Another successful STAE course
This month, we were honoured to train 14 doctors from Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine and Ethiopia on our latest Surgical Training for Austere Environments (STAE) course. Over five days, the group participated in bespoke surgical workshops, specifically designed for treating traumatic – and often unique – injuries caused by war and catastrophe.
Starting the week off in Brighton and Sussex Medical School, the participants practiced an extensive range of cardiothoracic procedures, such as fast and efficient thoracotomies (gaining access to the chest), heart repairs and how best to manage injuries to the lungs.
Aided by videos taken by our Co-Founder, David Nott, during overseas missions, the group also learned how to repair blood vessels – a vital skill for managing severe blood loss.
Equipped for every emergency
As the week progressed, every doctor was exposed to a different but equally vital field of medicine, from plastic surgery to orthopaedic trauma. This is key, as we know war and catastrophe can present patients with often varied and complex injuries.
In conflict for example, it is not uncommon for junior doctors to be the only healthcare workers left in hospitals. This means they need to step into a number of roles, from cardiothoracic surgeon one day to paediatric specialist the next.
New obstetric simulators
On the last day of training, the participants completed a range of obstetrics workshops in the beautiful new facilities of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. Using our new simulators (pictured below), the group refined their C-section techniques and learned how to address emergency scenarios, such as breech births or neonatal resuscitation.
Listening and learning
We were honoured to be joined by doctors from Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia, and each country is recovering from - or still facing – conflict. To ensure we continue to deliver the highest quality training and meet the needs of our doctors, we listen to participants’ experiences of their home countries.
Dr Naseebah Nayef left Syria in 2013. She shared with us: “(During the war) I treated Syrian protestors in my private practice. Post-that, my house was bombed, and I had to flee with my three children from Syria. I am so very, very grateful for being a part of this course.”
Buy a signed photo and support our mission
Would you like a signed photo of The Crown stars, Tobias Menzies and Olivia Colman? The selection below has been generously donated and profits will help fund our surgical training courses. Please get in touch and let us know which image you would like, in addition to your bid, starting from £25 each, by Friday 3rd December.
One:
Two:
Three:
Four:
Five:
We’re back where we belong
We are delighted to be back training doctors on the frontline. Our latest Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course in Erbil, Iraq, equipped 31 local healthcare professionals with skills that will serve their communities. Our Chief Executive, Elly Nott, shares her experience of the course.
Our latest course in Erbil was an incredibly humbling experience. Facilitated by our partners at Médecins Sans Frontiers-Belgium (MSF), we were able to train 31 Iraqi healthcare professionals in the surgical skills they need to manage any case they might encounter in an emergency or conflict situation.
During the course, our faculty used our cutting-edge anatomical model, Heston (pictured below), to teach a range of surgical techniques for treating traumatic injuries. Model hearts and synthetic skin helped them practice how to manage cardiac injuries and chest tube insertion. Virtual reality headsets also immersed our participants in emergency scenarios, putting their mass casualty triage and decision-making skills to the test.
A number of the participants were from Mosul, a beautiful and historic city that freed itself from the oppressive rule of Daesh in 2017. The resilience, courage and grace of the doctors was an inspiration to us all.
We are so grateful for your support of our mission. Every donation helps us deliver world-class surgical training that saves and improves the lives of those most in need.
A marathon effort for war doctors
During the marathon season this year, we were blown away by the commitment of our supporters. From gruelling training - to creative fundraising - to blisters on race day, we want to thank each and every runner. Here are just a handful of supporter stories.
“It’s been full of ups and downs”
David Twumasi (below) chose to support us in his first marathon feat. David was born premature at six and half months and knew he may not have survived if born in a conflict zone. He wanted to raise funds to train doctors and give war victims, including mothers and unborn children, the best chance of survival.
After crossing the finish line, he said: “I’m so proud of finishing! It’s been such a great experience and full of ups and downs, but it’s all been worth it in the end.”
Taking training seriously
We’re so proud to have a dedicated network of David Nott Foundation Societies at Universities across the UK. Medical students in Leicester took on the virtual London Marathon - and even completed a marathon in training.
The team said: “It was supposed to be our first proper marathon, but Zach and Elena 'accidentally' ran a mountain marathon with over 8000 feet of elevation this summer in preparation!” The students smashed their target of £600, raising over £1000.
