Kelvin Mizen

Consultant Maxillofacial, Head & Neck Surgeon

I was brought up in Bedfordshire & have lived in Yorkshire since 1998 where I did my training. My main interest is Head & Neck cancer particularly reconstruction. I am also the lead surgeon for skin cancer. I have been involved with Facing Africa since 2007 and was on the inaugural trip to Ethiopia. I have been on 13 surgical missions & 1 fact finding tour since then. In my spare time my current interests are weight training, cycling & karate (I am a black belt). Whilst in Addis I teach karate at a local dojo. 

Hiroshi Nishikawa

Consultant Cosmetic & Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon

I am a member of BAPRAS and BAAPS.  I am presently an exam assessor for the Intercollegiate examinations for FRCS Plast. I trained in the UK, Australia and Taiwan. I was a consultant plastic reconstructive surgeon in Leeds from 1996 until 2000.  I then moved to the West Midlands to work in the Craniofacial Unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH), This is a supra-regional centre for the management of craniofacial anomalies. I was also appointed to work for the Reconstructive plastic surgery department at BCH.  I retired from the NHS in March 2020.  I am presently one of the directors of The Westbourne Centre in Birmingham, which is a provider of private health care, including cosmetic surgery.  My present clinical practice encompasses general cosmetic surgery and facial deformity. I have been on nine plastic surgical reconstructive missions treating facial deformity in Ethiopia with the charity Facing Africa.  I was privileged to gain much experience in the surgical treatment of Noma.

LeRoux Fourie

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

I first treated Cancrum Oris (Noma) cases as a specialist Plastic Surgeon in No 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa . These challenging cases were transferred from Angola, at that time gripped in a civil war.

I was appointed Consultant Plastic Surgeon in Pinderfields Hospital in 1993. In 2004 I attended a conference in Europe . A delegate gave a talk about the Dutch Noma Foundation and treating cases in Sokoto, Nigeria. This sparked an interest and I volunteered on the Facing Africa website. Within days I was contacted by Chris Lawrence, asking if I would join a British group as part of the Dutch Noma Foundation . This was to be the first trip with Facing Africa. Unfortunately FA could not follow up involvement in Nigeria due to cholera infections and civil unrest, and thus the next trip I joined was to Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I have subsequently been a team member on FA trips to Ethiopia in The American Hospital, the Korean NCM Hospital and lately the Nordic Medical Centre. A particular highlight was being part of the mission featured in the Ben Fogle BBCdocumentary “ Make be a New Face” in 2011.

I have been very fortunate to have my wife, Judi , join me on numerous missions. Judi is a nurse practitioner and has been invaluable in working in the wards as well as a nurse coordinator. We have shared many unforgettable experiences working with the wonderful team and incredible patients in Ethiopia.

Dan Saleh

Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Dan is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in the northeast and has interest in facial reconstruction and has an active role in teaching and mentorship. He has been involved with Facing Africa for some years and is proud the charity focussed on capacity building in Ethiopia, outreach healthcare and close collaboration with the healthcare teams in Addis and beyond.

Graham Merrick

Consultant Maxillofacial surgeon

Mr Merrick has been practicing Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for over 25 years, after qualifying in both Dentistry (1990) and Medicine (1997) at Sheffield University. After qualifying in medicine, he undertook 3 years of basic surgical training, before carrying out a further 5 years of specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical training (the surgery of the face, mouth and jaws) in Manchester. His speciality training focused on surgery for cancer of the head and neck and facial reconstruction. He also undertook a specialist fellowship in Head and Neck cancer surgery in Glasgow and also a Cosmetic Facial Surgery fellowship in the United States. 

Since then Mr. Merrick has been working as a full-time NHS consultant in Maxillofacial surgery at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, as well as carrying out a private surgical practice through Nuffield Health Taunton. With 15 years as a consultant at the top of his profession, Graham has treated a wide range of cases, playing a key role in providing facial surgery for the South West. He is currently lead Maxillofacial consultant for head and neck cancer at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

For the past four years, Graham has been volunteering for a charity called Facing Africa (UK Registered Charity no: 1129170).

Paul Wilson

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Based in Bristol, I have been a plastic surgeon for over ten years and am dual qualified in Dentistry and Medicine. In my NHS practice I specialise in head and neck reconstruction and sarcoma. As well as microsurgical reconstruction I also perform total nasal reconstruction, which we frequently perform in Addis.

I have been on 5 missions with Facing Africa. I was inspired to return to Addis Ababa with the FA team, by Chris and Terry who are amazing organisers and team builders who had a great vision for a reconstructive service treating unfortunate victims of noma. I was also inspired and supported by the many senior surgeons I have worked with who have guided me through the fascinating two week trip annually.

