Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) back Beyond Conflict at annual conference

The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), the professional training body for the UK’s surgeons, spotlighted the work of Beyond Conflict at its annual national conference in Belfast on Saturday March 8, after voting to make us their Charity of 2025, raising £1,500 at its gala dinner for BC.

ASiT opened with a powerful session in which war trauma surgeons spoke about their work in Syria, Gaza and Iraq, describing the risks and challenges of operating on the frontline. They were joined on the panel by Beyond Conflict Founder and Executive Director Edna Fernandes who described the Charity’s work supporting frontline workers and civilians in projects for Ukraine, the Palestinian West Bank, southern Israel, Bangladesh and Iraq. ASiT President Raiyyan Aftab, said:

ASiT commends Beyond Conflict’s work

“The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) is committed not only to the training and development of future surgeons but also to safeguarding their well-being. As the global geopolitical landscape evolves, surgeons play a crucial role in responding to crises in conflict zones worldwide. It is essential to acknowledge their contributions while ensuring they are not left to bear a heavy personal toll—physically, emotionally, or in their sense of identity. ASiT is proud to support Beyond Conflict and commend their vital work in providing psychological support to frontline workers and civilians affected by war, displacement, and terrorism.”

Fernandes thanked ASiT for its support and said Beyond Conflict was committed also to supporting frontline workers like trauma surgeons, as well as civilians in war zones. Mental health training and follow up support could better equip surgeons to protect their own well being and allow them to continue their critical work in war zones. The message from all four speakers particularly resonated in the city of Belfast, which has overcome an intractable conflict to achieve peace.

Why mental health support matters to surgeons in conflict zones

“In a war, mental health support matters,” said Fernandes. “It matters because when the peace deal is signed, when the bombs fall silent, when the refugees go home, war will continue to rage inside the minds of many courageous frontline workers like surgeons as well as civilians. Just as we recognise the importance of war trauma in veterans, we need to start addressing it in frontline workers and civilians. After all, they’re the ones tasked with rebuilding a broken world, ending the hate and making peace last. Nobody knows this better than the people of Belfast – to reconcile with the past in all ways possible, in order to secure a better future.”

Sam Shamoon, a Trauma and Orthopaedics Registrar, based in Basingstoke, UK, spoke at the panel session about his work as a trauma surgeon in Iraq and described the impact upon him after coming to the UK. Until he was able to obtain his credentials to continue to work as a surgeon in the UK, he struggled to rebuild his life and spoke about the impact his time in Iraq had on his well being for years afterwards. Today he works as a surgeon, is married and raising a family.

Surgeons’ compelling testimonies

Murhaf Assaf, Clinical Fellow Upper GI Surgery, at the Princess of Wales Hospital, UK, spoke most powerfully and movingly about his work in Aleppo, Syria during the worst bombardment. He talked about the pressures of dealing with over 100 patients at a time, without adequate support or equipment, all with critical injuries from bombings. Assaf said the burden placed upon frontline surgeons like him resulted in tremendous strain. His talk was compelling evidence of how mental health support for surgeons is urgent and necessary if they are to be able to continue their work in war zones around the world and protect their own mental health.

Professor David Nott, Consultant Vascular and Trauma Surgeon, St Mary’s Hospital and Founder of the David Nott Foundation, UK spoke about how his foundation provided necessary and pioneering training for surgeons volunteering to work in conflict zones. This included the use of technology to provide real-time remote training and supervision for operations in conflict zones. David Nott says:”I’ve seen the horrors of war. But I’ve also seen the power of sharing life saving knowledge.”

It is the role of the David Nott Foundation, Beyond Conflict and those like us to find solutions to support frontline workers like these courageous surgeons, as well as civilians in war zones.