The honour, which recognises exceptional contributions by non-British citizens outside the standard honours cycle, celebrates Dr Tissingh’s remarkable work to improve surgical care and strengthen health systems in one of the world’s most challenging contexts.
A trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore, Dr Tissingh is a King’s alumna (Medicine, 2008) and holds an MSc in Tropical Medicine and International Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her research interests include bone and joint infections, particularly their management in low-resource settings, global surgery, health systems strengthening, and health economics.
Alongside her clinical work, Dr Tissingh leads King’s Global Health Partnerships’ long-term collaboration in the DRC. The partnership focuses on improving the quality of care in Kongo Central province, supporting local partners to strengthen the health system and enhance trauma outcomes by building the capacity of individuals, institutions, and systems. This work was previously recognised when Dr Tissingh received the King’s Alumnus of the Year Award in 2018, reflecting the impact of her contributions. She remains committed to delivering excellent surgical care within the NHS while working to improve access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery in the DRC, contributing to better health outcomes in both contexts.
Recent research from Dr Tissingh published in BMJ Global Health highlights the critical role of data in strengthening health systems in the DRC. The research emphasises the importance of a systems-level approach to improving surgical data collection and use, essential for informing clinical practice and guiding health policy.