Ireland

Following an ‘Operation Smile’ mission to Nairobi in Kenya, Knut Moe, a final year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), yesterday addressed a number of leading medical professionals to tell of his travels.

Commenting on his experience, Knut said: ‘Our mission to Nairobi saw almost 200 patients screened and 100 surgical procedures performed on patients, some of whom had travelled for four days to see us and would not otherwise be able to afford the surgery. As a medical student, the experience of working with such a diverse group of people, all of whom are considered some of the best in their field, was one that I am most fortunate to have been a part of.

‘I am most grateful to all those who have made this Fellowship possible, including Operation Smile Ireland, RCSI and Johnson & Johnson. My experience during the mission will no doubt stay with me throughout my career and, once qualified, I would jump at the chance to be an Operation Smile volunteer in the future.
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Knut Moe was the recipient of the inaugural Operation Smile Ireland Medical Student Fellowship, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical. 


Operation Smile is a non-profit volunteer medical service organisation that facilitates and organises medical missions to provide safe sustainable treatment for children with facial deformities in the developing world.

The Operation Smile Student Fellowship was established in order to provide medical students with an opportunity to participate in international medical missions and to expand their understanding of and dedication to the humanitarian nature of the medical services field. The missions last an average of 10 to 12 days depending on the country concerned.