Health Volunteers Overseas
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February 2015

Dear Friends,   

 

As I write this, much of the northeast US is crippled under a severe winter storm. Travel bans are in effect, power outages are widespread, and store supplies have been depleted. Although the circumstances are different, imagine if you worked under similar hardships on a daily basis. Transportation is limited, at best, and patients often arrive at the hospital on the back of a bike. Power outages are a common - often daily -occurrence. Supplies and equipment that we take for granted are either non-existent or in extremely short supply. These are the conditions under which many of our colleagues work each day. Their commitment and ingenuity are both admirable and humbling.

 

Our colleagues' commitment to their patients yields an eagerness to learn new information, develop new skills, and practice different techniques. HVO volunteers often acknowledge this enthusiasm for learning, and recall their own excitement as they embarked on their careers. This is the joy of volunteering, as the knowledge you share ignites a spark in others and renews your own enthusiasm.

 

This year, please consider volunteering or support our work improving global health care.

 

May everyone have a warm and safe month ahead!       

 

Sincerely,


 
Nancy 

Nancy A. Kelly, MHS

Executive Director

 

  
Quick Links

Join Button

Indianapolis, IN, Feb. 5 - 7

Find HVO at Booth 1041 to learn more about physical therapy volunteer opportunities overseas.

 

Global Health Reception

Westin Indianapolis, Grand 4, Fri., Feb. 6, 8-10 p.m.

Join us at the Global Health Reception during CSM 2015. It is a great opportunity to network and share with lots of colleagues interested in all kinds of global health initiatives.

 

Las Vegas, March 24 - 28

The Orthopaedics Overseas (OO) booth (#6353) in the Venetian/Sands Expo, will be open Wed., March 25 - Fri., March 27. 

 

OO Annual Luncheon

Fri., March 27, 12 - 2 p.m.

Held in the Reno Room at Harrah's Las Vegas during the AAOS Annual Meeting; you can reserve your ticket online or by calling the HVO office at (202) 296 - 0928. Reservations recommended.

HVO at AAN

Washington, DC, April 20 - 23

Please come by the HVO booth (#1645) during the Annual Meeting to learn more about volunteer opportunities overseas for neurologists.

 

HVO at ACP

Boston, MA, April 30 - May 2

Come visit HVO at Booth 1036 to learn more about Internal Medicine volunteer opportunities overseas.

 

Dates of Interest
 
February 4

BookResources

Book of Interest:

A Promise in Haiti: A Reporter's Notes on Families and Daily Lives
by Mark Curnutte 

On HVO KnowNET:

These are essential resources for volunteers preparing to travel overseas, providing on-the-ground observations & information. Reports and surveys from previous volunteers are available in each project folder.

Recommend any resources? 

Contact the HVO office.

 


TTL
Teach-Travel-Learn: Volunteering with Orthopaedics Overseas
June 12-13, 2015
Washington, DC

 

This workshop prepares you for overseas volunteer assignments, providing specific skills for teaching orthopaedics in resource-scarce countries.

 


HVO Golden Apple Nominations Needed 

Celebrate the contribution of HVO members, volunteers, supporters and partners by nominating them for a Golden Apple.

 

An HVO volunteer works with a local provider  to help an orthopaedic patient.
Our members, supporters, volunteers, and partners make our work possible. HVO members and supporters provide essential resources to create new projects and recruit health workers to teach and train overseas. Volunteers share their expertise and donate their time to work directly with their colleagues in resource-scarce countries, providing knowledge, skills, and professional opportunity. Our partners work with us to make our projects possible.

Golden Apple

These individuals all demonstrate their dedication to HVO's mission. However, there are HVO contributors - volunteers, donors, members, on-site contacts and other partners - who make an exceptional effort to foster our mission, enthusiastically contributing their time and resources. Each year, HVO recognizes and celebrates these individuals with our Golden Apple Award.

 

We are currently seeking nominations for the 2015 HVO Golden Apple. Anyone who knows of an HVO contributor's work is welcome to nominate them for the recognition, and nominations are due March 16, 2015. Visit our website to find out more about the nomination process.

Winners will be announced on April 7th - World Health Day.

You can view past recipients of the HVO Golden Apple on our website. We are honored by the contributions of these individuals to improving global health and transforming lives.


VolunteerOpportunitiesWe Need You
Volunteer with HVO! Here are just a few openings we have available. Visit our website for a full project list.