“It deeply affected me”
Terry Hancock (below) ran the Great North Run for us and despite a set-back at mile 7, completed the race and raised £650.
He shares: “In 2019, a surgeon friend of mine recommended I read a book (War Doctor) about a remarkable man. The stories and sentiments of the book deeply affected me and made me want to do something positive to help the foundation.”
Do something amazing and help us train war doctors. Sign up to a challenge event today.
Training of Trainers: Future-proofing the Foundation
Last weekend, the David Nott Foundation invited 24 leading surgeons to London to attend a Training of Trainers course. The aim of the course was to introduce each surgeon to the HEST Course, with the hope that many will want to travel to conflict zones with the Foundation to teach it.
The Foundation receives many requests to run HEST courses, in so many locations affected by war. By expanding our faculty, we can reach more of these places in a timely manner.
The 3-day course was held at the iconic Wellcome Collection, a monument to the health sciences in Central London. Our extant faculty, led by David Nott, took participants through the different modules that comprise the HEST course. By the end of the weekend, participants felt ready to teach the course overseas. One participant said:
"David and colleagues have lots of experience and I am in awe of what they have been able to achieve. The practical tips in management of patients in humanitarian settings are equally valuable for trainees and established consultants in this country. "
Interspersed with surgical modules was discussion of the practicalities of attending humanitarian missions:
" I found the session delivered by Mr Hakimi on the practicalities of what to expect when travelling and working in countries where HEST is being delivered to be excellent and insightful."
We were additionally delighted to welcome students from the Friends of the David Nott Foundation Societies to the course. Delegates from Manchester, Leicester and Queen's University Belfast came to get a taste of their future humanitarian careers.
Training the Trainers has allowed us to invigorate the Foundation with new and enthusiastic teaching faculty. The DNF is poised to return to in-country HEST courses future-proofed and with more courses than ever.
British Contemporary Artist's Exclusive Offer to Our Supporters
Nadia Day is a contemporary British artist based in Richmond, UK. She paints Impressionist views of nature, both local and further afield through seascapes and commissions.
“I use a brisk technique of flat brushstrokes and pallet knife work, ensuring my paintings reflect the energy and beauty of nature at their core. I love painting a big fresh sky - this is always my starting point”
After reading War Doctor she felt so moved by David’s story that she contacted us to pledge her support and donate four original paintings. Nadia’s work has been selected for national exhibitions including the Battersea Affordable Art Fair. She studied art at Kingston University and gained a BA in Drama & Theatre Arts from Birmingham University. Here is what she had to say about the collaborating with the David Nott Foundation:
“I was profoundly moved reading War Doctor. David Nott was continually taking himself away from his safe set up in the UK, to risk his life to help others. I felt compelled to do something, but helpless - my artistic skills are a world away from the medical practise, so how could they be applied?
I remember seeing Quentin Blake’s illustrations brightening up the walls of Great Ormond Street Hospital, where we often visit with my son Jasper, and the art offers a cheery brightness at a time of need.
My aim was to create pieces which inspire positive feelings of calm and contemplation. The landscape needed to be non-descript but to suggest change and travel – themes residents fleeing war torn countries must often face. I wanted to touch on the base human feelings of courage and hope, feelings required in difficult situations.
I carefully chose names to conjure up the emotions they represented to me; there is Solace, Reflection, Legacy and New Beginnings.
If you bought one of these pieces, the message is clear, you are paying for a doctor to be trained and I personally thank you so much.
