|
September Newsletter
BFIRST is a UK registered charity which trains surgeons and their teams working in the most resource poor countries in the world to enable them to undertake reconstructive Plastic Surgery independently in an equitable and sustainable manner, thus releasing children and adults from the state of poverty and destitution associated with physical disability, injury and disease, amenable to surgical treatment.
BFIRST also provides educational resources for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons through our Webinar series.
In this month's newsletter we share with you our upcoming projects, educational activities, and how you can be involved!
|
|
|
Webinars
We have 2 fantastic webinars lined up:
Head and Neck Surgery - 12th October 2024 at 1pm
Mr Maniram Ragbir
Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK
Register here!
Lower Limb Reconstruction - 30th November, time TBC
Dr Metasebia Worku Abebe
Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(Registration link to be made available closer to webinar date)
If you have missed any of our previous webinars you can watch them on our website!
There are also some fantastic webinars for revision of key topics within Plastic Surgery available!
|
|
Projects
Cambodia
In October Mr Wee Lam will be leading a BFIRST overseas trip to Cambodia. The project is based in the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) in Phnom Penh. This project has been running since 2013.
Along with a team of surgeons from Singapore, BFIRST are building a community-oriented curriculum for training local surgeons, and enabling them to be able to pass on their skillset.
The curriculum will include brachial plexus injuries, burn contractures and congenital hand surgery.
We look forward to hearing more about this project and will bring you updates about this trip.
Upcoming Projects
We have upcoming projects to Nepal, The Gambia and Zimbabwe!
We will bring you updates about these projects, and how you can get involved and support them!
  
|
|
Fellowships
We have 4 confirmed 2024 BFIRST Fellows who are or have completed BFIRST fellowships across the UK. These are Plastic Surgeons from resource-poor countries, who are or will be spending time in Plastic Surgery Units in the UK to gain experience and training.
Dr Salma Batool from Lahore, Pakistan, has completed her BFIRST fellowship in Swansea and Nottingham, with a focus on Hand and Upper Limb.
Dr Sania Ahmad from Lahore, Pakistan, is currently completing a BFIRST fellowship in East Grinstead, focusing on Breast Reconstruction.
Dr Nur Ul Ain from Lahore, Pakistan, will be completing a BFIRST fellowship in Wakefield and Oxford, focusing on Hands and Burns.
Dr Ali Azeem from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, will be completing a BFIRST fellowship later this year in Oxford and Newcastle.
We will be bringing you updates about their experiences!
BFIRST is has sponsored two fellows - Dr Kemi Ayode (previous BFIRST fellow) and Dr Salma Batool (2024 BFIRST fellow) to attend the Advanced Hand & Wrist Cadaveric Dissection Course by the London Hand Course in September. BFIRST is also sponsoring two fellows to attend a Microsurgery course.
|
|
Events
BFIRST are coming to the BAPRAS Congress 2024! (4-6th December)
We are hosting a session on the 5th December in the afternoon, with talks from surgeons about Reconstructive Surgery in conflict zones and Plastic Surgery in low resource settings.
Confirmed speakers include:
 
Mr Naveen Cavale and Ms Ailbhe Kiely will be giving talks based on their experiences in Tanzania earlier this year.
Ms Clare Kelsey and Ms Jasmine Carney will be giving a talk about nursing and allied professionals subcommittee on BFIRST
Ms Victoria Rose will be giving a talk about her experiences in Gaza.
We will also be having a curry night social on the Wednesday evening, more details to follow and we look forward to seeing you there!
|
|
Fundraising
Cycle for BFIRST
Well done to Team BFIRST completing the London to Brighton Cycle Ride earlier this month!
To date they have raised a fantastic £1934 which will help us educate and train surgeons in resource limited countries.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! Its not too late to support our amazing cycling team by donating here!
Or you can use the QR code below!
|
|
How can I help?
Volunteering
BFIRST is keen for surgeons, nurses and allied specialists to all get involved. Please do get in touch if you are interested. Reconstructive surgery is a team sport!
Also, if you have ideas for new projects that you would like to start, perhaps in new countries, or in areas we already work in, we would love to hear about these, and discuss further.
|
|
|
|