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Best Medical Mission Trips 2024 & 2025

International Volunteer HQ offers medical mission trips abroad for aspiring and practicing medical professionals, including pre-med and medical students, doctors, nurses, dentists and other specialties.

With more than 16 years of experience organizing affordable and all-inclusive medical volunteer programs , IVHQ offers top-rated medical missions in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.

All of IVHQ’s medical mission trips host volunteers year-round with flexible booking so you can easily make free changes to your destination, dates or duration up until 14 days before you start. Our all-inclusive medical mission programs start from only $20 per day and include accommodation, meals, airport pickup and 24/7 in-country support, making them super safe and affordable!

Whether you’re looking for medical missions trips for college students, pre-medical students, undergraduates, medical professionals or medical mission trips for nurses, IVHQ’s team of Volunteer Travel Specialists can help match you with a program that aligns with your personal goals and level of experience. For expert support, you can request personalized program recommendations from our experienced team.

What are medical mission trips?

On a medical mission trip with IVHQ, you will have the opportunity to provide medical care and health education to communities where resources and services are limited or difficult to access. By shadowing local doctors and nurses, you’ll play an important role in providing essential healthcare within under-resourced clinics and hospitals.

Whether you are traveling solo or want to organize a medical mission trip for nurses, college students or professionals, IVHQ makes planning a medical mission easy and affordable. Regardless of your destination, medical mission trips are a unique opportunity to work alongside local medical professionals abroad, gain hands-on career experience you often can’t find at home and provide invaluable support to hospitals and clinics within local communities.

Our programs are fully hosted, including airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support, meaning you can leave home feeling confident that you’ll be well supported in your new home away from home. Plus, you’ll be in the company of like-minded international medical students and professionals who share a passion for developing new skills and a global medical perspective.

Explore medical mission trips

• 2024 & 2025 medical mission trips in your specialty field
• Best medical missions for pre-med students
• Best medical missions for students and professionals?
• Best medical mission trips for nurses and pre-nursing students?

How long can I go on a medical mission trip for?

• Best medical or nursing mission trips for groups

Why go on a medical mission trip?

• Best medical mission trips for 2024 & 2025

How to apply for a medical mission trip

What 2024 & 2025 medical mission trips are available in your specialty field.

IVHQ offers affordable medical mission trips for nursing students and medical students, as well as trips for qualified healthcare professionals. If you’re an aspiring healthcare professional, we also organize medical mission trips for pre-medical students and pre-nursing students .

All volunteers are supervised by local staff and work under instruction from qualified doctors, so regardless of your level of qualification or experience, you’ll be well supported to make a valuable contribution as a medical volunteer abroad.

Check out our range of specialty medical volunteer opportunities:

• Dentistry - Costa Rica , Peru - Cusco , Guatemala , India - Kerala , India - Delhi , Tanzania
• Pharmacy - Peru (Cusco) , Guatemala , India (Delhi) , Zambia , Tanzania
• Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy - Guatemala , Peru (Cusco) , Costa Rica , Mexico , Vietnam , Sri Lanka , China , India (Delhi) , Nepal , Kenya , Romania
• Gynecology - Peru (Cusco) , Guatemala , Sri Lanka , Nepal , Cambodia , Tanzania , Zambia
• HIV/AIDS - Costa Rica , Kenya , Zambia
• Lab Technology - Peru (Cusco) , India (Delhi and Kerala) , Nepal , Tanzania , Zambia
• Midwifery - Peru (Cusco) , Nepal , Zambia , Ghana , Tanzania
• Nutritionist - Peru (Cusco and Lima) , Guatemala
• Optometry - Peru (Cusco) , Tanzania
• Orthopedics - Sri Lanka , Vietnam
• Occupational Therapy - Costa Rica , Mexico , Peru (Cusco) , Guatemala , Sri Lanka , Vietnam , Nepal
• Paramedics - Costa Rica , Guatemala , Peru (Cusco) , Tanzania
• Pediatrics - Peru (Cusco) , Guatemala , Costa Rica , India (Delhi) , Sri Lanka , Nepal , Cambodia , Tanzania , Zambia
• Radiology - Peru (Cusco) , Nepal , India (Delhi) , Vietnam
• Sonography - Peru (Cusco) , Tanzania

All IVHQ programs are open and hosting volunteers

You can make free changes to your booking up to 14 days before you start, and we have additional health and safety measures in place.

Medical missions for pre-med students

If you’re a pre-med student, IVHQ offers a range of medical volunteer opportunities and mission trips for pre-med students that provide you with the hands-on experience needed to excel in your field. You can join IVHQ’s medical volunteer projects in the following locations:

• India (Delhi)
• Peru (Cusco)

Explore pre-med programs

Medical mission trips for students and professionals

If you have completed your second year of medical or nursing school, or if you are a qualified healthcare professional, you are are eligible to join IVHQ in these destinations:

• India (Delhi and Kerala)

You can expect to support a range of tasks across diverse healthcare settings in these destinations. This may include providing basic patient care, taking vitals, dressing wounds, triage nursing, and helping to prepare medical equipment. There are also opportunities to observe local doctors and nurses in operating rooms, as well as shadow their daily routines.

Our IVHQ Volunteer Travel Specialists will offer guidance to help determine which destination would be best suited to your interests and experience, as some of our medical volunteer programs offer opportunities specific to certain skills and medical specialties. We are committed to aligning your qualifications and interests with the needs of the local community. Please contact us for more information.

See all medical programs

Nurse mission trips for pre-nursing students and registered nurses

Whether you’re a fully qualified nurse or a pre-nursing student, IVHQ provides affordable nursing mission trips that accommodate varying levels of experience. Below are our top rated medical mission trips for nurses:

Discover nursing programs

IVHQ runs medical volunteer programs year-round, and you can choose from either long-term or short-term medical mission trips, ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks.

Best nursing and medical mission trips for groups

If you are traveling with a group of medical students or colleagues and would like to participate on a 1-week medical mission or nurse mission trip, you can volunteer abroad as a group on a Medical Campaign in the following locations:

• Peru - Cusco and Lima

Explore group opportunities

As a medical volunteer abroad on a mission trip, you’ll be immersed in a new culture and develop a global perspective of medicine while assisting communities with limited access to healthcare resources. By working closely with medical professionals in your host community, you will gain invaluable clinical experience, a deeper understanding of how foreign healthcare systems function and the everyday challenges that they have to overcome.

Best Medical Mission Trips For 2024 & 2025

As the world’s leading provider of affordable medical volunteer programs and mission trips, IVHQ makes it easy to customize a program to match your qualifications and travel plans. Discover these top program recommendations from IVHQ’s team of Medical Mission Specialists.

Tanzania Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required qualifications: Students who have complete at least 3 years at medical/nursing school, qualified doctors, nurses, CNAs, EMTs, paramedics and public health workers
• Placement settings: Volunteers are based in variety of local Clinics and small Hospitals
• Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start on the 1st and 15th of each month
• Program fees: Start from US$320. Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

In many communities in Tanzania, healthcare is not easily accessible or affordable. This Medical volunteer project aims to change that by placing volunteers in medical clinics that serve vulnerable people. Medical volunteers in Tanzania are greatly received, especially those who come with initiative, enthusiasm and readiness to work in very basic facilities with limited resources available. Volunteers work in a variety of settings, including medical clinics and hospitals, with the location depending on the volunteers previous experience and training. To comply with the Tanzania Healthcare System, volunteers will shadow local doctors and assist in performing basic patient care, and it’s important to note that this project focuses more on observation, than getting involved in operations or independent medical tasks.

Experiencing medicine in a third world hospital was amazing and eye opening. The doctors were extremely welcoming and grateful. Exploring Arusha and Moshi with the other volunteers and seeing the African culture first hand were some of my favorite moments. Amy Freeman (IVHQ Volunteer in Tanzania)

Guatemala Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required qualifications: Volunteers at all levels of medical training and experience are welcome, including medical/nursing students, pre med nursing/medical students, qualified doctors, nurses, CNAs, EMTs, paramedics and public health workers
• Placement settings: Volunteers are based in local clinics, hospitals and elderly homes
• Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
• Program fees: From US$405 for 1 week. Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

The healthcare system in Guatemala is generally underfunded and understaffed, especially outside of the major cities. Volunteers on the Medical project in Guatemala can help provide access to medical resources while gaining hands-on experience working with local doctors and nurses in local clinics. Work is available for volunteers of all experience levels, but assigned tasks and the level of independence a volunteer will have depends on their qualifications and experience, as well as Spanish language skills.

The project was a perfect integration of basic sciences and clinical medicine, and it also allowed for the group to see preventative and diagnostic medicine. It was exactly what we were looking for as 1st/2nd year medical students. The fact that we got to see a rural village as well as the schools was a great asset to this trip. It really allowed the group to contrast what underserved areas are really like when outside of the U.S. The hands-on experiences that we were able to participate in are priceless and will be held dear to everyone on the trip. Madison Bangert (IVHQ Volunteer in Guatemala)

Peru Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required qualifications: All levels of medical or nursing study are welcome, including medical/nursing students, qualified doctors, nurses and CNAs with an intermediate level of Spanish
• Placement settings: A mobile “clini-bus”
• Program duration: Volunteer for 1 to 24 weeks, programs start on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
• Program fees: From US$220 for 1 week which includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

Medical and nursing students who speak at least intermediate Spanish can help a mobile clinic provide healthcare access to underprivileged areas of Lima, while working alongside Peruvian healthcare professionals. Depending on your level of experience and Spanish skill level, medical volunteers may provide assistance with initial assessments, essential procedures like vaccinations and wound care, triage or helping with the operational set up each day.

