Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) is expanding its partnership with Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC) in Siem Reap, Cambodia to include a general pediatrics training project. This project marks the fifth collaboration between HVO and AHC, which already hosts programs in hematology, nurse education, anesthesia and wound management. The new project will support AHC’s pediatric residency program by recruiting volunteers to provide clinical and didactic training to residents in the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient departments, as well as at its satellite clinic in Sotnikom.
From 1974-1979 Cambodia was ruled by the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. During this time, more than 1 million Cambodians were killed. There were only 50 medical doctors left in the country in 1979, and many of these practitioners soon fled. The Cambodian health care system is still being rebuilt in the aftermath of this collapse. When Angkor Hospital for Children opened in January 1999, it was the first facility in the country to provide specialized pediatric care. In 2005, AHC was recognized as Cambodia’s first teaching hospital, and as of 2016 it is one of only two in the country.
At present, AHC is home to 40 pediatric residents. Volunteers are needed to assist in training the residents, as well as to provide professional development opportunities to senior staff. Collaboration with HVO is critical to the growth of AHC’s pediatric residency program.
To learn more about AHC’s history, mission, current operations and long-term goals visit the AHC website. HVO’s pediatric projects are sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Get Involved
Volunteers will provide both classroom-based and clinical training to AHC residents, teach ward rounds and provide sub-specialty training to junior and senior doctors. Volunteers may also contribute to the professional development of senior AHC staff.
- Volunteer. Learn more about available opportunities at AHC and other sites by visiting our program page.
- Make a gift. Support education and training projects for health workers in resource-scarce countries by making a donation to HVO.
- Share our work. Tell your network about HVO’s work in pediatrics and other fields on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.