The whole organisation works because of the team spirit, resolve and determination to sort out most facial problems we are confronted by. I feel amazing after returning from a busy mission, and proud to be part of such a great venture.

The important thing is working as a team, relying on each other and pooling resources from a vast pool of knowledge. As well as treating patients in Addis it is important that we continue to train local surgeons and nurses, and keep them up to date with evidence based practice.

Through many years of return trips we have built up an impressive inventory of equipment, enabling us to provide 1st world service in a 3rd world country. The main reason for returning is the comradery and team effort by everyone involved, both at home and in Africa.

May it continue for many years to come.

Georgios Ofaniotis

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Georgios is a consultant Plastic surgeon at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals London, where he regularly performs complex reconstructive and corrective surgery in the Head and Neck area. He has developed an expertise in Facial reconstructive surgery and has a special interest in treating secondary facial deformities following previous surgery, cancer treatment or injury. He is a core member of the Head and Neck cancer team at Guys hospital, one of the largest units in Europe.

Georgios has completed a total 3 years of international fellowship training in cutting-edge Plastic surgery units in Taiwan, St Thomas’ hospital and the Royal Melbourne hospital, Australia. 

Andrew Power

Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon

Andy is a consultant maxillofacial surgeon working in York. He specialises in skin cancer, trauma and facial deformities.

Andy has been on one mission with Facing Africa but hopes to join the team for many more years to come.

Gro Honeroed Hotvedt

Anesthetic nurse

Anesthetic nurse from Norway. Been on many trips, 18 all together . The best thing about my work, is when you can travel to Ethiopia and work together with Facing Africa, it’s very meaningful.

Doug Johnson

Consultant Anaesthetist

I am a paediatic anaesthetist in the NHS with 12 years experience and an interest in Craniofacial surgery and airway management. I am very proud to have been able to contribute to the amazing work that Facing Africa teams carry out in Ethiopia and I have been part of four missions, the first being in 2012 and the most recent in 2019.

The missions can be challenging, but the teamwork and common purpose make them incredibly rewarding. It is the teamwork that ensure the missions are successful. I feel that as vital as the clinical work is, it is also imperative to educate and model practice in order to provide some sort of longevity and legacy to the trips, even in the smallest way beyond the life changing surgery that patients benefit from. I feel it is a real privilege to be able to travel to Ethiopia to carry out this work.

Leona Ellis

Scrub Nurse

My name is Leona Ellis and I have been volunteering with Facing Africa since October 2016-2020 would have been my 5th FA mission.

I trained as theatre scrub nurse in Bristol and Bath, with particular interest in Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery. My current role is Cancer Nurse Specialist and part of my role involves performing nurse-led skin cancer surgery. With Facing Africa I volunteer as theatre scrub nurse and was selected to lead the scrub team for 2018 and 2019.  

My interests include weight training, cycling and I also dabble in Strongwoman events- I was Hull’s 3rd strongest woman in 2019 and have recently become an amateur bodybuilder. 

Ali Ghazanfar

Scrub Nurse

My name is Ghazanfar Ali and currently I work for NHS in operating theatre as Surgical First Assistant in Robotic Surgery, in West Yorkshire area. I joined Facing Africa in 2015 however, only got a chance to go and work from 2017 onwards every year. I have been on 3 missions so far where 2020 was cancelled due to COVID.

Work in Ethiopia for the charity is challenging and fun but also very satisfying, when especially we say good bye on our last day, to all those happy faces who receive the surgical treatment and found new faces. Those are very emotional moments too. The charity has a brilliant setup in Ethiopia to manage the patient flow and provides International standard care within limited resources. All management and surgical team members are very helpful and always willing to go for extra mile to make the trips effective with outstanding outcome. 

I will always be happy to go for a trip at least once a year and put my share whenever I can.

Dr Eloise Phillips

Ward Nurse

I am an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) by background and have been part of the October team since 2013. I work as a ward nurse and throughly enjoy providing pre and post operative care to all our patients. The days are long but rewarding, and we all work as part of a cohesive and enthusiastic team. It has been an honour and life affirming experience being part of Facing Africa. Seeing the patient's happy, healed and healthy, with positive changes and outcomes to their lives, is a gift that is priceless and one that empassions my career as a nurse.

Joanna Mikhael

Scrub Nurse

aka Jo, presently working as a Theatre Lead for Nuffield health, Brentwood Essex. I have had the opportunity to spend a week working in Bangladesh, two weeks in Benin and two weeks with Facing Africa in Ethiopia. Each time has been an extraordinary experience and completely sobering when confronted with some of the many health challenges that people have to face without the care that we take for granted.