Everything was above and beyond what I had hoped for. The house had everything we needed, and the food was amazing. IVHQ is the best. I had the most fulfilling trip, and am already planning on returning next summer. Thanks so much for making volunteering affordable and fun. Olivia Gissing (IVHQ Volunteer in Lima, Peru)

Nepal Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required qualifications: Volunteers who are in at least their third year of medical or nursing school are welcome, as well as qualified doctors, nurses and paramedics
• Placement settings: Hospitals or medical schools
• Program duration: Volunteer for 2 to 12 weeks, programs start on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
• Program fees: From $500 for 2 weeks. Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

Medical volunteers in Nepal are based in either Kathmandu, Chitwan or Pokhara. You’ll shadow qualified physicians and nurses and familiarize yourself with procedures in the operating surgery ward, provide support in the physical therapy and burns units, learn about immunizations and family planning, and provide support to new mothers. Qualified nurses and medical professionals can request to work in their area of expertise, including ICU, radiology, oncology, emergency, surgery, burns unit, gynecology, pediatrics and pharmacy. Please note that local regulations prevent volunteers from treating patients without the supervision of local professionals so most volunteer work will be observational in nature.

I would recommend this program to anybody. As a recent medical graduate, I found that I was able to give and take as much as I could from the program. The two week rural placement gave me experience and an opportunity to observe diseases, management strategies, and patient interaction. I was also able to help diagnose and treat certain conditions which may have otherwise been missed or misdiagnosed.This is an experience I will never forget. Sumudu Welikumbura (IVHQ Volunteer in Nepal)

India Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required ualifications: Pre-medical, nursing and medical students, qualified medical professionals and others working in closely related medical fields are welcome on this program
• Placement settings: In Delhi, volunteers work in hospitals and mobile clinics
• Program fees: From $250 which includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

As a volunteer in Delhi, you’ll help provide medical care to those in need and gain first-hand insight into India’s medical systems. Volunteers in India work in hospitals and clinics in Delhi, shadowing experienced physicians who are enthusiastic about exchanging their knowledge and experience. Here, volunteers assist with routine medical tasks, such as taking vitals, providing advice regarding health, nutrition and sanitation during routine check-ups, or treating minor injuries and wounds. The amount of hands-on volunteer work you are able to do will depend on your level of training and experience, as well as the length of your stay. Longer-term volunteers (staying 3 months or more) will have more scope to assist with hands-on tasks, and qualified professionals may request to work in their area of expertise.

It was such a good experience! On the health project, we were given a chance to see many sides of the Indian healthcare system and all of our questions were answered. I was so impressed with each placement and learned so much. It was very good that as a brand new nurse with so little clinical experience, I was given a chance to learn so much. Katelyn Rowland (IVHQ Volunteer in Delhi, India)

Vietnam Medical Mission Volunteer Program

• Required qualifications: Volunteers who are studying medicine or nursing at any level, including Pre-medical/nursing students, qualified doctors, nurses, CNAs and EMTs
• Placement settings: Volunteers are based in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City
• Program duration: Volunteer for 2 to 24 weeks, programs start every Monday
• Program fees: From $485 for two weeks. Fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

Both students and skilled medical professionals have the opportunity to experience a new working environment and the Vietnamese culture, while developing their global medical perspective as medical volunteer in Vietnam . . Volunteers provide support to an orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital, working alongside local doctors and nurses in the areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Here, volunteers work with children and adults who suffer from cerebral palsy, down syndrome, congenital motor system deformity and other disabilities. Qualified volunteers may join this project but should not expect to be able to treat patients as local regulations prevent volunteers from providing unsupervised hands-on care to patients.

The medical placement was the perfect combination of challenging, rewarding and eye-opening. I continue to be inspired by all the hard-working staff and medical team at the hospital, who do so much but with so little. Amazing! Phuong Dinh (IVHQ Volunteer in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam)

Want to learn more about IVHQ’s full range of Medical and Healthcare volunteer abroad projects? Discover all your options for a medical mission trip .

• Browse our medical mission opportunities and choose a date, destination and medical volunteer program you’d like to join.
• Complete with the details of your chosen medical volunteer program and dates, as well as details of your qualifications, skills and experience in the medical field. You will then receive an email from IVHQ to confirm that we have received your application. Within 48 hours (2 working days), you will receive an email from your IVHQ Program Manager acknowledging your application and confirming the destination, project and dates of your volunteer program. In this email, you will receive instructions on how to pay the Registration Fee in order to reserve your place to volunteer with IVHQ.
• Log to pay your Registration Fee. As soon as your Registration Fee has been received by IVHQ, you will be provided with all the information and support you need to prepare for your upcoming medical mission trip. Your IVHQ Program Manager will be your point of contact throughout your preparations up until you finish your volunteer program.
• Contact the IVHQ Groups Team if you are looking to volunteer abroad as a group, so we can customize a medical mission trip for you.

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JOIN THE GHR FAMILY

Anyone can volunteer with GHR! From non-medical volunteers to students, to nurses and doctors, there are roles in our clinics for everyone. Students gain incredible educational opportunities, non-medical volunteers assist with educational programs, and our medical volunteers apply their skills to the field. Click below to learn more about how you can join the GHR Family of Volunteers.

BECOME A GHR FRIEND

Can’t attend a trip? Support GHR in other ways! Global Health Reach is dedicated to applying at least 100% of all donations directly to program services and support. We rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers to improve the ‘global health’ in medically underserved communities around the world. You can now set up recurring monthly donations!  Click here to learn more about making a tax-deductible donation.

UPCOMING TRIPS

Have you ever gone on a medical mission trip and wondered what the long-term purpose was? What’s the point in providing healthcare if there’s no follow-up care? GHR’s focus is improving the long-term health of populations we partner with. We accomplish this goal by scheduling follow-up trips to each village every 3-6 months. Click below to learn about our upcoming medical mission trips to Guatemala and Vietnam.

Why Global Health Reach?

GHR is founded by, run by, and supported by VOLUNTEERS. Unlike other medical mission organizations, we dedicate 100% of donations to the missions themselves… that means no salaries.

Before sending a team to a developing nation, GHR meets with local leadership to understand the primary challenges of the population. This allows us to target the exact needs of the community and act as a trusted partner.

GHR has an overarching commitment to providing transparency to both volunteers and donors. If you donate your time and money, you deserve to understand exactly where it is going.

We realize there are many other non-profit organizations out there, so don’t just take our word for it, take it from GHR Volunteers themselves! Click on the “Volunteer Testimonials” link under “Join a Team” to see some of the wonderful things our volunteers are saying.

This trip was an oppurtinity of a lifetime. As a pre-medical student still in my undergraduate I got to experience hands on learning like I have never experienced before. I feel this medical mission will set me apart from the others applying. Not to add, this trip truly changed me as a person. I think Gandhi said it best when he said, ” The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” GHR has truly become a family to me and I can not wait to return on another mission with them.

Wow!! I cannot believe how fast the time has passed. The four days of clinic have been unbelievable. We treated hundreds of patients who greatly appreciated our help and eagerly await our return. The scenery, culture, food and people of the Ha Giang region have truly touched the hearts of the GHR family.

This entire trip has been an amazing and unpredictable adventure! I believe we’ve gained so much from this experience and am grateful to have had the opportunity to be apart of such a great team. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this region with the help of GHR and can’t wait to return for another GHR trip!.

A morning filled with multi-cultural songs, Vietnamese coffee buzzes and colorful locales were a fanatic way to experience the H’Mong people and their beautiful northern, mountainous landscapes.

Through the 4 days of clinic we have been able to really grow together as a team. We have shared many laughs and great experiences all while accomplishing our goal of providing care to those in need in northern Vietnam. I can’t wait to do more trips with GHR and experience all this great organization has to offer.

I knew I would appreciate the experience, but I had no idea I’d fall in love with it. The entire GHR team was fun, loving and caring. The locals from the communities we visited were just the same and beyond grateful. All these beautiful people fell into one precious piece of scenery called Guatemala. I realize that I must go back and I’ve discovered how I’ll be traveling from now on.

Partnering with people who want to invest in my own country and being able to join them is a very uplifting experience. GHR’s philosophy and passion for Guatemala brings hope for outreached communities. Looking forward to see the communities grow.

Volunteering on this trip has been an awesome experience! Being a Guatemalan physician it is always my desire to give back to my country. Finding groups like GHR that bring resources and projects to the country is always encouraging. It is truly special to see that they give follow up to the communities they have selected several times a year. This helps the communities continue to grow and improve and also have better access to global health. Hopefully this will also help the project move from primary care to preventative medicine allowing the project to expand to even more communities. I look forward to more mission trips with GHR

This trip to Guatemala has surpassed my expectations and has reinforced my dream to provide medical care in developing countries. The clinics have been filled with adorable, smiling children and appreciative adults. It is a wonderful feeling helping to improve the health of an underserved population

Once again….simply amazing! This is my fourth trip with the GHR family and I cannot find the words to describe my experience. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to return to the villages. Over the past year, I have watched the children grow, I know the families and I have made connections that will last a lifetime. I look forward to my return trip with GHR!

The GHR Creed

Go to the people, Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build on what they have. When the task is finished, the people will say: “We did it ourselves.”

–Old Chinese proverb

           GHR Co-Founders Art and Wade

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Who we are~ International Nurse Humanitarians

Our Background

Established in 2017, Nurses with Purpose is a registered 501(c)3 volunteer organization that focuses & promotes preventative healthcare outreach during medical missions abroad. Our program is the first of its kind to be nurse focused, nurse driven and nurse created. With care, compassion, skill and expert knowledge, nurses are the hands &

Established in 2017, Nurses with Purpose is a registered 501(c)3 volunteer organization that focuses & promotes preventative healthcare outreach during medical missions abroad. Our program is the first of its kind to be nurse focused, nurse driven and nurse created. With care, compassion, skill and expert knowledge, nurses are the hands & feet of our organization. Nurses with Purpose encourages medical professionals to make volunteering a necessary component in their career. By doing so allows a refreshed outlook on one's initial love for the nursing field through meaningful experiences of humanitarian services. 

