ORTHOPAEDICS

If I could sum up my experiences and give advice to anyone volunteering with HVO, it would be the following: Come with an open mind in terms of people & culture. You will find yourself transformed and forever changed through the experience.”

-HVO Orthopaedics Volunteer

READY TO VOLUNTEER?

There are multiple steps to the placement process and often more than one approval is required. The process varies slightly from country-to-country and project-to-project. We strive to make this process as quick as possible but potential volunteers should be aware that final approval can take several months.

• To begin the placement process, complete the volunteer application and submit your CV.

ACTIVE PROJECTS

Thimphu & Mongar, Bhutan – Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral (JDWNR) Hospital & Eastern Regional Referral Hospital
The primary site in Thimphu needs volunteers to enhance the level of orthopaedic knowledge in the department of orthopaedic surgery at the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu and to provide training to orthopaedic residents and interns. Volunteers who have previously served in Bhutan are needed for 6 – 8 week assignments in Mongar, in the eastern part of the country.

Wenzhou, China – Wenzhou Medical University
Volunteers provide orthopaedic sub-specialty training for residents and physicians at the Wenzhou Medical University.

San Jose, Costa Rica – Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social
Volunteers provide training to orthopaedic residents and staff at hospitals which are part of the CCSS in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Kumasi, Ghana – Accident and Emergency Center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
The goals of this project are to assist the faculty to increase the number and quality of trained orthopaedic, trauma, and plastic surgeons in Ghana; to assist in the acquisition of teaching/training materials; and to develop a sustainable training program that will produce both practicing surgeons and orthopaedic/plastics faculty. The initial focus of the program is on trauma and pediatrics with other specialties being explored.

Yangon, Myanmar – Yangon General Hospital and Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital
Volunteers are needed to review, revise, and support the orthopaedic residency program, and to provide sub-specialty training for the general orthopaedic surgeons in trauma, infection control, pediatrics, hand surgery, spine surgery, orthopaedic oncology, arthroplasty, arthroscopic and sports surgery, and external fixators.

Managua, Nicaragua – Hospital Antonio Lenin Fonseca, Hospital Escuela Roberto Caldern, Hospital Militar and Hospital Fernando Velez Paiz
Please note: HVO is not currently placing volunteers at this project.
Volunteers are needed to improve the training in the state hospital and military hospital residency programs by providing clinical and didactic education in general orthopaedics and all specialty areas.

Vieux Fort, St. Lucia – St. Jude Hospital
Volunteers provide basic orthopaedic care. The work schedule involves surgical clinics and planned operative cases. Though St. Lucia is primarily a service site, teaching opportunities are available for volunteers at weekly staff meetings.In addition, a curriculum is in the process of being developed for the instruction of a mid-level house officer, triage nurses, and clinic physicians; volunteers are encouraged to participate in this on-going project.

Moshi, Tanzania – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC)
Volunteers provide training at KCMC to orthopaedic faculty members and residents. Generalists as needed as well as sub-specialists in a variety of specialties.

Mwanza, Tanzania – Bugando Medical Center (BMC)
Working with the staff of BMC, HVO volunteers will support the training of orthopaedic residents and interns through clinical and didactic instruction in the operating room and clinic. Volunteers will accompany and assist in supervising residents to outreach programs at Kagondo St. Joseph Hospital and Shirate Hospital in the nearby town of Musoma. Volunteers will also work with orthopaedic staff at BMC to improve skills and knowledge of orthopaedic staff in subspecialty topics.

Kampala, Uganda – Mulago Hospital
Volunteers participate in teaching residents in the Masters of Medicine of Orthopaedic Surgery Program as well as teaching orthopaedic assistants, medical students and physicians at the national teaching hospital. Surgeons also conduct clinics and operating sessions with Ugandan doctors in upcountry regional hospitals.