A Place at the Operating Table

Portfolio Ext.

Aug 15

In the last few years, I’ve worked closely with Frank Frank Frank as an adjunct art director, designer and photographer/videographer. My work with Frank began back in early 2020 with a trip to document the philanthropic surgical work being done at Kurtipur Hospital’s in Kathmandu, Nepal. At that trip, I was introduced to ReSurge International, a not-for-profit that trains and funds and advocates for reconstructive surgery in lower-income countries, and one of their premiere corporate partners Skinceuticals. Together, they’ve created a legacy of education, training, and compassionate care for physicians and their patients in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. And the Frank team has been a trusted creative partner that has documented their story for almost a decade.

In 2023, a Frank troupe traveled to Zimbabwe, Africa to capture the story of Dr. Thandiwe Munaiwa, one of four reconstructive surgeons service a population of 17 million. These four surgeons are performing life-changing care for victims of burns, accidents, and congenital birth defects.

Why Reconstructive Surgery Really Matters

30% of the global burden of disease is due to surgical conditions — three times more than Malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS combined. Additionally, 17 million people die annually due to surgically treatable conditions, and millions more experience a lower quality of life from preventable disabilities. 90% of the world’s population does not have access to surgical care. This is why ReSurge exists — to help correct this vast inequity. Resurge is one of the few organizations to provide the full scope of reconstructive surgical care for those in low-income communities.* And in partnership with Skinceuticals, they organize a program called Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery (PWRS) focused on developing the expertise of women surgeons and empowering them toward positions of leadership in their community.

That brings us back to Dr. Munaiwa, a member of the PWRS 2024 Cohort. A woman from the unlikeliest of circumstances learns to be a surgeon and is now a champion for gender equity and compassionate care for underserved populations. Learning who she is in the context of where she’s from helps us appreciate just how special she is. Her story was one that had to be told.

I helped the Frank Team develop the visual style of the film — providing art direction for color themes and grading — and developed the graphic design for on screen text and titles. In truth, my part was very small in the process, but meaningful. This blog post is more about sharing Thandiwe’s story and promoting the ReSurge/Skinceutical mission.

Critical Acclaim

The film received numerous awards from film festivals, including four silvers from the Telly’s and two platinum from Hermes. Additionally, the film was an official selection in dozes of film festivals.

I’m proud to have shared in the creation of this film. But, echoing the statement made on FRANK’s website, this is not my story and It’s not FRANK’s. This story “goes far beyond individual achievement. It is a poignant testament to the profound impact of dedication, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to one’s community. She serves as an inspiration and a reminder of the impact that one individual can have on the lives of many.”**

Watch the full film on ReSurge’s Youtube channel.