  Nurses with Purpose aims to provide continual preventative and primary healthcare to underserved communities. We partner with local organizations that are aligned with our mission and vision. We aim for long term partnerships were we aim for measurable outcomes in continuity of care. We also aspire to have a strong network of volunteers

  Nurses with Purpose aims to provide continual preventative and primary healthcare to underserved communities. We partner with local organizations that are aligned with our mission and vision. We aim for long term partnerships were we aim for measurable outcomes in continuity of care. We also aspire to have a strong network of volunteers in all specialties of nursing.  Partnering with individuals and groups who share a common vision, belief, and willingness to take action towards a common goal, that leads to success. Geographically, we are always looking to expand our horizons wherever medical outreach is necessary but conducting in such a way that it improves conditions versus crippling an already fragile system. We believe that outreach is the key to hope and vitality of life.  

Our Mission

Our mission is to create sustainable solutions along with our partners through long term commitment. We assess the need and work towards the development of improving communities through the realistic outcomes. Through various events that focuses on preventative healthcare, addressing the needs of living environments and conditions, and ou

Our mission is to create sustainable solutions along with our partners through long term commitment. We assess the need and work towards the development of improving communities through the realistic outcomes. Through various events that focuses on preventative healthcare, addressing the needs of living environments and conditions, and our children's enrichment programs, it is essential that we create overall improvements for generations to come.

 We do not impose our personal ideals or beliefs. Rather, we serve as a  vessel for the improvement of existing processes our partners have established.  

 Mission Statement:

To enrich the lives of others, 

as we enrich the lives of ourselves through meaningful experiences created through the power of giving back

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What We Do~ Medical Mission Outreach

Assessments, consultation, home visits, youth programs, on-going enrichment programs, refresher courses, feeding schemes, nurse focused | nurse driven | nurse created, transcending lives~ making impact.

We believe in creating sustainability serving in areas with limited to no access of healthcare on a continual basis. During mission season, our teams provide free healthcare every 2 weeks which creates continuity of care. This is the key to hope and vitality of life!

Nurses volunteer in various settings: 

• Local Clinics 
• Pop up Clinics (Daily Travel to remote areas to provide care)
• Rural Settlements/Villages/Shanties
• Primary schools 

Projects Include but not limited to:

• Community outreach, screenings and assessments
• Primary Health Care at a comprehensive healthcare facility
• Patient Education and Interaction 
• Restoration and Revitalization Projects 
• Mentorship to youth, local staff, and local nursing students 

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Serve with World Medical Mission

World Medical Mission exists to address these needs by sending Christian medical and dental professionals on short-term trips to partnering mission hospitals and clinics around the world.

“ It's the most rewarding medicine you will have practiced in a long time.” Dr. Chuck Barrier Doctor of Internal Medicine

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other experts in the medical field follow in the footsteps of the Great Physician as they provide patient care in a resource-limited environment, relieve overwhelmed full-time hospital staff, and help educate the next generation of national healthcare workers in the country they are serving.

“It's the most rewarding medicine you will have practiced in a long time,” said Dr. Chuck Barrier. As an internal medicine doctor, he has served on multiple short-term trips to Cameroon and Kenya alongside his wife, Angela, who is a pediatric hospitalist.

Serving with World Medical Mission opens up extraordinary opportunities for Christian men and women willing to use their professional expertise in areas of great need.

Minister in Jesus' Name

“ There are lost people everywhere, but I have never felt it so evident until coming here.” Ayden Toleman Registered Nurse Memorial Christian Hospital, Bangladesh

As patients walk through the darkest times of their lives, World Medical Mission volunteers have the opportunity to pray and share the Gospel with them, ministering to their spiritual needs as they work to treat their physical ailments.

Relieve Weary Healthcare Workers

“ Having people visit us to help is a big relief, and we feel that we are not alone. We feel we have a shoulder to lean on.” Dr. Elijah Terer CEO AIC Litein Hospital, Kenya

Local doctors serving in our partner hospitals around the world are often overwhelmed, facing burnout due to high patient numbers and the severity of the medical conditions they see on a daily basis. All this often comes without periods of rest or time away for themselves. They are drained physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually, and they are in dire need of a break to recharge and refocus.

Help Train the Next Generation

“ I think that's the biggest reason I was there—not to teach just a few people, but to teach a few people who will then go and teach more people and continue spreading knowledge.” Dr. Janae Fry Emergency Medicine Resident Chogoria Hospital, Kenya

Medical and dental professionals who come to serve on short-term trips with World Medical Mission also play an important part in building up the future healthcare system of the country they visit. Skilled men and women can pull from their wealth of knowledge and experience in Western healthcare settings to share their expertise with those who will be caring for local patients long after they are gone.

The number of patients is overwhelming. Medical staff are exhausted. The needs are great.

World Medical Mission is looking for Christian medical and dental professionals like you to use the gifts and talents God has given you to expand his kingdom and fill these needs. Not only will you treat physical sickness and injuries, you will shine as a light for Jesus Christ and provide hope to people who are suffering.

World Medical Mission takes care of all the details for your short-term assignment, including orientation, travel schedules, economy airfare, visas, permits, housing, transportation, and more.

Apply today and use your God-given abilities in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other fields to serve the needs of those who are suffering around the world.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Post-Residency Program

Consider our program that funds Christian medical professionals who have been called to a career in medical missions.

Specialty Teams

Be part of a short-term volunteer team of Christian medical professionals who serve in specialized fields.

Biomedical Technology

Help ensure that partner mission hospitals have properly functioning equipment.

Ways to Give

Give to World Medical Mission

Support a Medical Professional

All volunteers are responsible for raising support to be used for expenses related to serving.

Donating Medical Equipment & Supplies

Give machinery and supplies to mission hospitals through World Medical Mission.

Prescription for Renewal

Connect with Christian medical professionals at our annual conference and explore service opportunities in mission hospitals around the globe.

International Health Forum

Our monthly webinars provide practical information for medical personnel and students who have an interest in global medicine and public health, disaster medicine, and related topics.

It only costs $6 to provide lesson books and a Bible for a boy or girl participating in this discipleship program by Samaritan’s Purse.

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One Nurse At A Time

10 Best Medical Mission Trips 2023 & 2024: Make a Difference

Medical mission trips present a fantastic opportunity for individuals, particularly those in the healthcare sector, to utilize their skills and expertise for the betterment of the world. Even for those who aren’t healthcare professionals, there’s still a vast array of volunteering opportunities in developing nations.

This blog post will serve as a guide, highlighting 10 notable medical mission trips taking place in 2023 and 2024. We will delve into the various types of mission trips, and the advantages of being a volunteer, and provide insights on how you can select a trip that matches your interests and skills.

Exploring the Diversity of Medical Mission Trips

A medical mission trip is essentially a short-term volunteer program enabling you to extend healthcare services to those in need in underprivileged nations. These trips are orchestrated by various entities such as churches, hospitals, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The nature of these medical mission trips can be diverse. Some are aimed at providing essential healthcare services like vaccinations, treatment of common diseases, and wound care. In contrast, others are centered on more specialized care like surgeries, dental services, or mental healthcare.

Benefits of Volunteering

There are many benefits to volunteering on a medical mission trip. These benefits include:

• Making a difference in the world. Medical mission trips are a great way to use your skills and experience to help people in need. You can make a real difference in the lives of people who would not otherwise have access to healthcare.
• Gaining new skills and experience. These trips can be a great way to gain new skills and experience in the medical field. You will have the opportunity to work with experienced healthcare professionals and learn new techniques.
• Experiencing a new culture.  Medical mission trips are a great way to experience a new culture and learn about different ways of life. You will have the opportunity to meet new people and learn about their customs and traditions.
• Growing personally and spiritually. Healthcare mission trips can be a great way to grow personally and spiritually. You will have the opportunity to reflect on your own life and values, and you will learn about the importance of compassion and service.

How to Find the Right Mission Trip for You

There are a few things to consider when choosing a medical mission trip. These include:

• Your skills and experience. What are your skills and experience in the healthcare field? If you’re a doctor, you’ll need to find a trip that offers clinical opportunities. If you’re a nurse, you might be interested in a trip that focuses on providing basic medical care.
• Your interests.  What are your interests in the medical field? Are you interested in working with children, women, or the elderly? Are you interested in providing specialized care, such as surgery or dentistry?
• Your budget. Mission trips can vary in price. Some trips are very affordable, while others can be quite expensive.
• Your schedule.  How much time do you have to commit to a medical mission trip? Some trips are only a few days long, while others can last several weeks.

Once you’ve considered these factors, you can start your search for the right medical mission trip. There are a number of resources available to help you find a trip that’s right for you. You can search online, talk to your church or hospital, or contact an NGO that organizes these trips.

10 Best Medical Mission Trips 2023 & 2024

Here are 10 of the best medical mission trips in 2023 & 2024:

1. Project Medishare: Haiti

Project Medishare is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare services to the underserved population of Haiti. The organization conducts various medical mission trips, opening opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to volunteer their services.

You can participate in tasks ranging from basic healthcare provision to specialized care, depending on your expertise.

2. Global Brigades: Guatemala

Global Brigades organizes health, dental, and engineering brigades to serve in developing countries. For those interested in medical volunteer work, they offer numerous mission trips to Guatemala.

These trips are tailored for different healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff, and they focus on improving local healthcare infrastructure and providing necessary medical services.

3. AmeriCares: Kenya

AmeriCares, a global non-profit, extends medical care and relief services to needy populations worldwide. They coordinate a variety of mission trips to Kenya , allowing doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide vital healthcare services in underserved regions.

Their work often involves treating common illnesses, conducting health education, and improving local healthcare facilities.

