Docs Day Out

It’s not everyday that Mercy Ships volunteer doctors get a chance to gather together outside of the operating theatre, but the British Association of Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgeons in Cardiff Wales earlier this month provided just that opportunity.

A handful of Mercy Ships doctors and surgeons gathered from around the UK to join Dr. Gary Parker, Africa Mercy Chief Medical Officer and maxillofacial surgeon, as he presented the opening lecture at the association’s annual scientific meeting in Cardiff City Hall.

With 21 years of experience in surgery with Mercy Ships Dr. Gary’s topic was “The right to look human – oral and maxillofacial surgery for the poor of our world.”

Peter McDermott, oral maxillofacial surgeon from London who attended stated, “Gary's lecture was riveting to the audience. The impact amongst my colleagues was visible and moving. The message was overwhelmingly humble, but so powerful because of that.

”Dr. Gary was also made a Fellow with the Royal College of Surgeons November 2007 in London. He estimates that he has done around 4000 surgeries during his time with Mercy Ships.

Previous to his Mercy Ships career, Gary spent 5 years in North Wales working his way up from locum registrar to senior registrar and consultant positions at the Glan Clwyd Hospital. Dr. Gary also has an honours degree in Science from the University of California Davis and a Doctorate in Dental surgery from UCLA.