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.
Welcoming our new CEO
Having founded the charity in 2015 and led it as CEO for nine years, Elly Nott has stepped down as Chief Executive to take up an alternative role in the leadership of the organisation.
As Elly embarks on her new role, the charity warmly welcomes Dr James Gough as its leader. James is a former military and aid doctor, having served with the British Army and international aid groups in Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Beyond the field of medicine, James has served with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and founded both the virtual reality enterprise One Shot Immersive and a UK charity promoting and protecting the wellness of those who serve the Crown.
Dr James Gough MBBCh, newly appointed CEO of the David Nott Foundation, said:
“It is the privilege of my professional life to have the opportunity to serve the beneficiaries of the David Nott Foundation as Chief Executive. At a time of immense human suffering around the world, the dedication of our donors, our volunteers and our people is both humbling and critically important.”
Graham Hodgkin, Chair of Trustees of the David Nott Foundation, said:
“The David Nott Foundation continues to develop its position as providing the gold standard of conflict surgical training. The Foundation is known and respected among humanitarian organisations, government ministries and policymakers and trusted by healthcare workers. Crucially, our training saves lives and makes access to safe, skilled surgical care a reality for more people in conflict and catastrophe-affected regions.
Alongside Co-Founders David and Elly Nott, and my fellow Trustees, we are delighted to welcome James as our new CEO and have every faith in his ability to deliver our vision and mission to our stakeholders. He will have our unwavering support as he takes on his new role as CEO of this remarkable and special organisation.”
Since our birth in 2015, our global faculty of trainers have upskilled over 2000 doctors in countries tarred by war and disaster, such as Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and Palestine. Under James's leadership, we look forward to further deepening our impact across the globe.
SUPPORT OUR MISSIONS
‘Keep Calm and Channel On’
A team of four recently formed a relay and swam the English Channel to raise funds for four different charities. Kate Ribeiro dos Santos swam the first relay leg, raising an outstanding £5540 for our cause. Here, Kate shares her experience and how the team kept each other motivated through the night.
We started at 11.41pm from Samphire Hoe, near Folkstone.
I started the relay which was probably the most surreal swim of my life - jumping into the sea in the middle of the night with a couple of flashing lights on my head and costume!
The first few hours in the dark were very gritty, mainly due to sea sickness but also the cold and lack of sleep.
Two of the team were very ill, despite having taken all the medication we could have taken, and it took incredible metal strength for them in the water. We saw that another relay failed after 4 hours due to sea sickness. However, once the sun came up, the sea became calmer, we doubled up on the medication and things got a lot more enjoyable!
We saw loads of cargo ships and ferries, as well as 10 other Channel teams out in the Channel with us. I had an amazing 3rd swim covering nearly 7km due to the current and we made great time.
The reason for the slightly long route of the swim is due to tides and currents. Only super fast swimmers can go straight across, the rest of us need to take more of an 'S' shape. Finally, Ness brought us in to France with an epic last swim and we finished at 2.41pm UK time.
What a day and what an incredible team! I'm not sure I have ever done an event which relies more on teamwork than this.
If anyone had stopped or got out, we would have had to turn back. Everyone is equal and has to pull their own weight - literally!
I have smashed the target I never thought I would have reached in the first place - £5,540! I hope the Foundation are as happy as I am!