4. Doctors Without Borders: Sierra Leone

Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization renowned for providing healthcare assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Among their numerous programs, they organize medical mission trips to Sierra Leone, creating opportunities for healthcare professionals to provide critical care in a country still recovering from a prolonged civil war and an Ebola outbreak.

5. Children’s Heart Foundation: Honduras

The Children’s Heart Foundation is a non-profit that focuses on providing cardiac care to children in developing countries. They run several medical mission trips to Honduras.

These trips are ideal for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals specializing in cardiac care, as they will be directly involved in providing life-saving treatments to children with heart conditions.

6. Project Hope: Tanzania

Project Hope is another global non-profit that extends medical assistance to those in need. They organize a variety of mission trips to Tanzania , offering opportunities for healthcare professionals to volunteer their services.

The range of healthcare services provided during these trips depends on the needs of the communities served and the expertise of the volunteers.

7. Partners in Health: Peru

Partners in Health is a non-profit that focuses on providing medical services to people in need in developing countries. Their mission trips to Peru allow healthcare professionals to volunteer their services and provide much-needed healthcare to underserved communities.

8. Habitat for Humanity: Nepal

While known for building homes, Habitat for Humanity also organizes medical mission trips to Nepal. These trips provide volunteers with an opportunity to offer care to individuals in need while contributing to the construction and improvement of homes and community facilities.

9. Smile Train: Peru

Smile Train is a non-profit dedicated to providing cleft lip and palate surgery to children in developing countries. They organize medical mission trips to Peru, where healthcare professionals can volunteer to provide surgical services and other healthcare to children affected by cleft lip and palate conditions.

10. International Medical Corps: Rwanda

International Medical Corps is a global non-profit that provides to people in need in developing countries. They offer a range of mission trips to Rwanda, creating opportunities for healthcare professionals to volunteer their services in communities that lack sufficient healthcare infrastructure and resources.

Additional Tips

Planning and participating in a medical mission trip is a substantial commitment. Here are some additional tips to consider as you embark on this journey.

Commence Your Research Early

Medical mission trips are diverse and numerous. Starting your research early gives you ample time to identify a trip that aligns with your skills, interests, and schedule.

Evaluating multiple options will also allow you to find a mission trip that meets your budget and other personal needs.

Consult Your Doctor

If you have any health concerns, it’s essential to discuss them with your doctor before committing to a medical mission trip. Such trips often involve physically strenuous activities and exposure to different climates and environments, which may pose health risks.

Obtain Necessary Training

Depending on the nature of the medical mission trip, you might require specific training. For instance, if your trip involves surgical procedures, you may need certification in basic life support (BLS). Other specialized healthcare areas may also require additional training or certification. Be proactive in understanding and acquiring these prerequisites.

Prepare for Challenges

Embarking on a medical mission trip means stepping out of your comfort zone. Be ready for long working hours, limited resources, and encountering cultural differences. While these aspects can be challenging, they also offer profound opportunities for growth and learning.

Embrace Learning Opportunities

Medical mission trips provide a unique platform to learn from other healthcare professionals and the community you serve. Be open to absorbing new information and techniques, and respect the local customs and traditions. This openness to learning will not only enrich your professional skills but will also contribute significantly to your personal development.

How can I apply for these medical mission trips?

You can apply for these medical mission trips by visiting the respective organization’s website and filling out the application form. Make sure to submit all necessary documents and meet the application deadline.

What qualifications do I need to join a medical mission trip?

The qualifications vary depending on the specific mission trip. Generally, you should be a healthcare professional or a student in a healthcare-related field. Some trips may also accept non-medical volunteers.

What is the duration of these medical mission trips?

The duration of the medical mission trips can range from a few days to several months, depending on the specific program and the needs of the community being served.

Are these medical mission trips safe?

Yes, the safety of volunteers is a top priority for all of these programs. However, as with any travel, there are inherent risks. It’s important to follow all safety guidelines provided by the organization.

Do I need to speak the local language?

While knowing the local language can be beneficial, it is not always a requirement. Many mission trips provide translators. However, learning basic phrases can enhance your experience and interaction with the local community.

Can I earn continuing education credits (CECs) or units (CEUs) by participating in these trips?

Some medical mission trips offer the opportunity to earn CECs or CEUs. You should check with the specific program or your professional licensing board for more information.

Medical mission trips are a great way to make a difference in the world. They offer the opportunity to use your skills and experience to help people in need, gain new skills and experience in the medical field, experience a new culture, and grow personally and spiritually.

I believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference in the world. If you’re looking for a way to use your skills and experience to help others, I encourage you to consider volunteering on a medical mission trip. It’s a truly rewarding experience that can change your life.

Related Posts:

• How to Apply to A Medical Mission? - Step-by-Step Guide 2023
• What Are the Best Specialties for Medical Missions?…
• 7 Best Volunteer Abroad Destinations for Spanish…
• How to Increase Membership in Nonprofit…

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Medical mission trips are your perfect chance to support a medical project abroad when you don't have too much time on your hands ... read more

Medical mission trips are your perfect chance to support a medical project abroad when you don't have too much time on your hands. Medical mission trips take place at hospitals , clinics or doctor's offices in developing countries. It's ideal for students who want to gain international work experience on a short-term medical mission trip.

Medical mission trips are perfect for pre-meds, dental professionals , med students, and healthcare volunteers with any level of experience. Our short-term medical internships abroad include a diverse mix of pre-meds, doctors, nurses , medical students, midwives and volunteers with limited medical background.

Sri Lanka Mental Health Volunteers

Using a combination of lectures, meditations, consultations and community projects, further your awareness of mental health in a new culture. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="0" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Medical Shadowing in Hospitals

Shadow doctors & nurses in Greek hospitals for up to 40 hours per week. Rotate between different departments, clinics & surgeries. 🩺 landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="1" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Assistant for Medical Work

Join our health projects, gain insight into healthcare challenges in developing nations, and make a meaningful impact! 🩺 landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="2" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Sri Lanka Medical Volunteers

Gain invaluable medical experience, an opportunity not to be missed in this gorgeous part of the world by those pursuing a career in medicine. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="3" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Emergency Department Assistant

Emergency department placement in working with a busy team looking after major and minor injuries and with severely ill or acutely unwell patients. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="4" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Psychology Internship

Shadowing & practical involvement internship in Greece for up to 40 hours per week landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="5" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Medical Student Internship

Student medical placements in Emergency Medical, Surgical, Dentistry, Psychology and more. Please enquire for specific departments. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="6" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Midwife Hospital Assistant

We need midwifery assistants to work in Arusha with mother and babies, helping to deliver newborns & support pregnant women! Students & Trained Professionals welcome! landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="7" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Support Local Healthcare

As a volunteer you'll support us at an assisted living facility for elderly adults or at a school for disabled children. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="8" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

India Medical Volunteers

Gain practical experience and insight on the medical program in India, whilst bringing support to a large population and under resourced facilities. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="9" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Ecuador Medical Volunteers

As a medical student, witness a healthcare system unlike your own. A new insight into traditional beliefs will leave you amazed and cultured. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="10" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Ghana Mental Health Volunteers

This amazing opportunity gives you an insight into how psychiatric services operate in Ghana today. Help this important sector to reach modern standards. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="11" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Medical Outreach

This program involves visiting areas without access to healthcare to treat URIs, UTIs, STIs, GI & skin infections, wounds, plus HIV and malaria testing and treatment. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="12" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Medical Healthcare Work

This is great practical experience for medical students to gain first hand knowledge of international healthcare and to shadow local doctors and nurses. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="13" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Medicine and Healthcare Observation & Experience

Work side by side with medical staff at local clinics and be involved with day to day healthcare.This opportunity will give you an insight into the running of a clinic. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="14" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Obstetrics, Maternity & Gynaecology

Join local obstetrics and gynaecology physicians to help provide care and treatment to women with C-sections and birth complications. STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS welcome! landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="15" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Local Medical Clinic Supporter

Shadow local medical professionals, helping to provide medical check-ups, blood pressure and other vital signs, administration, and prepare materials and equipment. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="16" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Physiotherapy Hospital Assistant

Join a team of local physiotherapist as they aim to rehabilitate patients in burns, trauma, orthopaedics and paediatrics departments. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="17" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Physician's Assistant Shadowing

Shadow doctors, physician's assistants & nurses in Greek hospitals for up to 40 hours per week. Rotate between different departments, clinics & surgeries. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="18" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Mental Health and Psychology Internship

Mental health issues often come last on the list of priorities for policy makers and hence mental illnesses receive very little attention from the government. landing-page#addSelectItemEventToDataLayer" data-landing-page-item-index-param="19" class="text-[#3399CC] ssm:hidden"> Details >

Best Medical Mission Trips Abroad

If you’re short on time but keen to volunteer, we have just the thing for you. Many of us dream of making a difference in the world but are simultaneously working on careers or building a family that also require our attention. What if we told you that you can do it all? There’s no need to quit your job or do anything drastic but you can still make a meaningful difference. Here at Volunteer World, we understand that there is a necessity for short-term volunteer projects. Experience all the benefits of volunteering without any of the sacrifices and volunteer for one of the medical mission trips on the website.

At Volunteer World, we believe that volunteering should be accessible to everyone. There are countless volunteer organizations out there and they are all in need of enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to lend a hand to their projects. There’s no need to give up everything to be part of something meaningful. Volunteering is now for everyone willing to help out and spare a few days of their time. Continue reading to learn more about medical missions and how you can help.

🩺 What is a Medical Mission Trip?

Medical missions are trips in which medical professionals or students travel abroad for a specified period of time for a specific medical purpose. While medical volunteering is when someone decides to dedicate time to a project that is focused on improving the circumstances of a community or the environment, medical mission opportunities can be a bit different. Volunteer organizations generally put in a lot of work to train volunteers. This is why some projects require volunteers to stay for at least a few weeks. There’s a shift going on in the volunteer landscape with projects welcoming volunteers for shorter periods. These are also known as short-term medical mission trips.

