On June 16th we gathered with over 300 of our loyal supporters to celebrate 10 years of the David Nott Foundation, at a ‘Decade of Difference’ - an opportunity to say thank you, and to reflect, at London’s Imperial War Museum.
The setting, with guests mingling in the museum’s atrium under a Spitfire suspended from above, a T34 tank and a damaged Reuters Land Rover on ground level, was a reminder of the conflict zones in which we work, and our ultimate beneficiaries: the victims of war.
Our Co-Founders, David and Elly Nott and our CEO, James Gough presented speeches which focused on a decade of surgical training in a world of grim news, but drawing on the stories of resilience and hope.
David explained: ‘There are certain times in your life when all the stars line up to produce something that is so extraordinary, it makes it impossible not to believe in destiny created by God. The first star was when I was in Aleppo in 2013, in those dark days dealing with tens of hundreds of wounded patients, was when I discovered the value of not just operating, but teaching surgery in a war zone empowering local surgeons to continue to perform and to provide the right care after I’ve gone home.’
Heston® our anatomically-correct human war wound simulator was present at the party, and drew a lot of attention as guests inspected the range of injuries seen in war, which allows doctors the opportunity to visualise wounds such as head trauma or limb damage.
The Côr Y Boro Welsh Choir opened the night, and the Joe Thompson trio took over with some exquisite jazz for the remainder of the evening, providing the perfect audio backdrop for our team, our broad circles of supporters and our beneficiaries to connect and celebrate our work.
Elly Nott said: ‘Looking through the photographs of the last ten years, I was reminded of so many remarkable moments...2,158 doctors trained since 2015, and beyond that number – the stories.
Stories of those who have been saved and helped, lives that have been transformed, and the reassurance and comfort that those skilled doctors have provided. Every single one of you has helped shape the last decade.
Our CEO, James Gough rounded off the speeches with a toast to the victims of war – the people who have been the focus of our work for this past decade, and who will continue to be central focus of our work for the next.
By training frontline doctors we can envisage a world where safe, skilled surgical care is available for all.
From lectures to the frontline: meet the Friends of the David Nott Foundation
Earlier this month we hosted the 2025 Friends of David Nott Foundation (FDNF) Annual Conference at the University of Dundee – a chance to celebrate our worldwide network of future humanitarian leaders who are committed to making a difference in the face of conflict.
FDNF student societies are run by dedicated committees who plan events, fundraise and promote the David Nott Foundation’s mission on campus. Day to day, this means everything from managing social media and finances to collaborating with other societies and engaging new members. Their work builds leadership skills, strengthens humanitarian awareness and inspires a new generation to take action in times of crisis.
We had students and surgeons from Cork to Cambridge, all coming together in Dundee to connect, exchange ideas and get hands-on with life saving surgical skills. We spoke to some of the students about what FDNF means to them – and how it’s shaping their personal and professional journey.
What inspired you to get involved with FDNF?
Antony, President, University of Buckingham: “When I heard about the work that the DNF does, I was intrigued and hoped to participate in any small way. I saw the opportunity to start an FDNF society and I took it.”
Lesly, FDNF Member, University of Buckingham: “I've always wanted to be involved in humanitarian work as giving to those in need is what I believe true purpose is. Joining FDNF is a meaningful way to take that first step.”
Jessica, Chairperson, University College Cork: “We are so privileged to have the education and resources we do. I want to use that to help those who are facing such hardship in adverse conditions. The charity is way bigger than ourselves and helps so many people – directly and indirectly – as education is passed down.”
What part of DNF’s mission resonates with you the most?
Khansa, President, University of Central Lancashire: “The Foundation’s passion for and commitment to training doctors in hostile environments deeply resonates with me. I believe education is a transformative tool, equipping doctors with the knowledge and resilience to save lives in the most difficult conditions.”
Has a specific conversation or moment stuck with you during your FDNF journey?
Khansa, President, University of Central Lancashire: “Yes. Professor Nott’s talk during the conference titled Reflections of a Frontline Doctor has stayed with me. Hearing about the missions he’s undertaken, the challenges faced, the importance of risk assessment and the resilience required as a war surgeon was deeply moving. His emphasis on mastering multiple surgical specialties to manage mass casualties in war zones is something I’ll never forget.”
