[Washington, DC - August 25, 2011] - HVO is pleased to announce the establishment of a physical therapy program in Guatemala at the Universidad Mariano Galvez (UMG). The Universidad is a private, non-faith based institution of higher education founded in 1966 in Guatemala City. A second physical therapy program exists at the UMG campus in Cobán.

The focus of the program is to assist and provide guidance to the faculty of UMG in strengthening their curriculum. UMG currently offers a 3 year technical program plus 3 more years for a bachelor's degree. Initial teaching will be on education related to current teaching and learning theory and strategies, evidence based practice, the evaluation process, and patient centered goal setting - and all future teachers will be asked to continue to thread these themes through their teaching. Volunteers will provide training to UMG in requested content areas, as well as provide continuing education to the clinical instructors related to clinical content and clinical supervision.

Volunteers must have a valid, current PT license in the United States or Canada. Current or retired faculty are preferred but clinicians with clinical expertise in areas of need will be considered as well. Preference will be given to those with a DPT or post-professional degree, but a BSPT or MPT with a clinical specialist certification will be considered.  Prospective volunteers should have at least five years clinical and/or teaching experience and prior international experience working/and or teaching in developing countries similar to Guatemala.  Spanish language proficiency is a plus (but not a requirement).

Volunteers will be recruited for assignments that are 1- 2 weeks in length when the school is in session. School is closed November 15 to January 15, the week of Easter and the Monday after, and June 15 to July 3.

A private, nonprofit organization, HVO was founded in 1986 to improve global health through education of local health care providers. In 25 years of service, HVO's training has transformed lives - of the health care providers, their colleagues and patients, and of the HVO volunteers themselves.  HVO designs and implements clinical and didactic education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, blood disorders and cancer, infectious disease, nursing education and wound management. In more than 25 resource-poor countries, HVO volunteers train, mentor and provide critical professional support to health care providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances. For more information, visit the HVO website.

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