  

Anesthesiology - NEW PROJECT

Kumasi, Ghana

Anesthesiologists are needed for 2 - 4 week (4 weeks preferred) assignments to teach and train students and staff at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Volunteers will provide lectures, operating room training, and mentoring on anesthesia care.  Volunteers should be board certified/eligible and need an active license to practice medicine unless they are retired. Individual volunteers or teams of two are welcomed.  Final year residents accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor. Volunteers in all subspecialties of anesthesiology are welcomed, with a particular interest for those in pediatrics and trauma care.  For more information please contact Kate Douglass.

 

Dermatology

Cambodia

A dermatologist is needed from June 8th-19th to provide lectures for the dermatology residency program at Preah Kossamak Hospital, located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Volunteers must be board certified or eligible and hold a current license to practice dermatology in the United States or Canada. Active or retired dermatologists are recruited. For more information please contact Kate Douglass.

Nurse Education

Tanzania

Nurses needed for minimum 3 week assignments to provide training for clinical and management nurses focusing on ICU/ICU medical-surgical nursing. Volunteers must be ICU or medical/surgical nurses with education or orientation planning experience. Masters degree or graduate level experience preferred but BSNs with at least 3 years medical/surgical, cardiovascular post-op care, ICU, and/or perioperative experience will be considered. For more information please contact Kate Douglass.

 

Oncology

Hue, Vietnam

A medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, palliative care physician, anatomical pathologist and oncology pharmacist are needed to join a multidisciplinary lymphoma team June 14-27, 2015. Volunteers need to have been in active practice for at least 5 years and be certified in their oncology specialty. Final year oncology fellows or those who have recently completed their fellowships will be accepted if paired with an experienced volunteer. For more information please contact Zoe Quint.

 

Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery
Kumasi, Ghana 

Orthopaedic and hand surgery volunteers needed to volunteer at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Volunteers should have trauma, pediatric, or hand surgery experience. Volunteers are needed for 1-4 week assignments. For more information please contact Andrea Moody.

 

Physical Therapy

La Paz, Bolivia

A physical therapist with fluent medical Spanish-speaking skills is needed for 2-4 week assignment. This volunteer will be part of a two-person team to provide continuing education for therapists and to provide specific clinical training in the areas of cardiopulmonary, stroke/trauma, orthopaedics, and pediatrics at Hospital Arco Iris (HAI). For more information please contact Kate Douglass.

 

HVO recruits volunteers throughout the year. 
Visit our website for a complete list of our projects.

FundingFellowship & Funding Opportunities
 

Kemme Family Foundation Traveling Fellowship

This fellowship is 6-8 weeks (8 weeks preferred) to support the travel of an orthopaedic surgeon who has recently completed training. The successful candidate will be placed in Malawi and the time frame of the assignment will be July - August of 2015.Click here to learn more. Applications are due April 1, 2015.

 

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Education and Volunteers Overseas Committee is offering a grant to fund two airfares (covered up to $2,500 each) for dermatologic-related volunteerism travel through Health Volunteers Overseas. Approved HVO dermatology volunteers who are currently AAD members can apply through the AAD website.

 

AAWC Grants Available

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) will fund five $1,500 travel grants to offset costs for AAWC Members to travel to HVO Wound and Lymphedema project sites in 2015. Click here to learn more. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

 

AFSH-HVO Young Surgeon Traveling Fellowship

The American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) will fund R3, R4, R5, fellows and surgeons within three years of completing their fellowship to volunteer at an HVO hand surgery project site for a minimum of 4 weeks. Click here to learn more. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Orthopaedics Traveling Fellowship

The Orthopaedics Traveling Fellowship will fund senior orthopaedic residents to volunteer at an HVO orthopaedic project site for a minimum of 4 weeks. Click here to learn more. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Visit the Fellowships & Funding page on the HVO website to learn more.

 

Feature Photo
Physical therapists in Vietnam work on new skills.
   
Heading to the 2015 Combined Sections Meeting in Indianapolis this week? Find out more about HVO's physical therapy project by visiting HVO's booth #1041

Support HVO's efforts to improve patient care around the world - visit our website to learn how.


Health Volunteers Overseas
1900 L St, NW * Suite 310 * Washington, DC 20036
(202) 296-0928 * www.hvousa.org

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