nott Foundation (FDNF) Society Conference in Manchester. The group of future war doctors took part in practical workshops and heard from our CEO, Surgical Lead, and one of our on-the-ground partners, Action for Humanity.

Photo credit: Elgan Manton-Roseblade, FDNF Edinburgh

We are proud to have 21 FDNF societies across the UK, with new societies beginning to form around the world. The societies, made up of University medical students keen to embark on humanitarian careers, are ambassadors and fundraisers for our missions while share our work with their student communities.

Attendees joined condensed orthopaedic, cardiac and abdominal surgery workshops with two of our trainers, Dr Moez Zeiton and Dr Ammar Darwish. The students placed fixations on model tibia bones and repaired silicone hearts using sutures. They also sutured uteri, learned how to stop severe bleeding with a catheter and condom, and practiced C-section deliveries during an obstetric and gynaecology workshop.

Students also heard from our Surgical Lead Dr Ammar Darwish who shared his frontline experience and what it takes to be a war doctor, and Action for Humanity’s Nihad Sarmini who shed light on the important requirements of an on-the-ground partner and how our joint mission in northwest Syria helped local doctors and earthquake survivors.

Marcus Renshaw, a medical student and FDNF Manchester Society Member, shared:

“Everyone had an amazing time and really enjoyed each part of the day! It was really nice to connect with some of the other students around the country involved with the charity. Thank you so much for everything you do at the Foundation - I've been here for less than 2 years but I already feel right at home.”

Ellen Young, our National Society Lead and former FDNF Manchester Society President, said:

“It was amazing to welcome so many attendees from FDNFs across the UK to Manchester for our conference. From what started as an idea three years ago, we now have groups from Bristol to Aberdeen, Belfast to Cardiff and are hoping to expand beyond the UK soon. Attendees ranged from those starting their medical degrees, to students who have just passed finals and are about to start work as doctors in August.

What was most apparent was the enthusiasm for humanitarian medicine and surgery, and how many students commented that FDNF felt like 'what they had been looking for' at university and hoping to find - a community of likeminded, passionate and welcoming individuals working together for a cause that they believe in. I feel like the conference really brought this together.”

The conference also launched our new Trainees of David Nott Foundation (TDNF) initiative. We are passionate about fostering tomorrow’s humanitarian leaders and to do that, we believe in staying in contact with medics as they grow.

TDNF allows surgical trainees to continue a relationship and receive guidance from us as their careers continue to progress beyond University. By the time they are qualified and ready for overseas surgery, we will be there to support them.

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Elly Nott, said:

“What a joy it was to hold our first in-person FDNF Conference in Manchester! Meeting over 50 engaged, enthusiastic and vibrant students from Universities across the UK was very special.

Today’s medical students are tomorrow’s humanitarian doctors and we remain deeply passionate about continuing to build community, share knowledge, and one day work with them to train more doctors in need.

The energy in the room was palpable and we look forward to expanding our FDNF network internationally.”

How to set up an FDNF


“As soon as Russia invaded, we started seeing the wounded”

After troops crossed Ukraine’s borders in March 2022, Igor Belkin, a surgeon from Zaporizhzhia, watched our translated war surgery videos in a bid to better treat devastating wounds inflicted by the war. Last month, Igor furthered his skills and training during our latest HEST course in Ukraine.

Faculty Trainers in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv: Professor David Nott, Dr Pete Mathew, Dr Ammar Darwish, Dr Rachael Craven, Dr Ian Nesbitt.

“On the night of the 7th of May, the first attack on our hospital took place. Hospital walls and communications were damaged,” shared Igor. “After that, the shelling of Orikhov became even more intense. The hospital was shelled again later in May, which led to it being evacuated.”

Igor was forced to transfer to a military hospital in the field to continue treating the injured. Right from the beginning of the war, he and his team were faced with severe trauma injuries - many of which they had never seen before. Patients with internal and external damage caused by blasts, penetrating wounds and severe burns were entering their doors for the first time.

“I decided I needed to study combat trauma. A medical colleague told me about videos made by Professor David Nott.”

Armed with life-saving tools

Just days after Russia’s invasion, we ran a 12-hour surgical training course on zoom with former consultant neurosurgeon and author, Dr Henry Marsh. Together, David and Henry trained 573 Ukrainian surgeons, giving them surgical techniques, tools and tips for treating a range of traumatic war wounds. It was only when David lost his voice 12 hours in that the training stopped.

As attention started to mount around our online training, we created a series of surgical training videos in a bid to reach even more doctors in need of life-saving skills.

“It (the video series) was very informative, clear and concise. In just a few hours of viewing I grasped the main fields of trauma medicine - damage control and important techniques for cardiovascular surgery.”

Upskilling 114 Ukrainian doctors

Last month, David and a team of our trainers travelled to Zaporizhzhia and Lviv to deliver our HEST course. 114 doctors and anaesthetists were empowered with the knowledge needed to treat neurological, plastics, vascular, cardiothoracic, paediatric, orthopaedic and abdominal trauma cases – creating a powerful network of multi-skilled surgeons.