Students, people on a sabbatical or retirees may be able to dedicate themselves to a project for longer periods but there’s a large group of the population for who this simply isn’t an option. Medical relief missions are short-term volunteer programs that can be done for 1-4 weeks. Even if it is for that short amount of time, you can help and support doctors and do amazing things. Of course longer options are available, however, these short-term missions allow everyone to volunteer in for example clinics and experience the incredible benefits of volunteering while not having to stay for a long time period.

🏥 What are Pros and Cons of Medical Mission Trips?

If you’re determined to make a difference during your next holiday, why not volunteer for an international medical trip? Combine the freedom to travel while taking the time to do something for the community of your holiday destination. With medical mission projects entering the picture, being short on time is no longer an excuse for not volunteering. Countless projects and programs are waiting for your help, for example, medical mission trips for nurses or nursing students . Of course, you can also work with doctors. Before you plan you look at the medical mission work opportunities, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of those for professionals, students and nurses:

• Use medical mission work opportunities to volunteer and contribute for a limited period.

• This is a great opportunity to try out different volunteer projects and programs abroad while gaining valuable experience in your profession.

• You will learn a lot about the region you volunteer in but also about volunteering.
• The chance to connect with the local community while getting hands-on and helping with the healthcare system.
• Participants will see a different side of their travel destination that you will not see as a simple tourist.

• You will meet other like-minded individuals that share the same ideals as you do.

• It’s always important to do your due diligence with regards to the organization to know where the funds are invested in. You cannot start by going somewhere and begin nursing people back to health in clinics without any prior knowledge. It is always advisable to do some research to make sure the local organization is offering a sustainable service to the community and using the funds they are getting properly.
• The time spent on the program is limited which may not allow you to connect as profoundly with your volunteer organization.
• When working with children it can be hard on them when volunteers come and go.

🤷🏽‍♀️ Why choose a Medical Mission Trip?

If you’re eager to volunteer but have a family, a job or other responsibilities that you simply can’t leave behind for long, a medical mission trip is exactly what you’re looking for. You will gain experience in volunteering, contribute to a meaningful cause and learn a great deal about the challenges others are facing daily.

Why Medical Mission Trips are making a difference? It’s fair to say that organizations prefer volunteers to dedicate themselves for longer periods of time for a program. The longer you stay, the more tasks and responsibilities you will have. This doesn’t mean that a shorter stay is meaningless or less meaningful in any way. The most important thing that will happen during your stay abroad is the cultural interchange and social contact between the volunteer and the locals. Gaining awareness about your volunteer destination will undoubtedly change the way you view the world afterward. Small changes do go a long way.

Is volunteering in developing countries condescending? There are claims that if you volunteer overseas that you’re portraying a message that these communities are unable to solve problems on their own. This mainly refers to programs that aren’t addressing the root problem and are exploiting both the community and the volunteers for personal gains. The goal should always be to empower local communities and give them the support they need to build a better future. Reputable organizations understand the needs of the community and are dedicated to helping the community progress. As doctors and nurses in the field of medicine, you will do exactly that in international clinics and hospitals! Medical mission trips for nursing students are perfect to learn and give practical support. You can leave an imprint as strong as the professionals do!

Although the time of your international volunteer trip may be short, that doesn’t mean your efforts are not of help. As, for example, a volunteer on one of the medical mission trips for college students or nursing students, you will gain a deeper understanding of what is going on in the part of the world your program is in. You will carry this awareness with you throughout your life and undoubtedly share it with others after your experiences while working with local doctors and nursing people in need back to health. All medical mission work opportunities will have an impact.

Short-term medical programs are an excellent opportunity to find out whether volunteering for longer periods is suitable for you.

👨🏽‍⚕️ What kind of Medical Mission Trips are there?

The point of a medical mission trip abroad is to gain experience during a short time period and contribute to one of the projects, by supporting the people and community in regards to healthcare, but also even further. Medical professionals of all sorts, such as dentists , pharmacists, midwives, surgeons, paramedics, pediatricians, nurses are desperately needed. As professionals in the field of medicine, you should consider an international medical mission program! Short-term medical missions for nurses are also always available as they are in dire need of assistance. Furthermore, trips for college students are ideal to help out and at the same time gain valuable experience for your future career.

There are so many possibilities available that it will come down to where you want to go and what skills you have to offer. Some medical trips are suited for specialists, such as dental mission trips . Here are some tasks you will help with if you join a general medical program:

• Observing procedures
• Shadowing daily rounds in clinics and hospitals
• Nursing patients back to health
• Changing bandages and dressing wounds
• Monitoring recovery
• Emergency Room support
• Applying first aid


As you can see, there are countless options. It’s a matter of preference and skills that will determine where you will do and what you will do on your programs. Brief medical mission trips for nursing students will, of course, have differences in comparison to short-term medical missions for nurses or doctors.

💡 How do I choose the best Medical Mission Trip for me?

The most important aspect of choosing a great medical mission trip program is that you do enough research on the different volunteer organizations and try to answer the following questions:

• What does the organization stand for?
• What is their objective and how are they trying to achieve it?
• How are the funds they receive spent?
• How do you think you will contribute?

Read up on the organization, read reviews and ask previous volunteers about their experience with the organization. There are some great agencies and non-profit organizations that are doing very responsible work.

Be careful when you choose to volunteer with children. Do your due diligence before signing up. There are organizations however that are doing more harm than good. It’s important to take into account that we have attempted to screen these organizations but in the end, you make the final call. Choose wisely and you will be in for an incredible experience while supporting a meaningful cause.

What are the best places for Medical Mission Trips?

Embark on a volunteer trip and the world is just a click away. Volunteer organizations are aware of the limited time most people have on their hands and are welcoming short-term volunteers. Take this opportunity to explore the world and give back to less fortunate communities, while also linking it to your university studies and gaining credits if you are a college student. Medical mission trips for college students or nursing students are a great way to gain practical experience for a future profession.

Medical mission opportunities can generally be found in developing countries that do not have good or basic healthcare services. This includes places such as:

Countries from all over the world, such as Ghana , Tanzania , Peru , India , Guatemala , Nepal , Sri Lanka or South Africa all need your help. Work in clinics, with doctors in their offices or hospitals and help out where help is needed! Do not hesitate, find a program and destination that suit your taste, volunteer for your first medical mission trip abroad and start nursing people back to good health.

Unlimited volunteer opportunities are awaiting your support.

🎁 Top 5 benefits of a Medical Mission Trip Program

It’s hard to name drawbacks when talking about volunteering abroad. It’s almost always associated with feelings of positivity. Both travel and volunteering allow people to get out of their usual environment and open up to new experiences. Join one of the medical relief missions and help improve the healthcare system and community in your destination place!

Let’s take a look at some benefits volunteering for a medical mission trip may have in store for you:

Valuable Learning Opportunities

Meet new people, new experiences, health improvements, 👩🏽‍⚕️ who can volunteer on a medical mission trip.

In case you are not sure whether you would make a great volunteer on a medical mission trip, we have listed some characteristics that are great to have as a hospital volunteer or as a general medical volunteer abroad:

• Communication skills
• Emotional stability
• Flexibility
• Attention to detail
• Interpersonal skills
• Physical endurance
• Problem-solving skills
• Quick response to emergency situations
• Respect for people of all cultures

For being a good candidate in a medical mission trip, it may not be necessary to tick all the boxes. However, it is a good guideline to help you decide on taking part.

There will be a lot of opportunities to learn from this experience, yet you have to bear in mind that it will not always be easy. As a volunteer in the medical sector, you will witness things that your education might not have prepared you for.

📣 What Language Skills are Required for Medical Mission Trips?

English is the main language on all medical projects so it is important that volunteers have a good understanding of English. This is essential to communicate with the staff at the project center and other volunteers. For projects in South America, it would be great if you gain a basic knowledge of Spanish before going. Knowing some Spanish words will kickstart your medical mission trip volunteer adventure.

🚀 How do I Start a Medical Mission Trip?

You are ready to go but you are not quite sure where to start? First of all, have a look at the different programs across the globe, and pick a few that have caught your attention.

Once you have done that, let us take a look at the first 3 steps which will send you on your way to a medical mission trip abroad:

• Check whether there is a match between you and the projects by looking at their requirements.
• Take a look at the location of the project and decide whether it would be exciting to go to.
• Get in touch with the organization and see whether your expectations and schedules match up.

Once this is sorted, let us take a look at these practical steps:

Insurance (health and travel)

We recommend getting both, health and travel insurance. In fact, this is a requirement for all volunteer programs abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.

Visa, Passport, and Documentation

Once you know your destination, take the following 3 steps before setting off on your life-changing adventure!

• Look into the visa requirements for the country you will volunteer in.
• Make sure you have a valid passport and consider the requirements of the host country.
• Make sure you prepare the correct documents to fulfill the visa application.

That’s it! You are ready for your medical mission trip abroad! Get ready for a life-changing experience. You will learn a lot about the medical world, get to know a completely new culture and a great deal more about yourself! Check out the different programs on our page and get started!

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Exploring Global Health Mission Trips

• Resource Library Exploring Global Health Mission Trips

In one version of the Great Commission, Jesus told His followers to go into all the world (Mark 16:15). In another, He said to take His love from the home base of Jerusalem to the farthest reaches of the world (Acts 1:8). In every case, He challenged His people to make a difference around the world.

One valuable way medical professionals fulfill that call is through global health mission trips. Whether long-term or short-term, the impact of a global health mission trip can resonate within communities around the world for years to come. 

If you haven’t taken part in a mission trip focused on global health, as God leads, this may be the time.

What Are Global Health Issues?

Before we can dig into global health mission trips, we need to understand what global health really means. As the name suggests, global health relates to any health problem that affects the world. This differs from public health in terms of scope. While public health deals more with local or community problems, global health speaks to situations that involve nations or groups of nations.

