Facilitator
HEAL Africa Hospital via AusHeal
Services
Surgical intervention, departmental change management, education of executives and staff
Year
multiple years
Though not recent, Johanna’s most impactful humanitarian work was delivered across multiple deployments to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo – an experience that combined high-acuity clinical care with systems-level change in a resource-limited setting.
Working alongside surgical teams, she supported a range of complex procedures, including advanced maxillofacial tumour resections, obstetric fistula repairs, and large goitre surgeries – often under conditions most clinicians would never encounter. Theatre lists routinely continued through power outages, with no running water and limited infrastructure, requiring adaptability, clinical precision, and calm leadership under pressure.
Beyond the operating theatre, Johanna’s contribution extended into sustainable service improvement. She developed and implemented foundational departmental policies and standard operating procedures, including introducing the hospital’s first formalised surgical count protocol performed by local staff – an essential patient safety measure that continues beyond her time on the ground.
A core focus of her work was capability-building. She delivered hands-on training and education to executive leadership, surgeons, nursing teams, and support staff, ensuring that improvements were not only implemented, but embedded and owned locally.
Johanna also worked closely with the hospital’s community program, supporting initiatives designed to help women reintegrate into their communities and regain financial independence through sewing and haberdashery-based employment.
This work reflects her broader approach: combining clinical expertise with practical leadership to create meaningful, lasting change – particularly in environments where it matters most. If you feel your team, department, or organisation could benefit from Johanna’s assistance, please reach out here.
