Terry Wilson is a physiotherapist delegate with the Canadian Red Cross. With years of experience in pediatric rehabilitation, she has worked in various parts of the world, providing rehabilitation support to communities impacted by emergencies, disasters, and conflict.
Terry began her career as a physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada. After her retirement in 2020, she pursued a master's degree in Global Health, with the goal of shifting her practice into the humanitarian sector.
That same year, she joined a roster of humanitarian professionals with the Canadian Red Cross who are trained and ready to respond to emergencies and disasters around the world at a moment's notice.
Terry’s first international experience with the Canadian Red Cross was in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, there has been an increase in complex injuries resulting in a critical need for physical therapy rehabilitation to help treat patients.
Terry embarked on a six-month mission, working with local staff to provide technical support, including supporting skill development trainings, designing programs, and helping with assessment tools to ensure care provided to patients met needs and were evidence based.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
In 2023, Terry supported the launch of a program to bring rehabilitation into remote communities in Ukraine, designed to support local experts on the ground. Terry collaborated closely with members of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to create the strategic plan and to deliver training for the project launch.
Terry notes that no two deployments are the same and it really depends on the country where support is being provided.
Rather than focusing primarily on training, Terry spent most of her time in Gaza at the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah providing clinical care. The Canadian Red Cross is working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross and several other National Societies to operate the field hospital. We’ve provided funds, equipment, and personnel with support from donors and the Government of Canada.
Working at the field hospital, Terry’s days started at 7:30 a.m. with a handover meeting, rounds, and direct patient care. She worked alongside Palestinian physiotherapists, supporting both patient rehabilitation and the overall functioning of the department.
Photo: ICRC
“Before I went to Gaza, I got material for back slabs,” says Terry. “I put back slabs on any of my friends and family members that were willing to give me a limb.” Back slabs are a form of support for joints, used to support fractures or joint problems.
Beyond clinical preparation, Terry highlights that preparation is multifaceted and context specific. Cultural considerations, local standards, and the realities of working in areas experiencing active conflict all shape the deployment experience. “No matter what you do, you never really are fully prepared until you get there,” says Terry.
Terry emphasized the value of collaboration with local experts. “Local staff have cultural knowledge, medical knowledge, and we can't come in and pretend that we are the expert in everything,” says Terry. “We need to see this as a collaborative dialogue, and we need to appreciate and recognize what the local staff bring to the table as well.”
Photo: ICRC
Working in various regions impacted and recovering from conflict has shaped Terry’s personal perspective. “My deployments have been in countries that are not as privileged as ours,” says Terry. “You see the absolute resilience of people, specifically my time in Gaza, but also the other countries that I've been in. The ability to carry on and demonstrate resilience, a positive attitude, maintaining hope, willing to live in difficult circumstances and still show up physically and emotionally every day.”
Terry takes this reminder into her personal thinking and daily life in Canada. She explains that it helps her reset her priorities and understand life a little better.
“I can't find this level of stimulating work here in Canada. I'm able to participate in learning that I don't have here. So learning as in doing different things from a physiotherapy perspective, but also learning different cultures, meeting different people from all over the world.”
Terry plans to continue supporting with the Red Cross internationally. The experiences, connections, and knowledge gained through these deployments have become a part of her story.
“Never in typical travel would I have ever met the people I've met, learned what I've learned about different cultures, and be able to immerse myself and live within them. This would not have been my life experience if I wasn't doing this work.”
To learn more about how the Canadian Red Cross provides support internationally, visit: International Cooperation | Canadian Red Cross.
If you’re interested in joining the Canadian Red Cross, visit: Opportunities | Canadian Red Cross.
Terry began her career as a physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada. After her retirement in 2020, she pursued a master's degree in Global Health, with the goal of shifting her practice into the humanitarian sector.
That same year, she joined a roster of humanitarian professionals with the Canadian Red Cross who are trained and ready to respond to emergencies and disasters around the world at a moment's notice.