In general, global health issues fall into two broad categories. First, global health advocates address physical or emotional wellness issues. This primarily relates to the treatment and prevention of various diseases. For example, risks related to illnesses like HIV/AIDS and diabetes are among the top concerns for global health workers because they affect so many people in so many places. Likewise, disease education and prevention fall under the category of physical global health issues.

The second category could be called cultural or policy concerns. These issues deal with the negative impact social expectations or government actions can have on global health. For instance, the availability of clean water and access to proper hygiene are problems in many regions. Also, poverty, refugee crises, and natural disasters present global health concerns.

From a Christian perspective, many medical missionaries and missions organizations view all global health issues through the lens of the Great Commission. For these groups, such as the Global Health Missions Conference , working toward solutions is an important way of serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. And mission trips focused on global health are part of the equation.

How You Can Make a Difference

Meeting the needs of suffering people in underserved areas is not just a good idea. It’s a divine mandate rooted in Jesus’s command to serve the “least of these” ( Matthew 25:31-46 ). That’s why so many organizations are working to answer God’s call through global health mission trips. 

The list below includes five organizations that offer mission trips related to global health issues. Their influence reaches around the world through both short-term and long-term opportunities. Above all, they seek to make a difference for people, for nations, and for the kingdom of God. 

Global Health Outreach

Global Health Outreach is the missions arm of Christian Medical and Dental Associates (CMDA). As part of its work, GHO provides long-term and short-term global health mission trips in a variety of nations. These trips involve basic health care, education for disease prevention, support for local medical professionals, surgical care, and dental care. Since medical professionals have access to areas that forbid traditional missionaries, GHO places special emphasis on unreached groups in difficult settings.

Medical Teams International

Some disasters are the result of nature. Some are man-made. All of them are the focus of Medical Teams International. The global health mission trips from Medical Teams International cover everything from hurricane relief to helping ease suffering during a refugee crisis. Serving primarily in Africa and South America, Medical Teams International also works to improve maternal and childhood health in underserved regions. 

Heart to Heart International

One key to solving a medical crisis is teaching people how to avoid it in the first place. Such education and disease prevention programs are part of the global health initiatives supported by Heart to Heart International. In addition to education, Heart to Heart also works to provide greater access to medicines. In addition, the agency recognizes the impact of some global health issues on the United States, so it offers medicine, equipment, and community support closer to home.

Global Health Reach

The major focus on Global Health Reach is providing global health mission trips that will produce long-term results. The agency believes that partnerships are key to resolving global health issues As a result, Global Health Reach sponsors both long-term and short-term global health trips, but every opportunity plugs into a support system for local professionals. By providing follow-up with regular trips, Global Health Reach can have an impact on an area’s global health concerns for decades.

Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH)

Another agency rooted in partnership is Christian Connections for International Health. Through their network of individuals and organizations. CCIH advocates for effective solutions to global health crises. In addition to health issues, CCIH global health mission trips attempt to connect best practices with faith in a way that produces wholeness for individuals and communities. 

You and Global Health Missions

Some things haven’t changed much since Jesus issued the Great Commission more than 2,000 years ago. Many around the world are still hurting and still need the power of the gospel in their lives. And one proven way to earn a hearing for the gospel is to meet people where they are and to provide relief for their suffering.

That’s what makes global health mission trips so important. As a medical professional or student, you have the chance to use your skills and abilities to make a difference in the world. You can apply your passions on a mission trip focused on global health concerns. 

All it takes for you to become part of the solution is a divine call and a willing heart. As God leads, you can be the one God uses to transform the life of someone struggling with a global health crisis today.

Discover Medical Missions.

Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the  Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

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Healthcare Team Trips

God can use you.

Several times per year ABWE sponsors mobile urgent care clinic teams to engage in itinerant clinics working alongside of national church planters. These clinics generally take place in severely under-served parts of the world. Disaster-relief teams also may enter a disrupted area to participate in relief distribution and basic healthcare.

• Dominican Republic June 8-15, 2024
• Zambia June 14-23, 2024 (Trip is Full)
• Argentina September 7-14, 2024
• Moldova October 17-27, 2024

Future Trips

• Liberia TBD
• Jamaica TBD
• Paraguay TBD
• Nicaragua TBD
• Ukraine TBD
• North Africa TBD
• South Asia TBD

Take the Next Step

If you’re a trained medical professional who wants to combine your passion for caring for people with your passion for sharing the gospel, we want to talk to you. ( Learn more about our trip finances and cancellation policies. )

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Be the light.

Short-term missions trips that transform lives— yours included..

Travel with purpose.

You feel a deep desire to go, but you’re wondering: If you can give money from home to help, why go on a mission trip?

First and foremost, there’s work to do. Our trips offer practical, meaningful support to those we serve. But that’s just the beginning. As trip goers serve, they’re transformed . Meaning, when you take a trip with Petros Network, you will:

grow your appreciation of other cultures,

shape your understanding of missions, and

expand your view of the kingdom of God.

Be the change that changes you.

We invite you, to join us for this once-in-a-lifetime missions experience..

We go as citizens of a nation; we return, with hearts forever dislocated by the Almighty, as missionaries to the world.

— Dr. Ray & Linda Noah, Founders

If you’re on the fence, rest assured.

OUR TRIPS ARE:

We’ve led thousands of people on safe, meaningful trips over the last decade.

Our whole process—before, during & after—is carefully designed.

You’ll undergo an immersive Gospel experience that leaves a lasting impact.

Our trips help support & nurture church plants.

Help indigenous leaders spread the Gospel to previously unreached people.

Destinations are extremely poor places where few have ever gone.

Explore the opportunity.

God is so good ..

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE:

Short-term Mission Trips

Trip participants, returned to another trip, church plants, compassion project areas.

 1.4 million 

New Believers

Testimonials from participants..

Your Role: Teaching the Church Planters in Doctrine and Theology.

Your Experience: I had the privilege of preaching the commissioning service this past year (when we send the church planters out into unreached villages to share the Good News and plant a church). I am always brought to tears as the new church planters come up front. Most of them are so young and so excited. They have no formal education. Not even a Bible in some cases. And yet the Lord uses them powerfully to plant churches in unreached villages. It is a constant reminder to me that God doesn’t call the qualified so much as He qualifies the called.

Your Transformation: It is the single most important thing I do every year.

What would you say to someone on the fence about going? If you want to experience the miraculous presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work, go to Ethiopia.

Parker, Colorado

Your Role: Taught financial literacy and entrepreneurship to 130 widows over a 3-day conference.

Your Experience: An unforgettable experience was when we visited one of the widows’ home (shack) and I saw how poor her living condition was. The whole family survived on just a few little potatoes each day. When asked what she got out of the conference, she could recite almost everything that we taught! She was inspired to start her own business with what she learned so she could support her family and provide them with a better life. It was truly one of the most emotional and rewarding experiences of my life!

Your Transformation: I will never be the same again!

What would you say to someone on the fence about going? You cannot afford not to go when God desires your vision to be stretched and to commission you to a higher calling. I would 100 percent go again!

British Columbia, Canada

Your Role: I taught an introductory mechanics class in an area with no access to a mechanic shop or vocational training.

Your Experience: The young men I taught were so eager to learn. I was encouraged by their grasp and understanding of all that I taught them. It was a blessing to me to hear their hearts and what they dream about for their future.

Your Transformation: This trip and others like it have impacted my life significantly by showing me how God will use the talents and skills that he gives you to teach others and build lasting relationships.

What would you say to someone on the fence about going? Be obedient in your calling. Trust that God will use you and your abilities to reach all people. He has gifted each and every one of us; we just need to obey.

Beaufort, South Carolina

Your Role: I was ready and willing to do whatever was needed.

Your Experience: The people of Ethiopia are beautiful inside and out. The interaction with the orphans and widows was so rewarding. The joy I saw in their hearts will forever be imprinted in my mind and heart. When in Southern Ethiopia, the stories that the Church Planters detailed to us were of a committed faith that I had never witnessed before. They were bold and courageous to ‘make Jesus’ famous even at times in the presence of threats.

Your Transformation: I will forever be impacted by my Ethiopian experience – the lack of resources does not temper the Ethiopian heart! I long to return!

What would you say to someone on the fence about going? You will be blessed many times over. Go with an open heart, flexibility, unconditional love, and a willingness to serve.

Bailey, Colorado

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Here’s how it works:

Go where no one else is going.

Choose a trip.

You have several trips to choose from each year, and we’re happy to assist you in selecting the right trip for you or your group.

Simply complete the online application and we’ll contact you within one business day. When you’re ready, secure your spot on the team with a deposit, then we’ll guide you through the pre-trip planning and training.

Go with confidence.

Our thorough training helps you to be fully prepared for your trip; we make sure you know the ins and outs as well as everything you’ll need to keep you healthy and safe.

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted and cared for by partners we know and trust. They’ll handle all the details, logistics, and safeguards to create an experience that’s unforgettable.

Return with fresh perspective.

We can guarantee you won’t return home the same. Meaning, when you take a trip with Petros Network, you will:

• Grow your appreciation for other cultures
• Shape your understanding of missions
• Expand your view of the kingdom of God

Let’s go!

Whether you’re interested in spiritual leadership, healthcare, construction, engineering, education, homemaking, or humanitarian work — there’s a place for you to serve.

ETHIOPIA – UGANDA – SOUTH SUDAN – MYANMAR

2024 Trip Opportunities

Leadership Training and Community Development: Church Planting, Small Business, Global Farming, Women’s Empowerment, Girl’s Power and Boy’s Program, Children’s Feeding Initiatives, Healthcare, Clean Water, Technology, Construction, and Sports Outreach.

Winter / Spring / Summer / Fall

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You may still be wondering…

How much does a trip cost.

Typically trips run anywhere from $3,100 USD to $5,000 USD for combo trips (multiple locations). The total depends on airfare, location(s), and duration of trip.

