David Nott Foundation STAE scholarship course

The Royal College of Surgeons of England’s STAE (Surgical Training for Austere Environments (STAE) is arguably the most advanced conflict trauma course worldwide. Set up by David Nott with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, it covers the full spectrum of injuries, procedures and considerations expected in austere or hostile environments.

The first four days of the November 2018 course were held in Manchester in the university’s cadaver lab, giving the surgeons a chance to learn and practice on real bodies supported by videos, slides, anatomical models and a world-leading faculty. The final day was held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, learning to deal with the decision making and management of obstetric emergencies including post-partum haemorrhage and caesarean section.

The David Nott Foundation hosted 13 scholars from South Sudan, Uganda, Mexico, Iraq and Nepal, among others, encouraging a fully international sharing of experience and ideas and the beginning of an enduring relationship with each of these scholars.

On the final day we invited the scholars to meet a number of our donors, including those that made their scholarships possible. During this meeting we had the opportunity to hear from the surgeons about where they had come from, the conditions they work in and what the training will enable to do, and it was exceptional. To hear about the escape from ISIS and the fear of persecution providing even more motivation to do what they can for their patients and to understand what they had learned, the boost this has given them and the opportunity they now have to pass this on to their colleagues is immensely gratifying and wholly validates the Foundation’s mission.