How has FDNF shaped your vision of the kind of doctor – or person – you want to be?
Khansa, President, University of Central Lancashire: “As Professor Nott mentioned in his talk, I aim to be a resilient, compassionate, competent and altruistic doctor – a source of relief for patients, a guide for fellow colleagues and a beacon of hope in times of crisis.”
Lois, Publicity Officer, University of Warwick: “I want to be open-minded and make people feel safe in uneasy situations.”
Antony, President, University of Buckingham: “Being part of FDNF has made me realise that as future doctors, we are all part of something bigger. It has taught me to take risks, be brave and to keep pushing for what you believe in.”
Nadezhda, President, University of Manchester: “FDNF inspires me to be someone who goes above and beyond to make things happen. It has taught me to focus on what can actually make a difference in the world, and to put effort where help is most needed.”
Finally, please describe your FDNF experience in three words
Bethany, Events Organiser, Warwick University: “Wow, humbling, exciting.”
Manaal, President, University of Nottingham: “Dedication, bravery, healing.”
Nadezhda, President, University of Manchester: “Inspiration through connection.”
Our team left the conference feeling inspired by the courage and commitment of our student network. We look forward to working hard to support them as they grow into doctors, leaders and humanitarians who bring hope where it’s needed most.
Our Medical Director, Dr Ammar Darwish, was invited to join the panel on Humanitarian Surgery at the ASGBI (Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland) Annual Congress, and to lead two half-day training sessions as part of the Pre-Congress Training Village.
Ammar delivered training to 30 participants over the two courses, who were able to learn more about how to deal with major trauma, both blunt and penetrating injuries, that are common in patients on the frontline.
These two training sessions focused on Cardiothoracic and Abdominal Trauma, and mirror closely what we teach in our HEST® course, through a lecture, presentation of real-life cases seen by our faculty and an opportunity to get hands-on practical experience making use of the prosthetic organs and Heston® to build skills, knowledge, confidence and proficiency.
These types of training sessions allow doctors in training to gain some insight into the world of humanitarian surgery and continues to shine a light on the training needs of those doctors living and working on the frontline.
I was training surgeons on chest trauma and abdominal trauma and I gave a talk about training surgeons in conflict zones and the work of the DNF which had a huge positive impact on the audience who where surgeons and trainees from the UK and overseas.
Addressing the crisis in healthcare
As conflicts continue to devastate civilian lives across the globe, healthcare systems in war zones face unprecedented challenges. In the past decade alone, over 180,000 civilians have been killed in armed conflicts worldwide, with regions like Syria experiencing a mass exodus of healthcare workers—over 70% have fled due to violence. In Ukraine, recent reports indicate that over 17 million people require humanitarian assistance, with healthcare facilities frequently targeted and damaged, leading to significant shortages of medical supplies and personnel. In Palestine, the situation is even more dire, with access to healthcare severely restricted due to ongoing violence. Reports show that over 50% of medical facilities in Gaza are non-functional or operating at reduced capacity due to conflict, significantly affecting patient care.
In response we are equipping healthcare workers with the skills they need to save lives in these volatile environments. Our flagship Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST®) program provides essential training to doctors, preparing them to handle trauma injuries common in conflict zones, including gunshot wounds and blast injuries. Given that the majority of injuries in modern warfare are caused by explosive devices, this specialised training has never been more critical.
Bridging the skills gap in conflict medicine
Conflict medicine involves the diagnosis, treatment, and management of injuries resulting from armed conflict, encompassing a range of trauma-related conditions. It requires a unique set of skills that go beyond conventional medical practices. In areas like Sudan, and Somaliland where many doctors lack the necessary training to manage complex war injuries, our work is vital.
The Foundation has trained over 2,000 doctors in 17 countries, offering practical skills in triage, emergency procedures, and trauma care. However, the scarcity of surgeons with specialised knowledge in conflict-related trauma exacerbates the situation, as studies indicate that 90% of healthcare workers in these zones feel inadequately prepared to handle such injuries.
Impacting lives in conflict zones
Our trained doctors are now saving lives in some of the most dangerous regions, including Yemen, where half of the healthcare facilities are non-functional. They are not only addressing immediate trauma but also providing long-term care, helping communities recover from the devastating impacts of war.
