How Education Saves Lives
“A 22-year-old female patient presented with a sudden, severe headache and then lost consciousness. HVO volunteer Dr. Donna Venezia had taught our residents about sudden headaches in young patients, so they were able to catch the patient in time and send her to a neurosurgeon at Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh. The patient was saved. She was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage due to rupture of arteriovenous malformation.”
– Dr. Sunly Khun, emergency medicine
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Stories of Impact
In 2024, HVO volunteers provided
Personal & Professional Growth for Volunteers
There is much discussion at present about professional burnout and the importance of work-life balance. For me, volunteering has provided a renewed perspective on clinical practice. Working within the constraints of limited resources forces you to return to first principles. Without immediate access to expensive tests or newer therapies, you have to rely on clinical judgement, basic scientific knowledge and experience. On returning to my role in the UK, I found myself approaching cases differently, questioning what could be achieved with a more resource-conscious mindset. It also led me to take on new responsibilities, including leading the laboratory service.”
– Katharine Lowndes, hematology