I am really looking forward to heading back to Ethiopia. Both our teams and the Ethiopian staff have been awesome with their skills and dedication and missing this year has been hard. We will be back!

Eileen Foley

Scrub nurse

Lives, Currabinny, Cork. Married Barry in 1979 and we have 4 adult children. Qualified as a State Registered Nurse in 1978. Worked in Cork University Hospital in the Neurosurgical ward from 78-85. As there was no flexibility with partime/fulltime hours I resigned and returned in 1998. Personal Development and facilitation course over a decade from 1997. Management course in 2006. Lean Sigma in 2014. 1998 to current working in a Maxillary Facial/Dental Theatre. I am very interested in what forms us and our behaviours, generally I am level headed.

My interests and hobbies are: listening to music, dancing, skiing, cycling, walking, national politics incl world affairs and travel. I am lucky to have been on a long trip to Australia and New Zealand. My favourite trip ever was to Machu Picchu in Peru.My one to do trip has to be the west coast of Canada and incorporate a Cruise up towards Alaska, hopefully in about 3 years when I retire. I was very blessed to have been part of the team to travel to Ethiopia in May 2019 and I really hope I can go again.

Katarina Lenartova

Consultant Anaesthetist

I currently work as a consultant anaesthetist, intensivist at Harefield hospital, London. I have firstly joined FA as anaesthetic fellow in May 2016, at that time I was senior anaesthetic trainee at Cork University Hospital, Ireland and pretty much stayed in touch with FA since. It was truly an amazing experience and I have joined some other missions (mostly cardiothoracic surgeries trips) in Ethiopia and Afghanistan since. I was meant to join the FA trip this year in May, but our trip got cancelled. I hope I will be able to join FA trip soon!

Titi Tafete

Care Assistant

Tihitna T Gebremedhin is a nurse and Public Health graduate. She was a full-time employee of Facing Africa from 2015 -2018 as a patient coordinator, head nurse and country representative. After she moved to Ireland Tihitna returned to Ethiopia to work as a volunteer nurse in 2019 for 3 months. As the head nurse for Facing Africa she was responsible for recruiting patients with facial deformities caused by Noma and prepare them pre-operatively for facial surgery. She was also responsible for their wound care post operatively. 

Sophie Dohnt

Nurse

I am an intensive Care nurse from Adelaide, Australia. I have been on 2x 8-week missions and hoping to return again soon. What I enjoy most about my facing Africa trips is the privilege of meeting the beautiful patients, being a part of their story, and the strength and resilience that they have taught me. These patients have made me a better nurse and a better person.

Vanessa Conde

Nurse

I'm Vanessa, 38 and I am one of the FA House nurses, my background is Intensive Care, I'm Portuguese but I've been working in the UK since 2011. In 2017 I found Facing Africa through a colleague in London, in a matter of weeks I was flying with the team for my first mission, since then I've been joining FA every year for 8 weeks.

My role at FA House is very different, challenging and fulfilling. Our areas of intervention are on Pre and Post-op assessments, individual nutritional programs, wound and emergency care; when we talk about clinical stuff, of course, because I our job is a lot more than assessing numbers at FA House we are part of a family, a Big Caring, Professional and Loving Family. I am very proud to be part of this Institution.

Sidsel Osterby

Nurse

I am a 30 year old nurse from Denmark.  I had the great privilege of being part of the FA team in October 2019. I have been to Ethiopia several times before, but this was my first time working with FA. I stayed for two months at Cheshire, where the pre- and postsurgical care of the patients took place. I loved it so much, and I enjoyed to live so closely with both my amazing colleagues from FA and all the wonderful patients. I enjoyed playing football, dancing, drinking Ethiopian coffee, playing cardgames aso. during the day when we had finished the woundcare and other assignments for the day. Never in my carrier as a nurse, have I had the opportunity to spend time with my patients in this way. It was very unique. 
Many of these patients with different facial deformities often experience stigma, bullying, and most often struggle to be a real part of the society, because of their looks. So it was amazing to get to know how wonderful personalities they had, and to see how they over time felt more and more comfortable to put away their facial towels and just enjoy being “free” and acknowledged and respected among the other patients and the staff.

Kidist Kebede

Previous Ethiopian Manager

Working for Facing Africa has been one of my career highlights. I was part of a dedicated team making a huge difference in the lives of many forgotten Noma patients/survivors in Ethiopia and the experience was enormously rewarding in many ways. Despite difficult circumstances and bureaucratic challenges, we were able to reach isolated and neglected Noma patients in the most rural parts of the country. It is through this role that I learned the values of humanity, compassion, persistence and teamwork. The experience truly opened my eyes, changed my perceptions, and gave me the opportunity to know my country in ways I never imagined.