HVO COVID-19 Update
Health Volunteers Overseas is closely monitoring the situation caused by the global outbreak of COVID-19. HVO project sites are temporarily suspending placement of volunteers thru May 31st.
Blog
Career burnout and the importance of self-care
Let’s face it; we are all tired and stressed from the pandemic and the isolation, fear, and anxiety it has brought. That is particularly true among health care providers, who have often been on the frontlines addressing the crisis. I…
The Wyss Scholarship for Future Leaders in Global Health Resumes
I am pleased to announce that HVO is once again accepting applications for the Wyss Scholarship for Future Leaders in Global Health. For now, we will only consider virtual training opportunities. The scholarship, which was initiated in 2015, provides short-term professional development opportunities…
As the World Reopens
With the roll-out of vaccines creeping across the globe, and with pandemic fatigue ever present, there will certainly be pent-up interest in travel opportunities reopening. But what exactly does that mean, and when will it be safe to travel again…
We Can Get Through This
As I write this, COVID-19 continues to surge across the globe and cases are approaching 145 million, with more than 3 million deaths. The only way we can get through the pandemic and begin to gain some sense of normalcy in…
Lessons We Shouldn’t Forget
What a year it has been! When the pandemic was officially declared and I asked staff to begin working remotely, I thought that might be the case for about three weeks. Little did we know that, over a year later,…
A Glimmer of Light
Here in Washington, we are beginning to see a few signs of spring – warmer weather, sunnier days; all are welcome signs of renewal. Similarly, across the globe, we are seeing glimmers of hope that the pandemic, which has terrorized…
Words Matter
A recent “Goats and Soda” blog for NPR talked of how the term “Third World” was used frequently by the media after the rioting occurred at the US Capitol Building, likening the behavior to that which can occur in countries…
Volunteering in Bhutan as the Pandemic Erupted
Trenton Harper, a nationally registered paramedic, served in Bhutan for six months on a Rita Feinberg Fellowship. He shared his thoughts on the experience with an HVO staff member. On the 14th of January I arrived in Bhutan, through HVO,…
Volunteer Spotlight: Viviane Leuche, MD Committed to Improving Health Care in Sub-Saharan Africa
Growing up in Cameroon, Viviane Leuche, MD, was inspired by her childhood pediatrician to pursue a career in pediatrics. The African continent’s relatively young population—the estimated median age is 19 years old—offers many opportunities for a pediatrician to make an…
A Tribute to Nursing from HVO
Editor’s note: The following article is a guest contribution from Betty Beard, RN, MSN, PhD. Dr. Beard, Professor Emeritus at Eastern Michigan University, is the Project Director for HVO’s nursing education project at Hai Duong Medical Technical University in Vietnam.…
Building on the Relationships at the Heart of HVO’s Work
The partnerships at the heart of HVO’s work are built on years of collaboration and professional exchange. Our projects promote long-lasting relationships among health providers, fostering a global community that serves as a source of strength and resilience. Though our…