Lasting impact in action Meet Rachel Buckingham:

The volunteer surgeon who performed the first surgery onboard the Global Mercy.

Around 100 years ago, Rachel Buckingham’s grandmother became a doctor at a time when some universities in the UK still barred women from qualifying as physicians. Little did Dr Muriel Griffiths from Cardiff, Wales, know that she would inspire her descendants as she headed off to India to treat patients with leprosy in the 1920s.

Today, Dr Griffiths’ granddaughter Rachel is a lead orthopaedic surgeon volunteering with Mercy Ships. And, on Monday 6th March 2023 Rachel performed the first surgery onboard our new hospital ship docked in Senegal, West Africa.

“Coming out here you notice some stark differences. The lack of surgical care is heartbreaking. We are treating children with such severe deformities because they have not had access to surgery earlier in life.”

In sub-Saharan Africa, 9 out of 10 people have no access to safe surgery. This dire need is what keeps surgeons like Rachel coming back, as well as the opportunity to train local healthcare workers like Mohamed Sabounji who is on the path to becoming Senegal’s first paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

Just as her grandmother did, Rachel’s determination, compassion and medical expertise is impacting the lives of many patients facing urgent need. n