Sundos Al-Deeb Participates in Her First Surgery
Sundos Al-Deeb
Palestine, Gaza — September 2026
For medical students, moving from academic study to practical clinical experience is an important part of their educational journey. For Sundos Samer Al-Deeb, a fourth-year medical student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, a recent experience at Al-Shifa Medical Complex marked a significant personal milestone: participating in her first surgical procedure.
Sundos shared the experience in her own words:
“In a step that marks a turning point in my medical journey, I was grateful to participate in my first surgical procedure at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, led by Dr. Faisal Siam, Consultant and Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department, and Dr. Moanes Muhaisen.
The procedure successfully corrected a foot deformity in a nine-year-old girl through a Tarsometatarsal Capsulotomy and Soft Tissue Release with K-Wire Fixation, allowing her to begin her journey toward walking with greater stability and renewed hope.
My sincere thanks to Arab Student Aid International (ASAI) for the special opportunity they provided me and for their continued support of my ambitions during these difficult circumstances.
May God have mercy on Dr. Ishaq Al-Qutub, whose lasting mark and impact continue throughout our journey. May God grant him the highest place in Paradise, and may this giving remain a testament to his legacy and a means of easing the suffering of our patients.”
- Sundos Samer Al-Deeb
Fourth-Year Medical Student, Al-Azhar University – Gaza
Two Weeks Later: Another Step Forward
Just two weeks after participating in her first surgical procedure, Sundos reached another milestone in her clinical training.
On September 16, she had the opportunity to participate in a second surgical procedure at Al-Shifa Medical Complex - this time, a complex orthopedic case.
“As part of a clinical training program at the Faculty of Medicine, I had a special opportunity to scrub in and participate alongside Dr. Faisal Siam, Consultant and Head of the Surgery Department, and the orthopedic surgery team at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in a complex procedure to reconstruct the leg and save the limb of a 30-year-old patient who had sustained a shrapnel injury during the recent war on Gaza.
The patient had previously undergone four surgical procedures, which resulted in a complex infection and pseudoarthrosis with nonunion of the bone (Infected Tibial Pseudoarthrosis & Nonunion).
The latest surgery involved releasing the pseudoarthrosis, removing dead tissue, harvesting a 6 cm structural bone segment from the fibula and grafting it into the tibia to support the bone defect, reinforcing it with cancellous bone from the pelvis, and internally fixing it with a plate and screws.
Surgical Management of Infected Tibial Pseudoarthrosis/Nonunion with Segmental Defect using Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) with Plating, Non-vascularized Fibular Strut Autograft, and Iliac Crest Cancellous Bone Grafting.
By the grace of God, the surgery was successfully completed despite the challenges and shortage of necessary tools and equipment. Stability was restored to the limb as a step toward full recovery.
We pray for the patient’s complete recovery and return to normal life.”
- Sundos Samer Al-Deeb
Fourth-Year Medical Student, Al-Azhar University – Gaza
From her first surgical experience on September 2 to another complex procedure just two weeks later, Sundos continues to take meaningful steps in her medical education, developing her knowledge and gaining practical experience. Her journey also reflects the determination of medical students in Gaza who continue pursuing their education and professional training under exceptionally difficult circumstances.
