This Is Actually Happening 382: What if you spent four months as a doctor in Gaza?
Nov 4, 2025
In this episode, humanitarian aid physician Travis Meleen shares his harrowing experiences working in Gaza amid conflict. He discusses the severe realities of trauma care, detailing the overwhelming influx of casualties during bombings and the scarce resources available. Travis provides insight into the emotional toll and moral dilemmas faced by medical staff under pressure, as well as his journey through PTSD after returning home. His reflections on human nature and the complexities of humanitarian work are both haunting and enlightening.
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Assess Usefulness Before You Deploy
- Before deploying, assess where you can actually add value and avoid 'white savior' approaches.
- Travis recommends observing, asking locals, and fitting your skills into existing systems rather than assuming superiority.
Working Inside Overrun Gaza Emergency Rooms
- Travis integrated into Gaza ERs and worked nonstop stabilizing mass-casualty patients in overwhelmed hospitals.
- He describes floors full of blood, patients on stairs, and constant waves of trauma arriving back-to-back.
The Nusrat Mass-Casualty Surge
- Travis recounts the Nusrat massacre mass-casualty where hundreds arrived in minutes with explosive injuries.
- He compares it to U.S. mass shootings and emphasizes the hospitals' lack of capacity and resources.