Solace
Reflection
New Beginnings
Legacy
April 2021 Newsletter: 10 Years of Conflict in Syria
10 Years of Conflict in Syria
Welcome to the David Nott Foundation’s April update. To those observing, we hope that you had a restful Easter and were able to come together with loved ones to celebrate. Today, we at the Foundation have been profoundly saddened by the new that His Royal Highness The Prince Philip has passed away. We wish to express our deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen, and the Royal Family. It has now been ten years since the civil war erupted in Syria. The price paid over the last terrible decade by Syrian civilians is incalculable, and millions still reside in vulnerable, crowded camps. Children have lost schools, friends and family members. So many thousands have lost their homes, businesses and loved ones. Hospitals, deliberately targeted by the Syrian regime now struggle to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a show of solidarity with the Syrian people, the David Nott Foundation dedicated our social media accounts to small NGOs, individuals, civilians, humanitarians and journalists who have lived experience of the civil war. We hoped to provide a platform through which to amplify these voices. We encourage you to look back through our Tweets and Re-Tweets (@NottFoundation) to read first-hand accounts of the atrocities and reflect on the profound loss that we all feel after ten years of conflict. The David Nott Foundation has taken our HEST course to Syrian surgeons before, and plans to again soon. You can view an interactive map of where we have taken our training course by visiting the ‘Overseas Course’ section of our website. Good luck to our RPHM RunnersWhile we’re on the subject of challenge running events, the Foundation would like to wish good luck to our Royal Parks Virtual Half Marathon runners for the 11th of April. We asked some of those competing to raise money for the DNF what inspired them to do so:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 2021 Newsletter
What is it really like to be a doctor in a war zone? |
 |
|
Welcome to the David Nott Foundation’s February update. The pandemic has given us the time to reflect on the amazing doctors that we have trained on past HEST courses. Each one of them has a story to tell. Some go to work every day while bullets tear through the walls of their operating theatres; some fight to save lives while armed groups fight each other in the streets. In this booklet, we highlight eight such doctors and give them the platform they deserve. READ: ‘War Doctor Heroes’ photobooklet on the DNF website with foreword from Elly Nott. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Last year, the staff of Wellcome chose the David Nott Foundation as their charity of the year for 2020/21. Since then, they have consistently given outstanding effort to the cause, from completing challenge events to auctioning lunches with Director Sir Jeremy Farrar. To each and every member of Wellcome’s staff: thank you. Your effort will reverberate around the world as we train more war doctors, and they save more lives. For small charities like the David Nott Foundation, every donation can have a disproportionately large impact. Every sponsored run, bake sale or event goes a long way to delivering vital surgical training in locations that need it. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David Nott Wins Human Rights Award
On the 2nd of February, David Nott was awarded the Hans Albrecht Foundation’s Human Rights Award for 2021. The award was presented by Lord Daniel Finkelstein.
The Hans Albrecht Foundation’s mission is to advance human rights in the UK, particularly with regards to children, equalities, those with disabilities and refugees. The Award honours individuals or organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the field of human rights. Read more about the Hans Albrecht Foundation on their website.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As a result of our membership, you will be able to receive full tax exemption status. To donate from the USA, please go to the new dedicated section of our website. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Earlier this month, FDNF Manchester hosted a fantastic conference entitled: ‘MDT On the Front Line’. This was a stimulating day of speeches and workshops led by some of the field’s most distinguished practitioners. Alongside David Nott was our own Jon Barden, leading a workshop on humanitarian operations delivery, and DNF Faculty colleague Ammar Darwish who also led a workshop. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Make Someone’s Day This EasterEaster is a perfect time to reach out to loved ones and friends. In this time of social distancing, a handwritten card feels like an authentic connection in a way that an email cannot. Make someone's day with this beautiful card by Peter Suart, or choose from our extensive range on our website - proceeds from which will benefit the David Nott Foundation. |
 |
Wellcome Staff Charity of the Year
Our partnership with Wellcome will have a profound and lasting impact on both war doctors and their patients in conflict zones. Today we say thank you and recognise the huge and very real impact that Wellcome’s generosity will have on our work.
Last year, the staff of Wellcome chose the David Nott Foundation as their charity of the year for 2020/21. Since then, they have consistently given outstanding effort to the cause, from completing challenge events to auctioning lunches with Director Sir Jeremy Farrar. Particular congratulations go to Mala Gaonkar for winning the latter - we can only imagine how fascinating that conversation will be! Mala is a philanthropist and leader in the field of public health, and we are proud to be associated with her as a result of Wellcome's auction.
To each and every member of Wellcome’s staff: thank you. Your effort will reverberate around the world as we train more war doctors, and they save more lives.
For small charities like the David Nott Foundation, every donation can have a disproportionately large impact. Every sponsored run, bake sale or ticket sale goes a long way to delivering vital surgical training in locations that need it.