Transporting Medical Supplies
Volunteering
Students
There are a number of different avenues for volunteering abroad, and you will need to do some research before making a decision. Many PAs arrange their own volunteer positions. This is fine if you have the contacts and choose to make the appropriate arrangements with the local ministry of health. The ministry of health will be able to provide you with the requirements for medical volunteers. Some require that all volunteers who render medical services in hospitals or clinics be able to provide the proper credentials.
However, for those making their initial foray into volunteering internationally we recommend volunteering with established medical organizations. Some of these agencies have used PAs in the past.
AAPA offers these links as a guide to help you locate various international opportunities. AAPA does not endorse or guarantee the safety or success of the opportunities.
You may find yourself volunteering or working abroad as a missionary or with an organization, and wondering about taking medical supplies into another country. You MUST research customs regulations and weight requirements prior to transporting medical supplies into another country, especially if you are carrying prescription drugs. Generally, you will need a ministry of health contact at your destination to help you get through customs with medical supplies. Do not plan to travel to another country with medical supplies and "sneak" them through customs. You could end up losing all of your supplies, paying excessive duties, or being arrested.
There are organizations that can help you transport medical supplies into different countries, or provide you with pre-packaged travel packs. Medical Assistance Programs (MAP) is one place for you to look. When it comes to transporting medical supplies we highly recommend working with an established organization rather than trying to transport them on your own.
You should also familiarize yourself with the
Drug Donation Guidelines and the Health Care Equipment Donation Guidelines developed by the World Health Organization.
Visit our Before You Go page for a checklist of travel information and questions to ask when considering taking a volunteer position.
International Medical Volunteers Association (IMVA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes, facilitates, and supports voluntary medical activity though education and information exchange. IMVA works with a wide variety of volunteers including physician assistants. IMVA does not send or sponsor volunteers, instead IMVA assists volunteer-seeking organizations in locating volunteers to work in their programs. The IMVA has a very extensive database that is searchable by country.
International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse (IHOC) Web site is designed for health care professionals and students who are interested in volunteer work, employment, or studying with under served communities at home or abroad. IHOC has organized a comprehensive list and detailed files on medical volunteer organizations. Many of the organizations in the IHOC database do not have their own Web sites.
Humanitarian Medical Relief (HMR) donates medical equipment, supplies, and volunteer services in order to provide free medical care to the indigent in the United States and developing countries through the collection and distribution of the vast number of new and/or usable medical items that, due to expiration dates or updated technology, would normally be directed to our landfills or incinerators. HMR offers hope to those without access to healthcare by establishing humanitarian clinics.
CARE Corps is a cultural exchange program for people interested in traveling overseas and working as CARE volunteers. CARE Corps volunteers work alongside Peruvian families and CARE staff on projects that promote sustainable solutions to poverty. Located in the Andes Mountains, the program offers hands-on work opportunities, cultural exchange activities and educational sessions about global issues. Volunteers pay an all-inclusive program fee which covers accommodation, meals, domestic transportation, and all program activities.
The International Center for Equal Healthcare Access (ICEHA) is a nonprofit organization that engages healthcare professionals to transfer their expertise on HIV care and infectious disease to colleagues in developing countries. ICEHA volunteers do not provide HIV care directly. Instead the volunteers provide a clinical mentoring program and transfer their medical expertise to local health professionals with the skills needed to take care of their own patients thereby enable developing countries to fight the HIV epidemic from within.
Physicians For Peace is a not-for-profit organization that encourages financial and in-kind contributions to underwrite its mission-based work. Volunteers provide quality medical education and care to those in need. In addition to physicians the organization works with a variety of health professionals (e.g., dentists, physician assistants, nurses, etc.) along with pre-med, medical students, interns, and residents on some of their missions (it all depends on the team leader who is responsible for selecting the make-up of the team and identifying the team members).
Health Volunteer Overseas is a private non-profit organization dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care in developing countries through the training and education of local health care providers.
Mercy Ships is a non-profit global charity serving people of all faiths. Mercy Ships provides medical care, community development and training for long-term sustainable change in developing nations
Educational Programmes Abroad provides educational internships and professional experiences in an international setting. The internship program is unpaid, and all of the expenses are borne by the participant. This is a good program for students just out of PA school, or during a school break. Click on this link to read about a PA student's experience in Germany.
Educational Programmes Abroad
137 N. Park Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
616/382-0139
Project MedSend offers grants to repay student loans owed by healthcare professionals while they serve as medical missionaries in medically underserved areas of the world. Grant Applicants must:
Volunteering
Students
There are a number of different avenues for volunteering abroad, and you will need to do some research before making a decision. Many PAs arrange their own volunteer positions. This is fine if you have the contacts and choose to make the appropriate arrangements with the local ministry of health. The ministry of health will be able to provide you with the requirements for medical volunteers. Some require that all volunteers who render medical services in hospitals or clinics be able to provide the proper credentials.