Trip Payment Schedule:

• Application Submission: $375 trip non-refundable deposit due to secure your spot
• 90 Days before the trip: $1,000 due
• 60 Days before the trip: $1,000 due
• 30 Days before the trip: Remaining balance due

Note: If paying by card, there is a 4% card processing fee.

What is included in the fees?

Trip fees include:

• Short-term travel insurance
• Ground transportation
• Basic meals
• Clean water and hygiene

Not included:

• Passport fees/photos
• Immunizations
• In-country Visa
• Luggage beyond airfare allowance
• Flight insurance
• Laundry service
• Specialty drinks
• Meals at the airport
• Medications
• Electrical adapters
• Possible COVID tests

What training do you provide?

We offer pre-trip training where we lay out roles and responsibilities of each traveler and answer any questions you may have.

What are the qualifications of your staff leaders?

Ray and Linda Noah have served in pastoral ministry for over four decades. Linda has been involved in leadership development in faith and business sectors during that same time. For the past twenty years, Ray and Linda have planted churches in East Africa. In 2012, the success of this church planting effort led the Noah’s to form the Petros Network, a ministry dedicated to planting churches among unreached people groups and equipping these churches/leaders to be catalysts of transformation in the villages in which they are planted. The result is what Petros Network has termed creating Redemptive Lift. Ray has Masters of Arts in Theology from Northwest University and a Doctor of Ministry from the Assembly of God Theological Seminary. Linda is completing her Masters in Leadership Studies.

Who can go on a mission trip?

Anyone is invited to join us on a short-term mission trip. We invite you to take the gospel plunge and join us on a life-impacting experience. As a Petros Network trip participant, you are joining a group of passionate partners whose hearts are stirred to reach the unreached and care for the poor. Together we will serve in some of the poorest, most remote, hard-to-reach places in the world; places where there is little or no infrastructure or resources; and places where people have never experienced God’s love or heard about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Those under the age of 18 may travel to the countries we serve with a parent, guardian, or qualified youth leader. The accompanying adult will assume responsibility for the minor’s behavior and safety. This adult must be willing to leave the trip to accompany the minor home if any behavior or safety reasons warrant the return. Petros Network believes that children of all ages can have a tremendous impact when traveling on outreach trips. It is important that children are mature, flexible, and capable of handling, seeing, and processing economic poverty. However, it is up to the discretion of the parents to determine the appropriate age for their child to travel with us.

In fulfilling our mission, international trips are scheduled multiple times a year with activities varying according to the needs of the local community and the various skills of team members. Some of the challenges found in the areas we serve often seem insurmountable; and yet, when we work together, we can impact one village at a time and then another…and another. That is why we are so excited to have you join us on one of our upcoming Petros Network trips.

Typically, our teams are made up of individuals with a wide variety of giftings and passions. Specialized training is welcomed, but not necessary. If God is calling you to join us, we expect this trip to be one of the high points of your life.

What this short video, Why Go On A Mission Trip:

What types of trips do you offer?

At Petros Network, we work across 100+ denominations and partner with people like you to train and empower indigenous missionaries to meet physical needs, share the Gospel, and help it spread throughout the unreached world.

The needs of the communities we serve are great, and each of our trips can be unique depending upon the team involved and the needs of the community we are serving. Trip itineraries can also vary from one country to two countries, from 10 days to 20 days. Typically, our teams are made up of individuals with a wide variety of giftings and passions. This, along with the tremendous need, allows Petros Network trip participants to serve in various areas and have a God-glorifying holistic impact. Below are activities most teams will experience:

Building, Empowering, and Launching Leaders | Building indigenous leaders is at the core of what we do. We believe a trained leader is the HOPE of the world!

Church Planter Training and Ministry Development

Leadership Training and Development

Small Business Training and Development

Personal and Life Skill Training and Development

Bible and Christian Literature Distribution

Administrative Help: Training check-in and support, conducting Church Planter interviews

Providing Humanitarian Care | We extend God’s love through acts of compassion and care. Jesus not only spoke the WORD, but He cared for the people!

Protecting Children: Education, food, clothing, medical care, and support as needed.

Empowering Women: Small Business training, life skills, business development, micro-grants, renovating homes, personal care, skill-building through the TESFA Project, etc.

Improving Healthcare: Medical and dental clinics

Providing Clean Water and Sanitation: Well drilling, water purification, sanitation development

Feeding Families: Farming and agriculture initiatives, food distribution

Building Character Through Sports: Sport clinics, events

As a trip participant, you will be asked to roll up your sleeves and be the hands of Christ extended in your area of gifting as well as some expanded areas. You may also be asked to help transport training or medical supplies, to serve in a stretching role, or even to teach or give your testimony to a local congregation. We will attempt to use your unique skills and passion for the greatest impact for the glory of God. We can promise you will never be the same.

How does COVID-19 affect the trips?

The restrictions in the areas we serve have been heightened by COVID-19 regulations. While traveling from Country to Country you may need to obtain a Covid test prior to travel. Some countries may require vaccination as well. Our Mobilization Specialist can answer any questions as well as provide up-to-date information on COVID-19 international travel.

Why do people typically go on your trips?

If you are a medical professional, a business man or women, a teacher, a mother, a construction worker, a theologian, a nanny—we need you! Every trip we have a wide variety of projects from working with our widows and orphans to teaching our church planters and everything in between that keeps us going each day.

How do I raise the funds?

We believe God is already providing you the resources necessary for your trip. If you do not have the means readily available, God may desire that you use the need as an opportunity to allow others to participate through prayer and giving, and to grow your own faith and dependence on Him in the process.

Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

• Fundraise Through Your Trip Account
• Face-to-Face Fundraising
• Send Out Support Letters

Reach out to us at [email protected] for more fundraising information.

Where do we stay?

Our teams stay in local hotels in or near the areas we serve. Trip fees include double occupancy hotel accommodation. Single-room accommodation is available for an additional fee. Each trip participant may indicate the name of the person they wish to share the room with as part of the trip application process. If requesting a single room, you may indicate that on your application.

What will I eat?

Generally, food will be prepared by our national hosts and/or eaten in local restaurants. We will eat items such as lamb, chicken, some beef, cabbage, lentils, potatoes, and eggs. Coffee, tea, sodas, and bottled water will be available throughout the day.

It is important to be cautious about what you eat. Avoid fruit that cannot be peeled, uncooked vegetables, salads, fruit juices, raw eggs, and uncooked meat or unprocessed cheese.

Team Members are encouraged to include snack foods, sweets, and granola bars in their luggage. It’s possible that we might miss a meal during our travels, and having a taste of home can provide comfort on a challenging day.

How do I secure a passport?

A valid passport is required to travel to Africa. Here is a quick checklist for a valid US passport:

• Your passport has your correct full legal name on it. (If your name has changed for any reason, the name on record with the Social Security office must match your passport.)
• Your passport has at least three blank pages for Visa purposes.
• Your passport does not expire for at least six months from the departure date.

If all three items are not checked, it is imperative you begin the process to obtain/update your passport.

If You Have Never Had a Passport or You Need to Renew Your Passport

• If you are applying for a passport for the first time or renewing your passport, we recommend you START HERE .
• This simple questionnaire will help you understand the process and determine your fees, required documentation and support materials HERE .
• The regular processing time to obtain a passport is about six weeks. You can expedite your passport for an additional fee, but we strongly encourage you to begin this process well before your trip.

If You Have Applied, Have Concerns or Want to Check on Your Passport

• If you have concerns about your passport or the process, please contact the National Passport Information Center HERE . You can also speak directly with a Customer Service Representative at 1-877-487-2778 .
• Once you have applied for your passport, you can track the progress online HERE .

Interested in learning more about our trip activities?

See a team in action in our Uganda highlight reel from a recent trip. Click HERE to watch!

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS:

Top Tips for International Trips

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Find Your Mission

Medicalmissions.org is a 501(c)3 organization that connects medical volunteers and other volunteers with organizations sponsoring medical missions all over the world., about medicalmissions.org.

MedicalMissions.org is a 501(c)3 organization that connects medical volunteers and other volunteers with organizations sponsoring medical missions all over the world. Our services are 100 percent free for both medical volunteers who register and mission organizations posting their opportunities.

The goal of MedicalMissions.org is to connect healthcare providers with organizations sponsoring medical missions by offering a free, searchable database of health-related volunteer opportunities and medical mission trips. These include short and long-term medical volunteer opportunities, both domestic and international.

Quick Facts

MedicalMissions.org was founded in 2009. The site was redesigned and relaunched in 2015 by LocumTenens.com. Throughout its history, MedicalMissions.org has been

• Individuals from more than 217 countries use the site
• More than 4,200 medical professionals have registered
• More than 180 organizations have posted thousands of mission opportunities

Contact Information

MedicalMissions.org
 Alpharetta, GA 30009 USA [email protected]

• (970) 635-0110

Undergrad Students

Medical mission trips for college students: undergraduate students, pre-med students, pre-dental students, nursing students – gain valuable experience to take your education to the next level.

Since 2002, International Medical Relief has been sending volunteer medical teams to provide valuable medical and dental care in developing countries. We send teams on 4 to 14-day missions to more than 80 different countries around the world providing medical, dental, and surgical care where it is needed most. Longer-term missions are also available!

Why Medical Mission Trips with IMR?

Medical mission trips for college students from international medical relief offer a unique insight into the rewards and demands of a professional health career..

• Learn through a combination of mentoring, observation, and tutorials
• Gain insight into the rewards and demands of a medical career
• Care for patients under the direct supervision of licensed medical professionals
• Participate in clinics in a variety of patient care roles
• Earn 80-110 clinical hours of experience plus a certificate of participation from IMR - Learn More
• Opportunities for college credits (school dependent) - Learn More
• Check out our Yale Speaker Series with IMR

Undergrad Student Roles in Clinic

Learning opportunities.

