User:Lrodr600/Karen Woo

Karen Woo, M.D. (?/?/1974 – August 6, 2010) was a Chinese-British general surgeon and humanitarian from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Woo graduated from University College London Medical School in 2003 and was an active member of the Royal College of Surgeons up until her death on August 6, 2010. Karen Woo trained at St Mary's Hospital, London and worked formerly with Bupa until her 2009 departure for Afghanistan. Woo's main focus was on humanitarian efforts, partnering with non-profit organizations like Afghanaid and Bridge Afghanistan to provide healthcare to low-income areas and donate medical equipment to government hospitals. She was also involved in the development of a health clinic for Badam Bagh Women's Prison. Prior to her death, Woo was working on a film to increase awareness about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and the importance of healthcare in remote areas.

In August of 2010, at age 36, Woo was shot dead along with nine other colleagues while crossing a river in a remote area. Woo's death along with her nine other colleagues is also known as the 2010 Badakhshan massacre. The Taliban had later claimed responsibility for the attacks but was then refuted. The identification of the attackers is still unknown.

Early Life and Education

As an adolescent, Karen Woo trained at the London Contemporary Dance School in dance and choreography and graduated in 1993. In 1994, she alongside her fellow dancers were awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. At 24, Woo enrolled in the University College London Medical School to pursue a career as a physician, later graduating in 2003. After medical school, she completed a surgical specialization and gained membership with the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Karen Woo briefly worked with Bupa and was pursuing a Masters in Surgical Education at the Imperial College of London while employed.

Medical School

During her time at the University College London Medical School, Woo had taken elective trips to Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and Papua New Guinea where she was given a first-hand glance to large disparities in healthcare. This inspired Karen Woo to organize a medical supplies donation effort upon her arrival back to England. The following year, she had organized these supplies to be shipped out to a hospital New Guinea. Woo also taught and gave mentorship to young doctors and new medical students.

Career

Karen Woo worked in National Health Service (England) hospitals throughout Oxford and London and later accepted a position as Associate Medical Director to Bupa Group Medical in 2008 where she was the lead for Clinical Governance, worked on accreditation projects for hospitals and provided research to the World Health Organization Surgical Checklist and Telemedicine. Woo's position also included consulting for Bupa International and provided business (medical) and consultancy inspection services for hospitals internationally.

Humanitarian Efforts in Afghanistan

In 2009, Woo left her high-paying position at Bupa to pursue humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan and other non-profit organizations. Her interests then involved her in the Afghanaid Fundraising Committee as an active member and she later began working with Bridge Afghanistan. Her efforts included medical supply donations from the UK to Afghanistan which was then distributed to government hospitals and the Badambagh Women's Prison clinic.

Karen Woo worked as a general physician and provided consultancy for emergency medical preparations for hostile environments. She also worked as an E.R. and trauma physician, as well as consulting for aviation medicine and working as a medical doctor for Remote Medical International.

Death

Karen Woo and nine aid-workers were returning from a three-week expedition in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan back to Kabul. While resting with her team after attempting to cross a swollen river in a Four-wheel drive vehicle, Karen Woo along with nine other colleagues, were shot and killed on August 6, 2010. The driver was the only survivor.

Legacy and the Enabled Children Initiative

The Karen Woo Foundation (resolution in 2020), now partnered with Enabled Children Initiative, was constructed in 2010 and partnered in 2013. The foundation sets out to provide grants to support Window of Hope, a private care and orphanage home for children with disabilities in Afghanistan. Apart from providing grants, the foundation also provides education and healthcare to children with disabilities all across Afghanistan, continuing the work of Dr. Karen Woo, M.D. and her colleagues.