However, for those making their initial foray into volunteering internationally we recommend volunteering with established medical organizations. Some of these agencies have used PAs in the past.
AAPA offers these links as a guide to help you locate various international opportunities. AAPA does not endorse or guarantee the safety or success of the opportunities.
Transporting Medical Supplies
You may find yourself volunteering or working abroad as a missionary or with an organization, and wondering about taking medical supplies into another country. You MUST research customs regulations and weight requirements prior to transporting medical supplies into another country, especially if you are carrying prescription drugs. Generally, you will need a ministry of health contact at your destination to help you get through customs with medical supplies. Do not plan to travel to another country with medical supplies and "sneak" them through customs. You could end up losing all of your supplies, paying excessive duties, or being arrested.
There are organizations that can help you transport medical supplies into different countries, or provide you with pre-packaged travel packs. Medical Assistance Programs (MAP) is one place for you to look. When it comes to transporting medical supplies we highly recommend working with an established organization rather than trying to transport them on your own.
You should also familiarize yourself with the
Drug Donation Guidelines and the Health Care Equipment Donation Guidelines developed by the World Health Organization.Volunteer Organizations
Visit our Before You Go page for a checklist of travel information and questions to ask when considering taking a volunteer position.
International Medical Volunteers Association (IMVA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes, facilitates, and supports voluntary medical activity though education and information exchange. IMVA works with a wide variety of volunteers including physician assistants. IMVA does not send or sponsor volunteers, instead IMVA assists volunteer-seeking organizations in locating volunteers to work in their programs. The IMVA has a very extensive database that is searchable by country.
International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse (IHOC) Web site is designed for health care professionals and students who are interested in volunteer work, employment, or studying with under served communities at home or abroad. IHOC has organized a comprehensive list and detailed files on medical volunteer organizations. Many of the organizations in the IHOC database do not have their own Web sites.
Humanitarian Medical Relief (HMR) donates medical equipment, supplies, and volunteer services in order to provide free medical care to the indigent in the United States and developing countries through the collection and distribution of the vast number of new and/or usable medical items that, due to expiration dates or updated technology, would normally be directed to our landfills or incinerators. HMR offers hope to those without access to healthcare by establishing humanitarian clinics.
CARE Corps is a cultural exchange program for people interested in traveling overseas and working as CARE volunteers. CARE Corps volunteers work alongside Peruvian families and CARE staff on projects that promote sustainable solutions to poverty. Located in the Andes Mountains, the program offers hands-on work opportunities, cultural exchange activities and educational sessions about global issues. Volunteers pay an all-inclusive program fee which covers accommodation, meals, domestic transportation, and all program activities.
The International Center for Equal Healthcare Access (ICEHA) is a nonprofit organization that engages healthcare professionals to transfer their expertise on HIV care and infectious disease to colleagues in developing countries. ICEHA volunteers do not provide HIV care directly. Instead the volunteers provide a clinical mentoring program and transfer their medical expertise to local health professionals with the skills needed to take care of their own patients thereby enable developing countries to fight the HIV epidemic from within.
Physicians For Peace is a not-for-profit organization that encourages financial and in-kind contributions to underwrite its mission-based work. Volunteers provide quality medical education and care to those in need. In addition to physicians the organization works with a variety of health professionals (e.g., dentists, physician assistants, nurses, etc.) along with pre-med, medical students, interns, and residents on some of their missions (it all depends on the team leader who is responsible for selecting the make-up of the team and identifying the team members).
Health Volunteer Overseas is a private non-profit organization dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care in developing countries through the training and education of local health care providers.
Mercy Ships is a non-profit global charity serving people of all faiths. Mercy Ships provides medical care, community development and training for long-term sustainable change in developing nations
Students
Educational Programmes Abroad provides educational internships and professional experiences in an international setting. The internship program is unpaid, and all of the expenses are borne by the participant. This is a good program for students just out of PA school, or during a school break. Click on this link to read about a PA student's experience in Germany.
Educational Programmes Abroad
137 N. Park Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
616/382-0139
Project MedSend offers grants to repay student loans owed by healthcare professionals while they serve as medical missionaries in medically underserved areas of the world. Grant Applicants must:
- Be under the authority of a collaborating sending agency (an "Associate");
- Be within 18 months of leaving for career medical missions service;
- Show fiscal responsibility and stewardship maturity;
- Be in the process of paying off their student loans as soon as earning begins (internship, residency, practice).
