My first mission with the Foundation was in Yemen in 2020. He has always told me – if you want something, just go for it – this has always stuck with me. Seeing someone like David do what he does is a real inspiration and motivation for me. In this situation I was really glad to know the techniques we teach at the courses, and it was reassuring to know that I can reach out to all my friends and mentors at the Foundation for advice, at all times.Įver since I was little, I always knew humanitarian work was what I wanted to do. In particular it helped me gain valuable skills for a mission in Cameroon, where I worked for two months as the only surgeon in a remote conflict area. Being faculty at the Foundation and teaching multiple courses was also a great preparation for my work at MSF. Transitioning from someone who had experienced the course first-hand, to teaching, was really exciting. It was one of the best surgical training courses I had ever experienced.Īfter taking part in the STAE course, I registered to work with MSF in 2019 and David asked if I’d consider being a trainer for the Foundation, teaching trauma surgical skills to war doctors in need. To gain an insight into the work, he asked me to attend the Foundation’s upcoming STAE course. David was really encouraging, giving me guidance on how to enter the humanitarian field. It was also the main reason for me leaving Switzerland and coming to the UK, where I could work and train internationally. When discussing my career, I told him that working with Médecins Sans Frontières ( MSF) has been my life-long ambition and is the reason I started studying medicine. I was quite embarrassed that I didn’t know him, but maybe it’s helped us have such a comfortable working relationship today. I was the Trauma Fellow there and, in all honesty, – I didn’t know who David was! When people found out he was the Trauma Consultant I’d be working with they thought I was very lucky. I first met David at St Mary’s Hospital in 2019.

Here Dr Troller shares her journey into humanitarian work and her transition from student to teacher. Dr Rebekka Troller, Colorectal Robotic Fellow and Emergency and General Surgery Consultant at Medway Hospital NHS, is one of our talented trainers.

David knott surgeon