All providers on IMR medical mission trips for college students are responsible for teaching IMR student volunteers and local health care students as time allows. You will have learning opportunities every day and gain valuable experience in patient care.

Intake & Triage

Well and sick care shadowing and scribing, laboratory and respiratory therapy, wound care and minor procedures, diagnosis equipment, community health education, patient transports and home visits, statistics and pre-packing medications, clinical trials.

• Testimonials

Join Us in Making a Difference.

You can join an IMR medical mission team or donate today!

• [email protected]
• 1151 Eagle Drive Suite 457 Loveland, CO. 80537

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Short-Term Medical Mission Trips: Research and Recommendations

BY: BRUCE COMPTON

Short-term medical mission trips invest millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to provide people in the developing world with health care. The trips score high in terms of good intentions — but not necessarily in return on investment. Despite years of increasing popularity, health service trips have lacked a standardized evaluation process to assess patient safety, quality control and mission impact.

Now, after two years of research and study, the Catholic Health Association has released 20 best-practice recommendations for U.S. organizations considering, conducting and evaluating short-term medical mission trips in low- and middle-income countries.

"Much needed, compassionate care has been provided, but history shows us that it takes more than short bursts of visiting clinicians and volunteers to change the health status of a community, to build capacity and create sustainable access," said Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, CHA's president and chief executive officer. "Our tradition calls us to deeper relationships — ones whereby a community and its caregivers are asked what the needs are, what the local ability is to meet those needs and what partnership might be developed to bridge the two."

THE RESEARCH CHA collected extensive and candid feedback in two phases. Phase I, which surveyed organizations and individuals who travel to low- and middle-income countries, involved more than 500 volunteers and medical mission organizers. Phase II, which concentrated on in-country organizers and recipients of the services, collected data from 82 international respondents who represented 14 countries. 1

CHA's recommendations also incorporated content from the World Health Organization's document, African Partnerships for Patient Safety .

"CHA provides a model for the global dialogue on standard principles for the partnership-based approach related to the need for considerable changes in medical partnerships," said Lopa Basu, DO, the U.S. liaison for WHO's Service Delivery and Safety Department and a global health adviser at the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, part of Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

The 20 recommendations are organized into eight categories, which form a process for evaluating the usefulness of short-term medical mission trips. Each category includes recommendations for practice, a set of questions for reflection and a decision point to help an organization determine whether or not it should move forward or reconsider committing to a trip or activity. The categories are:

1. Self-assessment: Before any medical mission activities take place, take time to assess your organization's history, motives and available resources.

The director of an international partner's health care projects said, "Sometimes they need to be honest and say, 'Maybe we shouldn't come.' And the local partner needs to have the honesty to say, 'Thank you for offering, but your skills don't meet our needs.' To get to this kind of relationship, there needs to be an ongoing connection, someone in the field who has a continuing connection with the partnering organization. Otherwise, the partnering organization does not have enough time to get to know the community."

2. Needs assessment: Understand the actual needs as assessed by your potential international partner.

While both sets of respondents agreed that needs assessments are necessary, U.S. respondents said in interviews that they were concerned it would be asking too much of an international partner to conduct them.

However, 93 percent of international respondents said a needs assessment is appropriate. Of them, 68 percent said they should manage the needs assessment themselves, and 25 percent said they should co-manage the needs assessment with their U.S. partner.

3. Gap/asset analysis: After you understand the international partner's needs and priorities, map the assets and determine the gaps.

The short-term medical mission studies and previous research conducted by CHA on medical surplus donations indicated that inappropriate donations can be the result of U.S. partners identifying gaps without gathering or heeding the international partner's input.

Charles Evans, a retired health care CEO and former chairman of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is chairman of MedShare International, headquartered in Decatur, Georgia. MedShare collects and distributes surplus medical supplies and equipment, shipping to medically underserved communities in the United States and abroad.

Evans said he is "struck by the number of well-intentioned people who donate equipment, yet pay so little attention to what will be required to set up, maintain and use it successfully once a medical mission trip concludes."

Too many equipment donations and short-term medical mission trips are arranged as one-time-only events rather than part of a continuing program, Evans added. "You can't build capacity or relationships by making one trip," he observed.

4. Planning and preparation: If the U.S. organization's resources match the needs as assessed by the international partner, create a formal plan for the activity.

This category recommends the partners work together to create a joint memorandum of understanding and collaborate to set goals and objectives for the trip. More than 70 percent of the respondents to Phase I of the research said it was essential to formalize these agreements in writing.

5. Volunteer selection and orientation: Those involved need to be well-positioned to be of assistance.

Organizations should explore the attitudes and expectations of their volunteers from the outset, said James A. Rice, managing director of Integrated Healthcare Strategies, a Kansas City, Mo., consultancy.

"A lot of folks want to 'do good' but don't realize that they may communicate an air of arrogance or are not open to learning from their experiences in a host country," he said.

A participant in 34 short-term medical missions, Rice recently returned from a leave of absence to support the U.S. Agency for International Development and Management Sciences for Health to strengthen the governance of health systems in low-income countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He noted the significance of CHA's research and recommendations, saying they needed to be put into practice to create change.

"The value and power of their utility will be seen in how well people involved in mission trip planning use the information as part of their team development," he said.

6. Implementation: Put the plan into action.

The recommendations in this category emphasize collaboration and partnership. Basu, a veteran of 10 short-term medical mission trips, emphasized that it's essential to remain flexible and to honor cultural norms, including the host country's work styles. For example, a training program focused on patient safety and team building takes one day when offered in the U.S., but it requires two days in Uganda.

"The participants' sense of time is differently paced [in Uganda], including a greater degree of socialization and a larger number of breaks throughout the day," Basu said. "It's a more mindful and slow-paced approach."

Basu also recalled an incident that occurred during an Ebola outbreak. The hosts made it clear it was too costly for them to allow electric lights to burn 24/7, yet U.S. personnel kept the electricity running anyway, creating a poor impression. However, she and her colleagues used the experience as an opportunity to work with world health leaders to develop more effective partnership models.

The recommendations highlight the need for high-quality standards that align with international and local laws. A retired executive of a health outreach program in an emerging country was adamant that mission-trip planners and participants need to be more sensitive to the local laws, norms and standards.

"It is rare that groups even register with the government. It is a law that all MDs and nurses are to send their current U.S. license to the local health department for approval before they arrive," the executive said. "How many groups stop by the health department to ask for the local norms and standards before going to a location to see 1,500 people in a week? Very few. Why is that? Would a hospital in Chicago welcome a doctor from China without knowing if this was a licensed practitioner? Never! But folks do this here."

7. Monitoring and evaluation: After putting in the time, effort and resources, it is important to know if you are making a positive difference in the community you are serving.

Metrics must supplement narrative or anecdotal evidence. In Phase I research, a health system administrator who has served as both an organizer and a volunteer noted, "We see 1,000 kids in a two-week mission. So what happened to those kids? Did they just go home, take their medicine like they're supposed to, and now they're all better? Or did the medicine never get given, it got sold to somebody else, it only got half taken and they ended up back in the hospital? It's the outcome issues that are the hardest to collect the data on."

8. Lessons learned: Document what has happened, what has worked, what hasn't worked, and change course based on what you now know.

In Phase I research, an organizer reflected on how his program had evolved over time to become more likely to improve health: "The first couple of years, we were spending time doing large clinics every day. And then, more and more, we started finding the health care workers, the volunteers, the midwives, the public health workers and setting up training events for them, or inviting them to join us in collaborative clinical experiences. And then finally, the last stage was that we were really trying to look at the country as a whole and look at the bigger, more sweeping issues."

CHA's recommendations resonate with health care community leaders who are most familiar with the challenges of short-term medical mission trips.

"Through its recommendations, CHA has created a template for how international medical mission work should be approached," said Rod Hochman, MD, president and CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, headquartered in Renton, Washington.

When Providence decided to focus its medical mission efforts on Guatemala three years ago, the organization worked with its international health partners, Houston-based Faith in Practice and Medical Teams International, headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, to set goals and objectives. They were built on needs assessments created with plentiful input from the Guatemalans with whom Providence collaborates. (See story on page 23.)

"To our way of thinking, there are no short-term interventions. CHA's Recommendations for Practice gently but firmly reinforces that way of thinking," Hochman said.

Evans said CHA's research has produced an "authoritative resource that is of great value to organizations that sponsor medical mission trips." He has shared it with all of his affiliates and partner groups and pointed out that these are the kinds of issues the global health community has been discussing but has not acted upon.

"If the research and recommendations are widely shared and used, the impact will be felt around the world," he said.

The Phase I and Phase II research results and related resources are available on CHA's website at www.chausa.org/internationaloutreach/medical-mission-immersion-trips/short-term-medical-mission-trips---cha-research .

BRUCE COMPTON is the senior director of international outreach at the Catholic Health Association of the United States, St. Louis, Missouri. He served as one of the principal investigators on both research phases on short-term medical mission trips to low- and middle-income countries.

• Phase I of the research project on short-term medical mission trips was conducted by the Rev. Michael Rozier, SJ, a doctoral student in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; Judith N. Lasker, the N.E.H. distinguished professor of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Bruce Compton. The study included an online survey and in-depth interviews. Phase II was conducted by Compton and Accenture Development Partnerships. It was underwritten in part by Ascension Global Mission. Phase II included an electronic survey followed by in-depth interviews.

Copyright © 2016 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States

For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3490.

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Also in this Issue

• Catholic Health Care Ministry Is Anchored in a Global View
• Dignity of the Human Person is Central to UN Sustainable Goals
• A New Generation of Global Health Professionals: Bridging the Health Divide
• Who is My Neighbor? Compassion in the Age of Globalization
• Providence Health & Services: Partnerships Crucial to Sustainable Health Missions

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