News
Follow on all fronts as the movement around The Heart of Nuba gains momentum.
Aurora Foundation Launches New Global Initiative
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has launched its new program, the Aurora Community, to actively support the program members by connecting them with each other in accordance with their area of intervention, encouraging them to exchange their knowledge, and promoting...
Dr. Tom Delivers Keynote for WISH Summit
Dr. Tom Catena delivered the keynote address to the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), on November 15. The theme of this year's Summit was ''One World Our Health''. To quote the WISH promotion of the event: ''Dr. Tom,' as he is affectionately known to his...
The Catena Family Expands!
We could not be more delighted to share some recent photos from Dr. Tom of his and Nasima's new family member! This year the adoption of their son, Francis Gene, was finalized, bringing a much-earned source of love and joy into the Catena tukal (household). There is...
An Update from Dr. Tom
The situation here in Nuba has been pretty stable for the past year. The Transitional government in Khartoum and the SPLA-N rebels have met recently for peace talks but were unable to reach any conclusions. The SPLA-N is demanding that Sudan have a secular (not...
Dr. Tom records COVID-19 video message from Sudan for health workers in hometown
Despite having no cell phone service and limited bandwidth available in the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan, Amsterdam native Dr. Tom Catena recorded a video message of solidarity to honor health workers in his home town of Amsterdam, NY during the COVID-19 crisis and...
Sudanese rebels and government enter final phase of talks
The Sudanese government and a coalition of rebel groups on Thursday entered into a final phase of peace talks, which will centre on the creation of a unified Sudanese army. Mediators described the discussions as the "most important" component of the Sudan peace...
Crazy Amazing Humans with Katrina Carlson Featuring Dr. Tom
Katrina Carlson has always been a front-line supporter of Dr. Tom and The Heart of Nuba, writing and performing "Bloom," the original song for the film, and traveling across the globe to perform at special screenings. So we are excited to announce the...
Reflections on an Earlier Interview
On March 27, 2018, Ishay Sesay of CNNi did a riveting 20 minute segment wtih Kenneth A. Carlson and Dr. Tom Catena about The Heart of Nuba. Carlson and Catena both talk about their aspirations for the Nuba people, which included al-Bashir being brought to...
“Heroic American Surgeon” Dr. Tom Earns Top Medical Missionary Award
Dr. Tom Catena has been honored with a top medical missionary award, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Catena will be presented with the Gerson L'Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service at an awards ceremony in New York City, April...
Special Screening of The Heart of Nuba in Yerevan, Armenia
The Heart of Nuba screened at the 2019 Impact Humanity Television and Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia in October. The film festival is produced under the umbrella of the Aurora Foundation. The Heart of Nuba received a ten minute standing ovation,...
Golf Event Raises more than $100,000 for Mother of Mercy Hospital
Steve Kettelberger, President of Blue Rock Construction in Philadelphia, and Dr. Tom first met while playing football at Brown University. In 2014, Steve joined Dr. Tom at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner where Dr. Tom was awarded the...
Dr. Tom, With Aurora Delegation, Receives Blessing from Pope Frances
On October 2, a delegation from the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative including Dr. Tom Catena received a special blessing from His Holiness Pope Francis during their visit to the Vatican. The visit was part of a wider trip from the group to Rome, during...
Nicholas Kristof: These Are Stories That Still Touch Me
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof travels around the U.S. and the world, shedding light on crises and unsung heroes. After 35 years at the Times, he compiled some of the work that is still particularly meaningful to him. Amid touching stories of...
Tom Catena in Fresno, CA for Aurora Prize Tour
In addition to caring for the people of the Nuba Mountains, this year, as the Aurora Prize Initiative Chair, Dr. Tom has been traveling and speaking about the Mother of Mercy Hospital and the Aurora Prize, conveying what the prize meant to him, and...
Dr. James Peck on Volunteering at Mother of Mercy Hospital
One of the gifts that has made it possible for Dr. Tom to travel and inspire others is having new doctors and surgeons do volunteer stints at Mother of Mercy Hospital, arranged through the long-term supporters of Mother of Mercy at the Catholic...