Through ongoing training programmes, we continue to build a global network of conflict medicine experts who are making a significant difference in conflict zones.
World Humanitarian Day
On World Humanitarian Day, we perhaps allow ourselves a few more minutes to think about others. Perhaps those we often find it hard to think about or to imagine. To remind ourselves that humans, wherever they are, deserve the basic access to freedom, to peace, to equity and to love that many of us enjoy. To have to make a special day each year is both a tribute, and a damning indictment of humankind. On most measures, it has been a relentless and notably horrific few years for humanity.
Moving from the private sector as I have and beginning my first few weeks as CEO of the David Nott Foundation, I have been struck by the unfortunate parallels in the language used. I did not expect to be talking about a “growth market”, but that is indeed what humanitarianism is experiencing.
For the past 12 years, the number of displaced people has increased every year. The number of refugees has tripled in a decade. In 2023, 1 in 69 of us on the planet were forced to leave our homes – 117.3 million people. More specifically to our line of work, conflict related fatalities are also on the rise. The annual number of deaths in conflict since we began our work almost a decade ago has risen by 92% to almost 250,000 this year.
Many of those deaths will be what we call ‘Survivable Deaths’. It is these deaths our teams work tirelessly to prevent by training doctors with the skills they need in conflict and catastrophe.
You can imagine that if we saw these kinds of numbers on a business forecast in a different context, it would be a reason to celebrate. But we are in the business of alleviating suffering. The more suffering there is, the more of a strain and demand it puts on the sector as a whole to meet the vital needs of those we must continuously work to serve.
In a conversation with a Ukrainian diplomat some months ago, I heard her talk of war as “a branding exercise”. She explained to me that Ukraine was not just competing with other wars for international attention and resources, but also with Donald Trump, Taylor Swift and the Climate Crisis. Her point was clear. To win the war, you need to win the media and the requisite public support. It is for this reason that today I believe we should think deeply, not just about the horrors we are seeing on our newsfeed, but to the horrors we are not. With conflicts and catastrophe raging all over the world in Haiti, DRC, the West African Sahel, Afghanistan and Myanmar, to name just a few, we can perhaps be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed and somewhat fatigued. One of our explicit responsibilities at the David Nott Foundation is to think every day about these ‘forgotten conflicts’ and lesser-known catastrophes. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are able to consider them in our planning and delivery of vital surgical and medical training. However, the increasing need is so vast, that we and other non-profit organisations worldwide need to think very seriously about how we scale – another regrettable business term that is a sign of our times. Scaling requires funding, partners, innovation, knowledge and an appetite for risk. Many of us do not consider ourselves as direct contributors to humanitarian work, but with the skills and requirements I describe, perhaps today is the day to re-consider. To be more explicit, we certainly wish to hear from you at the David Nott Foundation.
With gratitude, James Gough
CEO
Doctors’ needs in the West Bank
Over 300 days have passed since Hamas’s invasion of Israel and Israel’s retaliatory attacks on Gaza. Gaza is home to many forcibly displaced Palestinian refugees. The 41 kilometers-long Strip has been under siege since 2006, enduring five major wars, with the retaliation of the October 7th conflict being one of the deadliest in recent history.
In the West Bank, Palestinians live under Israeli military occupation, with Israel controlling essential resources like water and electricity. The intensifying Gaza-Israel war has exacerbated these difficulties. On-the-ground reports reveal that those who live in the West Bank face increasing attacks from Israeli settlers, checkpoints, military raids, increase in settlements, and the detention of Palestinian men, women, and children.
We reached out to Dr Mariam Aweidah, a general surgeon and our Faculty Lead for Palestine, to shed light on doctors’ needs in the West Bank. Mariam lives in Ramallah and travels to Jericho to work, a journey that should take an hour but often stretches to several due to road conditions and checkpoints.
"Every day is different. We always check the news before leaving to see if there are settlers or checkpoints on the roads. As Palestinians, this is part of our daily routine to ensure the roads are somewhat safe for travel." – Mariam Aweidah, Faculty Lead for Palestine.
