ASA Overseas Training Programs
asahq.org/charity/programs/overseastrainingprogram
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are/jobs/
Has salaried positions for anesthesiologists, able to accept assignments for a minimum of 3 months. "The anesthesiologist works as part of surgical teams deployed when existing facilities are unable to care for persons injured as a result of war. He/she may also treat victims of accident and illness. The teams work either in hospitals built, equipped, supplied and managed by the ICRC, or in existing hospitals to which the ICRC provides supplies and equipment, reinforces local personnel and, in some cases, assists with training
Health Volunteers Overseas
www.hvousa.org
HVO, which sends more than 350 health care professionals abroad each year, aims to improve care in developing countries by training local personnel. Volunteers visit Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. HVO does not send "teams" but staffs each site with rolling placements of individual volunteers year-round. Major program areas are Anesthesia, Dentistry, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Hand Surgery, Internal Medicine, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing, Oral Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and Physical Therapy. Some assignments allow volunteers to take their spouse and/or children.
Mercy Ships
www.mercyships.org
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. The world's largest hospital ship, the Africa Mercy includes six operating rooms and a 78 bed ward. The ship's crew (about 450) is made up of both medical and non-medical volunteers who pay their own way to the ship and pay a crew fee to cover housing and meals on the ship. The anesthesia staff of six anesthesiologists includes at least four consultants, several of whom need to be pediatric anesthesiologists. Mercy Ships works with host nations and collaborates with qualified local and international partners, to help fill the gaps in health care systems, and provides mentoring and training opportunities for medical professionals. Surgical services focus on six specialities: maxillofacial, plastic reconstructive, general, ophthalmic, pediatric orthopedic, and obstetric fistula (VVF). While many of the volunteers on the ship are Christians from various denominations, a volunteer need not be Christian or have any religious affiliation in order to apply. All crew are expected to abide by the same Code of Conduct (posted on web site).
The Global Health Service Partnership (GHSP) program
http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/globalhealth/
GHSP a public-private collaboration between Seed Global Health, the Peace Corps, and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Established in 2012, the GHSP program is a novel federal initiative addressing vast shortages of health professionals in many parts of the world. GHSP is committed to helping increase clinical care capacity and strengthen health systems in resource-limited settings by cultivating the next generation of local doctors and nurses. The program places US health professionals alongside local medical and nursing faculty counterparts to meet the teaching needs identified at each partner institution.
Operation Smile
www.operationsmile.org
Operation Smile provides free plastic reconstructive surgery in over 50 sites worldwide annually. Most service is for facial clefts, but burn scars, and other congenital deformities are also treated. Pediatricians and Pediatric Intensivists support perioperative care. Educational programs and participation with international colleagues is emphasized. Through the Global Standards of Care program, Operation Smile commits to ensure that all patients, whether treated during in-country programs or international missions, benefit from the same procedures, sophisticated equipment, and credentialed staff. Fellowship support to participate in missions is available to residents in Plastic Surgery, Pediatrics and Anesthesiology.
Resurge International
www.resurge.org
Formerly Interplast. Mission is to provide free reconstructive surgery for people in developing nations, while also partnering with in-country medical professionals to help them develop their skills and surgical outreach programs. Teams of 10 to 15 members include plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, operating room nurses, and recovery room nurses. Trips generally last two weeks, during which time 75-100 surgeries are completed. Visiting Educator Workshops are specially geared to training in surgery, orthodontics, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Resurge also supports permanent Surgical Outreach Centers in nine countries. The Webster Fellowship allows a newly trained plastic surgeon to work at Interplast sites around the world for one year.
Cure International
www.cure.org
CURE is a non-denominational Christian organization which establishes specialty teaching hospitals (currently 10) and builds partnerships in developing countries to provide direct care services, training of in-country professionals, and advocacy for the health needs of children. Specialty diagnoses targeted by CURE include facial clefts, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, club foot, spinal deformities, osteomyelitis, and burn contractures. Patients are accepted regardless of faith or creed; CURE accepts volunteers of all faiths. Teams are sent 1-5 times per country each year; longer-term individual assistance is also welcome. CURE mostly uses short term volunteers (1-2 wk) but there is are full time positions for an anesthesiologist in some CURE hospitals. Sites needing help most include Uganda, Zambia, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Malawi. See Website under 'help now '> 'go' > 'professionals', or contact agency for current needs. Opportunities for Anesthesiology Residents include the GHO Resident International Scholarship. Residents and students may be accepted at some other locations on an ad hoc basis.
Medical Missions for Children
www.mmfc.org
Most procedures are cleft lips/palates and related secondary procedures. Dental team accompanies surgical team on most trips. Speech Therapists should be fluent in Spanish. Most team members have worked with each other in the past (Boston-based Board and volunteers), with others from NY and other states. Although prior international experience is not required, it is preferable. Countries visited on yearly basis with strong in-country friendships. Conferences & lectures are given throughout the trip. Costs to participant depend on funding; some are fully funded for transportation/housing, others share expense with volunteer team members. MMFC provides sponsorship forms that allow team members to raise necessary funds. Student may accompany as volunteers; contact agency.
Operation Rainbow
www.operationrainbow.org
Plastic surgical and orthopedic care for needy patients in the US and abroad, incorporating a strong teaching component as well. Operation Rainbow funds nurse's airfares and any supplies that are not donated. MDs pay their own airfare. (Although CRNA's may work independently under physician supervision, they are considered nurses for funding purposes).
