Seppo Salminen & Leena Hirvonen

Seppo Salminen (b. 1947) is a highly accomplished orthopaedic surgeon with nerves of steel and an impressive international career. Originally from Finland, he has worked in eight countries, using five languages in his work. He has operated as  a war surgeon in several crisis areas, including Pakistan, French Guyana and Rwanda. He is currently based in Lyon, France.

Leena Hirvonen (b. 1980) is a journalist and media strategist. She has worked as editor of several newspapers and magazines in Finland, and as a producer at YLE, the Finnish national broadcasting company. Together they created A Surgeon in Rwanda, a poignant testimony resonating as a call to never forget.

Author portrait © Otto Virtanen