Mariam works at a peripheral hospital in Jericho, where resources, infrastructure, and specialisations are limited. They frequently need to refer patients to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to seek the care they need but face significant checkpoint challenges which can prevent patients from passing through, even in ambulances.
Despite being a general surgeon, Mariam sometimes operates on paediatric cases due to the limited capacity at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Patients come from across the West Bank, but intensified travel challenges between cities and villages have increased the difficulties for both patients and doctors.
"We don't have intensive trauma training. With more trauma cases and cities isolated from each other, this causes a heavy burden because we aren't all trained for this. We often have numerous gunshot cases, and hospitals can't handle them due to a lack of resources and trained personnel."
Now more than ever, we are committed to training medical professionals in territories that require urgent support such as Palestine. As soon as it is safe to do so, we aim to raise doctors' skills through our training.
"I received training with the David Nott Foundation, which has greatly influenced my ability to manage, stabilise, and save lives quickly”, shared Mariam. “However, not all doctors in Palestine have had this opportunity. I hope to organise another training course to enhance the skills of more medical professionals in the West Bank and in Gaza."
Bringing future humanitarian surgeons together for the first time
This month, we hosted our first annual Trainees of the David Nott Foundation (TDNF) conference. The conference aimed to bring surgical trainees interested in global humanitarian careers together, to learn from our war doctors and take part in bespoke workshops.
Held as a hybrid event at the University of Salford in Manchester, the conference attracted 200 medical professionals from various specialties and international locations, including Yemen, Pakistan, Albania, Nigeria, Poland, UAE, Singapore, Ethiopia, Thailand, Malawi, Libya, and many more.
Dan Lazenby, the president of the TDNF committee and a plastic and burns training registrar, founded our TDNF network in 2023.
“There was a gap in the market for trainees interested in humanitarian work and global surgery education. I wanted to emulate that for trainees. I believe there is a real lack of platforms and communities for junior members to get involved. The more we involve them early, the better they can contribute.” – Dan Lazenby, TDNF President
TDNF has made significant strides since its birth. The committee has 13 members from various specialties across the UK and plans to expand the community. They have hosted two webinars with participation from 50-100 doctors worldwide, providing information to global trainees on how to get involved in humanitarian efforts. Future initiatives include developing a mentorship program, focusing on basic global surgical skills for trainees through online platforms.
“Our dream is to follow in the footsteps of David Nott and other humanitarian surgeons.”
Workshops focus on essential trauma skills
The conference, held on the 13th July, was a full day of comprehensive lectures and workshops. Our faculty trainers provided trainees with insights into working in war zones, sharing experiences from Syria, Afghanistan, and Gaza. The event featured workshops on orthopaedics, vascular surgery and general trauma, where trainees spent hours practicing casting, suturing, and managing major trauma injuries. Networking between trainees and faculty members was also a highlight, fostering vital relationships between peers and building a strong community.
“The hybrid international platform was invaluable, allowing people to join virtually and in person, inspiring the humanitarian surgeons of tomorrow all around the world."
A vision for the future
Looking to the future, Dan shared: “We aim to host annual conferences, develop mentorship programs, and reach people from more diverse backgrounds. We all have the same goal, to treat patients safely and effectively. One of our ideas is to accompany the David Nott Foundation to teach junior members basic skills, which will make a significant difference.”
We will continue to prepare the humanitarians of tomorrow, ensuring safe, skilled surgical care reaches everyone.
24 doctors trained during 1st UK course with Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
For the first time in partnership with Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), we delivered a Hostile Environment Surgical Training UK (HEST®-UK) course to equip 24 surgeons from across the globe with vital skills needed to save lives in conflict and disaster zones.
Aimed at medical professionals who work in, or are planning to travel to, conflict and catastrophe zones around the world, our HEST®-UK course brought together surgeons from across the globe, including Australia, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Libya and six from Ukraine, for a transformative week of intensive training.
This marks the beginning of our brand-new partnership with RCSEd, joining forces to upskill humanitarian surgeons and frontline trainers in the making. Our course combined trauma case presentations taken straight from war zones like in Syria, our cutting-edge teaching models designed especially for our use, and human cadavers.
Dr Igor Belkin, HEST®-UK participant and surgeon from Ukraine who we sponsored to join our training, said:
“The course was great! All frontline methods were described in detail in theory, and then with the help of DNF trainers, we then worked on and learned more about using cadavers.
