Ian Nicholson

From: Sydney

Current job: Adult and paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Children’s Hospital Westmead, Westmead Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital, and the Hills Private Hospital.

Role in Rwanda: Adult and paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

What sparked your interest in being involved: The challenge and the new culture, and the people have been through a lot.

Similar trips you’ve been on: I have been on about 30 Open Heart trips, to places like Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Rwanda.

What you remember most from a previous trip: One of the biggest challenges we face is choosing from hundreds of children and adults and deciding who to operate on. We not only have to consider their illness, but what resources and manpower we have and the safest way of getting the most done. Saying no is the hardest part. As for the highlights, achieving the goals that were set, and meeting new people – both in the countries we visit and also the team we travel with. There is great camaraderie and no politics. Seeing the gorillas in Rwanda last year was also a highlight.

Passions/interests: When I’m not working, I’m likely to be spending time with my family – my wife Melissa and our children Andrew, Luke and Emma. I like kayaking on the harbour, and restoring and riding Italian motorcycles. On previous heart trips I’ve been known to play guitar and sing bad karaoke.