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Medical Missions

Treating HIV-positive women.

Repairing young children’s cleft palates.

Teaching new techniques to less-experienced nurses.

Does this sound like a normal day at your hospital? Well, imagine doing all these things in a remote medical facility somewhere in Guatemala. Or Uzbekistan. Or Ivory Coast.

Every year, thousands of American nurses and physicians donate their time to work on medical missions. These volunteers treat patients and teach medical staff in developing countries, where adequate supplies, facilities, and training are in short supply. Some volunteers use their precious few weeks of vacation or leave time; others dedicate several months or even several years.

Laurie DeRosa is a medical advisor to Healing the Children Northeast, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping children around the world receive needed medical care. She volunteers on a different mission at least twice a year. Like DeRosa, many nurses see working overseas as an opportunity to make a difference in the world, while experiencing a new culture, meeting new colleagues, and learning new skills.

"This kind of work is life-changing," says DeRosa. "Each time I go, I get more than I give. And I leave with a better understanding of what life’s priorities should be."

Healing the Children is just one of dozens of volunteer groups that organize missions abroad. Some are affiliated with religious organizations and include a missionary component, while others are non-sectarian and focus solely on providing medical care and training. Organizations range in size and specialty, and vary in the costs they are able to cover for volunteers. A comprehensive list can be found on the International Medical Volunteers Association (IMVA) Web site. The American Academy of Pediatrics posts a list of groups that focus on overseas pediatric volunteer opportunities.

Many of these non-profit organizations are unable to pay for airfare and travel expenses of short-term volunteers, but will generally provide housing and food onsite. Nurses can pay travel costs out-of-pocket and deduct the expense on tax returns as a charitable contribution, or they can find local sponsors from area businesses, medical groups, and religious organizations. In addition, service organizations like Rotary International and the Lions Club International often will sponsor qualified local individuals, or will, as a club, organize and fund an entire medical team to address a crisis situation overseas.

Most volunteers simply want to use their vacation time to do something interesting and rewarding. Some, however, try out a one- or two-week mission to see if they might like to commit to a longer assignment. For those who decide to dedicate a year—or even a lifetime—to providing care overseas, there are a number of organizations, including high-profile groups like Doctors Without Borders and the Peace Corps, that provide stipends and long-term career opportunities.

Nancy Savage, a retired nurse and currently Professor Emerita of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati, jumped into long-term missions 40 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. She’s spent months, even years at a time, working in various countries for Project Hope, and she sees long-term assignments as a way to make a real difference in an area.

"We go in for a year to accomplish a measurable goal," says Savage. "The joy of being in one place for a longer period of time is that you get to see the difference your work makes in that area."

Whether you want to dedicate a week or lifetime to overseas medical care, how do you choose where to go, what to do, and what organization to work through? The best way to start is to talk with other volunteers. Get their perspectives on different groups and types of missions. You may find someone in your hospital or on an online nursing bulletin board who’s willing to share his or her experiences and insights on various organizations. Browse among the organizations and contact those that interest you for more information. We’ve included a list of questions (see sidebar) the IMVA suggests you consider when choosing a group with which to work.

After that, the process is simple. You’ll need to submit an application to your organization of interest and be prepared to show an up-to-date license, references, and record of experience. The organization will help you determine which shots, visas, and paperwork you need, and most also will assist you in making travel arrangements, even if they are unable to pay for your travel.

As for personal preparation, Savage recommends learning about the local customs and belief systems so you can interact more effectively with patients and staff without imposing your own culture on them. An organized mission almost always will include translators, but while it’s not necessary to have local language skills, it’s helpful to know a few simple words. You’ll find some great educational links here if you’d like to learn a bit of the language before traveling to a Spanish-speaking country. And ask your volunteer organization for recommended training options.

Finally, the mantra among veteran volunteers is "Be flexible!" Leave your expectations at home and realize the working conditions in a foreign country are very different from what you experience in the U.S. Expect to work hard—and get ready to have your life changed.

Says DeRosa, "Anyone who thinks of this as a vacation should not go. It’s a lot of work, but it pays back so much more than you can imagine."

Adds Savage, "It’s the most wonderful experience if you do your research and know what you are getting into. Be prepared for the greatest adventure of your life."