Together with Thomas D. Rees, an American surgeon (also a beneficiary of the Marks Plastic Surgery Fellowship), they would develop the idea of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and its Flying Doctors Service.
[3] Wood's fundraising trips brought him into contact with famous people: the Aga Khan IV, Vice-President Richard Nixon, as well as David Rockefeller.
[1] According to Sister Breege Breslin, one of the Medical Missionaries of Mary who worked with Wood on many occasions as his theatre nurse, said that it was his faith and his determination to help ease a situation that made him the ‘Legend’ he became.
Sister Breege said during an interview that even after long hours of surgery, with very little daylight left for him to fly back to base, Wood would always take the time to see one last patient.
Wood retired from being Director General of AMREF in 1983[1] and soon afterward went on to establish Farm Africa (Food and Agricultural Research Mission).