Mar 30 • SURGhub Team

Restoring Identity Through Reconstructive Surgery: A Conversation with Dr. Sanderene Abdelnor

In this feature, we speak with Dr. Sanderene Abdelnor, a plastic surgery consultant, about how viewing surgery as a blend of technical precision and artistic judgment allows her to treat the person, not just the pathology.

Surgical professionals around the world use SURGhub to improve patient outcomes. In this series we highlight their stories.
Based at the 6 October Health Insurance Hospital in Egypt, Dr. Abdelnor operates within a bustling academic and clinical hub that serves a vast and diverse patient population. In this high-volume environment, where resources can be limited at times and patients often present with late-stage conditions, the work is as much about adaptability as it is about expertise. 
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"Surgery can restore more than anatomy—it can restore identity" 
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For Dr. Abdelnor, the spark for her career was the realisation that healing extends far beyond simply mending tissue. As a medical student, she observed the profound emotional shift in a patient recovering from a severe burn injury, an experience that revealed her chosen field was about more than physical repairs.  

Now a consultant as of 2025 she carries this lesson into every procedure, from hand repairs to complex auricular reconstructions. "The process of carving, shaping, and recreating something so intricate made me realise how uniquely plastic surgery blends technical precision with artistic judgment," she explains, noting that for her, "surgery can restore more than anatomy—it can restore identity." 
Dr. Sanderene Abdelnor works at the 6 October Health Insurance Hospital, a bustling academic and clinical hub in Giza, Egypt.
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"Seeing a patient regain the use of their hand provides me with a sense of purpose" 
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In the dynamic setting of 6 October Health Insurance Hospital, resources are often stretched thin and patients frequently present with complications due to delayed treatment. Navigating these daily hurdles requires Dr. Abdelnor to rely heavily on clinical judgment and a high degree of adaptability to ensure the best possible care for her patients. 

Despite these pressures, she finds her drive in the tangible, visible transformations that occur in the operating theatre. "What keeps me motivated is the impact of what we do," she explains. For Dr. Abdelnor, seeing a patient regain hand function or find confidence after years of living with a deformity provides a sense of purpose that outweighs the challenges of a high-volume environment. She firmly believes these are not just successful clinical outcomes, but profound personal milestones for the people under her care. 
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"The main challenge wasn’t the wound itself, but the child’s intense fear and distress" 
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"The main challenge wasn’t the wound itself, but the child’s intense fear and distress during each session," Dr. Abdelnor recalls of a particularly difficult case involving a young child with acute burns. While the physical injury was manageable, the psychological trauma of repeated dressing changes threatened the recovery process.  

Seeking a better way to manage this distress, she turned to SURGhub for guidance on paediatric care. After completing the module, she fundamentally shifted her approach to prioritise the patient's emotional state through structured distraction. "I started using simple methods—engaging the child with videos, speaking calmly, and creating a more reassuring environment," she shares. "I became more aware of the importance of structured distraction as part of treatment, not just an addition." 
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Seeking a better way to manage this distress, she turned to SURGhub
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For the next generation, she emphasises that surgical quality is not defined by resources alone, but by knowledge, adaptability, and consistency in practice. To help students build this foundation, she suggests three core pillars: 

  • Stay Curious: "Seek every opportunity to understand not just what is being done, but why," she suggests, encouraging learners to look beyond textbooks. 

  • Master Judgment: Technical skill is vital, but empathy and clinical judgment are what define a truly great surgeon. 

  • Practice Resilience: "Becoming a good surgeon takes time," she advises. "Be patient with your growth—it requires consistency and resilience."


Through a blend of rigorous clinical practice and the continuous, global learning available on platforms like SURGhub, Dr. Abdelnor envisions a future where emerging surgeons have the tools to not only heal physical wounds, but to truly restore a patient's selfconfidence. 
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Sanderene's Top Course
Burn Reconstruction


Topic
: Review evaluation and operative planning for patients with burn injuries.

Description: This course has been specifically designed to train practicing medical professionals, surgeons, clinicians, nurses and wound care professionals.

"What keeps me motivated is the impact of what we do."

- Dr. Sanderene Abdelnor


About this Story

This profile is part of our Impact Stories series, highlighting how SURGhub learners are applying global surgical standards to local challenges. The views and opinions expressed in this story are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SURGhub.
 SURGhub is a joint initiative of
 Supported by
In association with
Global Surgery Foundation
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
RCSI Institute for Global Surgery
Johnson & Johnson Foundation
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