Our members'stories

American surgeon and mother of twins, Kristen Engle, took a brave step in offering to serve on the Board of ZIWA for the upcoming year. She showed even more courage and selflessness when she undertook a volunteer medical mission in the West Bank of Palestine two months ago, just before the attack on an aid convoy hit the world news headlines. What motivated her to go there? How did she find the experience?

Kristen says, "I went to Palestine, by myself, on a volunteer medical mission, sponsored by Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. I had never been to the Middle East, and saw an opportunity for adventure, to help others and get my hands back into operating. I spent almost the entire time in Palestine in the so-called West Bank. The experience was beyond comparison with anything I have ever done, a life-changing experience. I fell in love with the people the land, the food and the language. I did not see despair, but hope, undying hope."

Regarding the conflict in Gaza, Kristen adds, "On the one hand, the conflict is complex to resolve. On the other hand, it is so clear to me that the way the Palestinians have been treated falls far below humanitarian standards, even below war-time conventions. It is shocking that it is allowed to continue. As for the recent attack, I was curious to read about the different renderings of the story in the media. I don't often trust the news: I was not there, so do not know what actually happened.
Clearly, for whatever reason, the Palestinians in Gaza especially and the West Bank are being excluded from proper medical care. What I do know is that in the district of Jenin, where I was operating, all women with breast cancer must have a total mastectomy. Why? There is no access to radiation therapy, so lumpectomy is not an option. That alone is enough reason to go, yet there is more that could be done."

Kristen qualified as a surgeon in San Francisco, California, and worked in the US as a trauma surgeon before accompanying her husband and young children to Switzerland when he had the chance to work with a Physical Chemistry professor here in Zürich. She decided to take a break to be at home with her young twins, who now attend Swiss school. She hopes soon to return to work as a surgeon here, given her qualifications and experience, but she plans to return to Gaza again soon. She adds, "Traveling for me came late in life, and mostly on my own, which I do enjoy. Palestine was by far the most unusual place I have ever been and was intoxicating. I plan on making another mission to Gaza in October. Our family priorities are education, physical activity and adventure." That ambition seems about to be fulfilled during the coming year, both with ZIWA and in the wider world.