“I was very pleased to attend this course and meet David personally. I got very concise, practical information and was able to practice my skills and learn how to provide assistance in areas of medicine I don’t specialise in.

I’m grateful to David, his entire team, and the foundation for sharing their great experience and imparting their knowledge of medicine in war zones”

Before the course, I used to use a technique called a lateral thoracotomy which involves turning the wounded onto their side (entering the chest from the side). Given the fact that chest injuries can make patients very unstable, this sort of movement could worsen conditions.

Now, I only do thoracotomies while patients are on their backs. This is a far better method for both surgeons and anaesthetists to approach trauma injuries.

I also learned how to use external fixations to secure bones and now perform fasciotomies on patients needing urgent pressure release in the limbs.

This sort of knowledge, acquired from experienced frontline doctors like David and the team, will help me and my fellow Ukrainian doctors save more lives.”

We’re committed to training and instilling confidence in Ukraine’s doctors until the war is over.

Help us train others like Igor


Earthquake causes widespread devastation in Turkey and Syria

We are appalled by the devastating earthquake which struck northwest Syria and southern Turkey. It is apparent that there has been destruction on an enormous scale and a correspondingly huge loss of life.

The people of northwest Syria have endured enormous hardship during almost thirteen years of conflict. The health system in northwest Syria was already fragmented and under strain and this will stretch it even further.

Rescue efforts have been mounted by the White Helmets and the locally-led NGOs that have sustained the northwest for the past decade have commenced a humanitarian response. The scale of the disaster demands an international response, yet in northwest Syria there is no state capacity to resource and lead it. All efforts must be made to keep aid travelling swiftly through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, the last UN-mandated border crossing between Turkey and northwest Syria.

Our Foundation is deeply proud of the close links we have with Syrian healthcare workers. In Gaziantep, Idlib and Aleppo, we have trained Syrian doctors in both lecture and operating theatres. We stand in solidarity with all those in Turkey and Syria affected by this catastrophe and are ready to help in whatever way is constructive and helpful to our partners.


Upskilling doctors in Malaysia during Tripartite Conference

In December, we were delighted to be invited by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) to attend the AFSM Tripartite Conference 2022 in Borneo, Sarawak. We upskilled 42 doctors and medical students during a condensed, one-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course.

Faculty Lead: Dr Pete Mathew. Faculty Trainers: Dr Una Walsh, Dr Ankur Thapar and Dr Pippa Letchworth. Programme Support: Christie Norris.

The Academy for Silent Mentor (AFSM), RCSEd, College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (CSAMM), and the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH) joined forces to develop a comprehensive 3-day conference program on healthcare challenges in the 21st century.

Our Faculty Lead Dr Pete Mathew (right) delivered a lecture to conference attendees. He shared details of his experience as a neurosurgeon, working to save lives in conflicted countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq with the Royal Air Force, and volunteering with humanitarian organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross before joining our team as a surgical trainer.

Wounds seen in war

The following day, we delivered a condensed version of our Hostile Environment Surgical Training course to 42 participants covering damage control, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, maxilla-facial trauma, plastics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.

Using our human simulator model, Heston (below), the group got to grips with a range of injuries commonly seen in conflict and mass emergencies, such as penetrating head wounds and shrapnel injuries.

They manoeuvred skin flaps on Heston’s body, practicing how to cover blast injuries and encourage healing, and performed lung twists in Heston’s open chest to stop severe haemorrhage.

We also used our new, state-of-the-art birthing simulators to allow attendees the opportunity to experience how to manage challenging deliveries, such as obstructed labours, breach positioning, or C-sections.

Care without boundaries

Rural communities in Sarawak often have limited access to healthcare due to their remote locations. For some, it can take many days to reach hospital facilities. Outstanding local charities such as Mercy Malaysia and Andante coordinate regular medical and dental visits to communities in urgent need, thanks to the generosity of trained volunteers.

Basic clinics have also been built in hard-to-reach regions, with the goal of ensuring expectant mothers receive better care. Outreach doctors who take part in our comprehensive obstetrics training could have a significant – and potentially life-saving - impact in rural communities.

Professor Angus Watson, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon and Chair of the Research RCSEd Committee, said:

“Having an internationally renowned charity, like the David Nott Foundation, delivering their highly acclaimed course to healthcare providers in Malaysia, was one of the highlights of the conference.

The feedback received from course participants was very good and we hope this is the start of a highly productive global partnership between the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Foundation.”

Speaking of our training, a medical student from University Putra Malaysia who attended the course, said:

“Me and my medical peers participated in the Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) during the conference. We were deeply amazed by this course. It gave us very different exposure from other courses we’ve been to.”

We look forward to exploring future courses in Malaysia and thank the RCSEd for their invitation.

Watch our video and reflect on 2022's successes