These skills are always useful, especially in a country that is at war. After completing another DNF course in Zaporizhizhia in February 2023, I used many learnings in field surgery. Now in Edinburgh, I got even more practice with cadavers.”
Dr Senka Stojanovic, HEST®-UK participant and general surgeon from Poland, said:
"Now, possibly more than ever during our lifetimes, the world is fraught with problems of growing divisions and inequality, which among other things impacts access to quality healthcare, affecting not only the current generation, but future ones as well.
I felt incredibly fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the leading experts in the field.
"The wealth of experience and practical tips brought by the faculty was unmatched and cannot be found in textbooks or surgical atlases."
I highly recommend this unique course to any surgeons who plan to or already work in humanitarian settings around the globe, but who need to build on their confidence and skill to provide surgical care outside of their surgical specialties."
Mariette Naud-Betteridge, Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at RCSEd, said:
“Witnessing the course first-hand revealed the extensive practice and diverse disciplines required to deliver surgical care in conflict zones. Not only did the course’s structure and the dedication of David and his faculty bring challenging cases to life, the delegates' intense focus and eagerness to learn emphasised the course’s relevance and necessity.
Collaboration between the David Nott Foundation and RCSEd demonstrates our shared commitment to equipping medical professionals with the critical skills and confidence needed to save lives in the most demanding situations. Special thanks also to all who supported the course, including sponsors B. Braun, Essity, and Stryker. RCSEd look forward to welcoming back the DNF team and a new set of delegates in December for the next HEST®-UK Course.”
As fighting intensifies across Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan and beyond, there has never been a greater need for skilled, humanitarian surgeons around the world. That’s why our programme of bespoke training courses are so vital and we will continue to grow our international network of war doctors.
Sign up to our next HEST®-UK course
Joining forces with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
In a landmark collaboration aimed at addressing the critical shortage of skilled surgical care in conflict and disaster zones, we are teaming up with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) - home to The Faculty of Remote, Rural & Humanitarian Healthcare (FRRHH) - to deliver our Hostile Environment Surgical Training UK (HEST®-UK) course.
Taking place from 3 -7 June at RCSEd Edinburgh, the course celebrates a new era of partnership. Our HEST®-UK course offers surgeons a unique opportunity to enhance their capabilities and readiness for humanitarian crises. Over the course of five days, participants will delve into decision-making and surgical strategies for austere conditions, covering a spectrum of trauma cases including penetrating and crush injuries, orthopaedic fractures, and obstetric emergencies.
Rapid response
Responding to the escalation of the Gaza-Israel conflict in October, two previous HEST®-UK courses were swiftly organised in Bolton in December 2023 and January 2024. Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Iman Al Mabhooh, expressed his enthusiasm at the opportunity:
“I’m excited about expanding my skill set beyond obstetrics and gynaecology to acquire new abilities that will benefit mothers and their infants in Gaza and the West Bank. I recognise the desperate need for assistance there. This course is unique as it combines obstetrics and gynaecology with trauma care and address complex challenges comprehensively.”
Nick Cartwright, Programmes Manager at our Foundation, said: "Since the DNF’s beginnings in 2015, our team of experienced surgical trainers have upskilled over 1800 doctors and delivered 61 courses in some of the world’s most dangerous corners, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Ukraine.
With the delivery of our HEST®-UK course in partnership with RCSEd, we will grow the number of upskilled, humanitarian surgeons who are ready to volunteer their skills, make rapid and effective clinical decisions under pressure, and manage the broad range of complex trauma injuries that present in the throes of conflict and catastrophe.”
A significant step forward
Angus Watson, FRRHH Executive Committee Member, said:
“By combining the DNF's expertise with RCSEd's dedication to recognise professional standards in humanitarian healthcare, this partnership promises to empower medical professionals and save countless lives in the face of adversity.”
The Faculty's commitment to supporting surgeons is exemplified by its decision to grant participants of the course a complimentary one-year affiliation membership to the Faculty of Remote, Rural, and Humanitarian Healthcare. This membership provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with a broader humanitarian community within a professional setting tailored for humanitarian, remote, and rural healthcare professionals.
Spaces on the course are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.