[ Washington, DC - April 25, 2013] Health Volunteers Overseas is delighted to announce the launch of its new oncology program at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, Bhutan. This program has been developed with the support of HVO sponsors, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.
Over the last two years, the National Referral Hospital has seen nearly 500 cancer patients; the most common cases include gastric, cervical, esophageal and oral cancer. HVO volunteers will work with internists, pediatricians, nurses, nurse students and health assistants at the National Referral Hospital and Royal Institute of Health Sciences to support the development of high-level oncology care to address Bhutan's recognized need for cancer care and prevention.
HVO volunteers will participate in the daily activities of the oncology inpatient and outpatient unit, offering lectures for hospital staff on cancer related topics, providing training to internists, pediatricians and nurses, and educating physicians and nurses about palliative care. Volunteers will also spend time at the Royal Institute of Health Sciences, providing training to health assistants and nurses.
Volunteer physicians and nurses must be appropriately trained and credentialed health care professionals who specialize in oncology. To volunteer, individuals need to be in active practice for at least 5 years or certified in their oncology sub-specialty area. Housing will be provided. Monthly assignments are preferred, but two week assignments may be allowed.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1964, with overarching goals of improving cancer care and prevention and ensuring that all patients with cancer receive care of the highest quality. More than 25,000 oncology practitioners belong to ASCO, representing all oncology disciplines (medical, radiation, and surgical oncology) and sub-specialties. Members include physicians and health care professionals participating in approved oncology training programs, oncology nurses, and other practitioners with a predominant interest in oncology. As the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer, ASCO is committed to advancing the education of oncologists and other oncology professionals, to advocating for policies that provide access to high-quality cancer care, and to supporting the clinical trials system and the need for increased clinical and translational research. Visit the ASCO website to learn more.
With more than 1,300 members, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is the premier medical specialty society for physicians trained in the comprehensive management of gynecologic cancers in women. Their purpose is to improve the care of women with gynecologic cancers by encouraging research and disseminating knowledge, raising the standards of practice in the prevention and treatment of gynecologic malignancies and collaborating with other organizations interested in women's health care, oncology and related fields. To learn more, visit the SGO website.
Health Volunteers Overseas is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to improve global health through the education of local health care providers. In 26 years of service, HVO's training has transformed lives through the design and implementation of 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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