Supporting Rehabilitation Capacity in Ukraine
Terry’s first international experience with the Canadian Red Cross was in Ukraine. Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, there has been an increase in complex injuries resulting in a critical need for physical therapy rehabilitation to help treat patients. Terry embarked on a six-month mission, working with local staff to provide technical support, including supporting skill development trainings, designing programs, and helping with assessment tools to ensure care provided to patients met needs and were evidence based.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
Reflecting on her experience in Ukraine, Terry emphasized the long-term impact of this work. “One of the things that I really took away from that deployment was how much it was about capacity building and providing support to local colleagues in a way that left behind knowledge,” explains Terry.
Mobile Rehabilitation Units Providing Care in Remote Areas of Ukraine
In 2023, Terry supported the launch of a program to bring rehabilitation into remote communities in Ukraine, designed to support local experts on the ground. Terry collaborated closely with members of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to create the strategic plan and to deliver training for the project launch.
Supporting the Red Cross Field Hospital in Gaza
Terry notes that no two deployments are the same and it really depends on the country where support is being provided. Rather than focusing primarily on training, Terry spent most of her time in Gaza at the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah providing clinical care. The Canadian Red Cross is working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross and several other National Societies to operate the field hospital. We’ve provided funds, equipment, and personnel with support from donors and the Government of Canada.
Working at the field hospital, Terry’s days started at 7:30 a.m. with a handover meeting, rounds, and direct patient care. She worked alongside Palestinian physiotherapists, supporting both patient rehabilitation and the overall functioning of the department.
Photo: ICRC
Preparing for Deployment to an Area Experiencing Active Conflict
Preparing for deployment requires both technical readiness and adaptability. Before her first mission to Gaza, Terry focused on improving specific clinical skills as a treating physiotherapist.“Before I went to Gaza, I got material for back slabs,” says Terry. “I put back slabs on any of my friends and family members that were willing to give me a limb.” Back slabs are a form of support for joints, used to support fractures or joint problems.
Beyond clinical preparation, Terry highlights that preparation is multifaceted and context specific. Cultural considerations, local standards, and the realities of working in areas experiencing active conflict all shape the deployment experience. “No matter what you do, you never really are fully prepared until you get there,” says Terry.
The Importance of Local Knowledge and Collaboration
When working internationally with the Canadian Red Cross, supporting local National Society staff and capacity building is at the forefront of every deployment.Terry emphasized the value of collaboration with local experts. “Local staff have cultural knowledge, medical knowledge, and we can't come in and pretend that we are the expert in everything,” says Terry. “We need to see this as a collaborative dialogue, and we need to appreciate and recognize what the local staff bring to the table as well.”
Photo: ICRC
Lessons in Resilience and Perspective
Working in various regions impacted and recovering from conflict has shaped Terry’s personal perspective. “My deployments have been in countries that are not as privileged as ours,” says Terry. “You see the absolute resilience of people, specifically my time in Gaza, but also the other countries that I've been in. The ability to carry on and demonstrate resilience, a positive attitude, maintaining hope, willing to live in difficult circumstances and still show up physically and emotionally every day.” Terry takes this reminder into her personal thinking and daily life in Canada. She explains that it helps her reset her priorities and understand life a little better.
A Career of Purpose and Continuous Leaning
For Terry, humanitarian work offers both personal and professional fulfilment. It provides the opportunity to apply her skills in meaningful ways, while continuing to learn from different cultures and people.“I can't find this level of stimulating work here in Canada. I'm able to participate in learning that I don't have here. So learning as in doing different things from a physiotherapy perspective, but also learning different cultures, meeting different people from all over the world.”
Terry plans to continue supporting with the Red Cross internationally. The experiences, connections, and knowledge gained through these deployments have become a part of her story.
“Never in typical travel would I have ever met the people I've met, learned what I've learned about different cultures, and be able to immerse myself and live within them. This would not have been my life experience if I wasn't doing this work.”
Learn More about the Canadian Red Cross Internationally
To learn more about how the Canadian Red Cross provides support internationally, visit: International Cooperation | Canadian Red Cross. If you’re interested in joining the Canadian Red Cross, visit: Opportunities | Canadian Red Cross.