Palestine Children's Relief Fund
www.pcrf.net
PCRF is a relief organization whose medical components include (1) bringing injured and sick children to the U.S. and Europe for free care that is not available to them in the Middle East; (2) supporting in-country medical services by sending medical supplies and equipment to war-torn Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; and (3) sending American medical professionals to train in-country medical personnel and treat difficult cases. The International Palestinian Cardiac Relief Organization (IPCRO) is a component that provides cardiac care and open-heart surgery for Palestinian children and adults with heart conditions
Alliance for Smiles
Rotaplast International
www.rotaplast.org
Provides free reconstructive surgery for indigent children born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities. Pediatricians and Pediatric Intensivists support perioperative care. A number of non-medical positions are available to members of Rotary Clubs.
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
MSF provides assistance when catastrophic events — such as armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, or natural disasters — overwhelm local health systems. MSF also assists people who face discrimination or neglect from their local health systems or when populations are otherwise excluded from health care. The US office, based in NY is one of 19 international offices of MSF. MSF requires 2 years of professional experience, availability for at least six months (less for surgeons and anesthesia providers), current professional credentials and relevant work or travel experience outside the U.S. MSF pays most expenses and allocates a small stipend. Application process takes several months, including interview and orientation; see website for details. Once accepted, MSF will match the volunteer's professional experience with field vacancies. Although MSF generally requires a minimum commitment of 6 continuous months, some assignments are 9-12 months duration. Thus, thus more flexibility by the volunteer allows consideration for more vacancies. Surgeons and anesthesiologists may be accepted for a minimum of six weeks in the field. Field staff does not have free selection of assignments, but may decline based on issues of security or the nature of the work.
Health Talent International (Guatemala) Mission Trips
http://healthtalents.org
Health Talents International is a non-profit Christian organization that works within the Churches of Christ to promote medical evangelism in developing countries. Ten surgical teams travel to HTI’s Clinical Ezell in Guatemala each year for cataract surgery, herniorrhaphies, hysterectomies, and cleft palate repair for the rural Mayan and ladino population living in the area.
Volunteer Medical Services Abroad (all specialties)
http://www2.pedsanesthesia.org/vmsa_search.iphtml
Searchable directory of over 150 US-based organizations that provide volunteer medical services, hosted by the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. May be searched by specialty, country, and a variety of other indices.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org/international/outreach/international-organizations-list
List of international eye care organizations
Canadian Network for International Surgery
http://www.cnis.ca
Seeks to improve maternal health, increase safety, and build local capacity in low-income countries by through building infrastructure, teaching, developing educational materials and surgical information systems. CNIS operates twenty centers in eight African countries. CNIS creates educational curricula specific to low income counties. Surgeons, obstetricians and nurses are trained to teach these courses, and they volunteer their time in Africa to teach skills to healthcare students.
Catholic Network of Volunteer Services
http://www.cnvs.org/
Searchable directory of Catholic overseas volunteer organizations; some are medical but most focus on areas such as social justice, development, and spiritual guidance.
International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse (IHOC)
http://library.umassmed.edu/ihoc/index.cfm
Maintained by University of Massachusetts Medical School Lamar Soutter Library.
Medical Mission Exchange
http://www.mmex.org
Online database of short- and long-term medical missions serving the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Belize
Plastic Surgery Foundation (Volunteers in Plastic Surgery)
http://www.thepsf.org/humanitarian/volunteers-in-plastic-surgery.htm
The website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Plastic Surgery Education Foundation lists trips planned by other organizations, and resources for trip planning and QA. Has also been known as aka Reconstructive Surgeons Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Volunteer Overseas Resources - GVI
http://www.gviusa.com/volunteer-abroad/?gclid=CNiPm9D7n8cCFc0WHwodnrsJfQ
For over 14 years, GVI has been operating globally and helping volunteers find projects, Not specifically medical.
International Medical Corps
www.imcworldwide.org
Responding rapidly to crisis situations, IMC offers emergency and on-going medical and health care assistance to people at highest risk, while training local counterparts to provide these services themselves. Its mission is to build local capacity in areas worldwide where few organizations dare to serve. By offering training and health care to local populations, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, IMC rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps restore self-reliance. IMC maintains an emergency response roster which requires that volunteers be willing to deploy within 72 hours, usually, and be available for 2-8 weeks.
Medical Reserve Corps
https://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage
The US is divided in to 10 Medical Reserve Corps units, within which there are multiple state and regional MRC's that implement preparedness programs for disasters and emergencies. The MRC was established when the events of 9/11 highlighted the need for coordinated mobilization and access for emergency health resources. As a result, the MRC was established to provide a way to recruit, train, and activate medical and health professionals to respond to community health needs, including disasters and other public health emergencies.
ReliefWeb
http://reliefweb.int/
Consolidates news and information about international disaster assistance and humanitarian aid projects from over 4,000 global sources. Can be browsed by topic, country, or specific disaster area.
ABA Certification - rules for rotations abroad
http://www.theaba.org/PDFs/BOI/BOI_PrimaryCertification
ASA Resident International Anesthesia Scholarship Program
asahq.org/charity/programs/scholarship
Residents have the opportunity to participate in the training and education of local anesthesia providers as well as experience the unique aspects of delivering safe anesthesia CURE Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With appropriate planning, the resident will be eligible to receive ABA credit. Covered expenses include travel, lodging, meals, visa, vaccinations and medical insurance. Applicants must be CA 2 residents at time of application and must have completed a pediatric anesthesia rotation, and currently in good standing in a U.S. Anesthesiology residency training program. Applications are usually due by the end of January.
HVO-SEA Fellowship for Residents
http://www.seahq.net
The applicant must have completed two years of anesthesia training and be in an ACGME accredited anesthesia residency program at the time of travel overseas. Senior anesthesia residents will spend 4 weeks teaching at a Health Volunteers Overseas (www.HVOUSA.org) anesthesia site in a developing country. Fellows are exposed to surgical conditions and anesthetic techniques not usually seen in their home institutions
Date of last update: January 23, 2023
