2017 Aurora Prize Laureate Dr. Tom Catena delivered a public lecture at the Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi on May 22. He presented his experience and challenges as a doctor in the war-torn Nuba mountains of Sudan where he has been working at the Mother of Mercy hospital for years. Dr. Tom Catena is the only surgeon at the hospital serving the area with more than 700,000 population.
“I am not a superhuman doctor. I encourage you if you have interest you also can do this work. I was like you 25-30 years ago. Anybody can do this work. It's a matter of will and the wish to do it. This work is extremely interesting and so gratifying. Don't be intimidated by the different problems there, by the difficulties of work in Africa,” Tom Catena said to students. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to show what is happening in Nuba. I really appreciate it.”
Yerevan State Medical University has awarded Tom Catena an honorary doctorate degree for the exceptional humanitarian actions on preserving lives in Sudan’s Nuba mountains.
After the lecture Dr. Tom Catena answered the questions of students and professors.
Dr. Catena’s visit to Armenia has become possible thanks to the efforts of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and three Armenian doctors who left for Sudan’s Nuba mountains to temporarily substitute him at the Mother of Mercy hospital while he is on his trip to Armenia.
