Home / Specialty Areas / Orthopaedics Volunteer Opportunities
Specialty Area
Orthopaedics
Where HVO began.
Orthopaedics Overseas was HVO’s founding division. Volunteers teach operative and non-operative management alongside local surgeons and trainees.
HVO’s Role
Local providers and educators lead. HVO volunteers teach alongside them.
Partner with orthopaedic departments
HVO works with hospitals, universities, and orthopaedic departments that set their own education priorities.
Teach, mentor and co-develop curricula
Volunteers deliver continuing education, clinical instruction, and one-on-one mentoring, in person and online.
Build local teaching capacity
Courses are designed so local providers can carry the training forward to colleagues across their own health systems.
“
Teaching and learning, they are connected. It is difficult to teach without also learning.
Rómulo Silva, MBBS
Volunteer — Orthopaedics
Orthopaedic Volunteer Opportunities
Find a project that fits your expertise.
Placement takes several months and often requires more than one approval. Review the projects below, then submit an application and CV to begin.
Click on a project below to view more details.
Costa Rica
San Jose – Various hospitals in the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social system
Format
In-person only
Length
1-2 weeks
Costa Rica
San Jose – Various hospitals in the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social system
Format
In-person only
Length
1-2 weeks
Volunteers work to provide subspecialty training for residents and faculty members at hospitals within the National Social Security System of Costa Rica, including Hospital Nacional de Niños, Hospital San Rafael (Alajuela), Hospital Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia, Hospital San Vicente de Paúl (Heredia), Hospital México, Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación (CENARE), and Hospital San Juan de Dios. The areas most needed at this time are joint reconstruction, trauma, and pediatrics.
Qualifications
Volunteers must be board-certified, hold a current license, and have subspecialty training. Retired volunteers are accepted. Spanish proficiency is not required of volunteers.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; assistance and information on nearby facilities provided.
Ghana
Kumasi – Accident and Emergency Center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
Ghana
Kumasi – Accident and Emergency Center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
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.
Qualifications
Board eligible/certified with current license (active or retired) with sub-specialty training. Final year residents accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor.
Companions Allowed
Adults only, no minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Malawi
Lilongwe – Lilongwe Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery (LION)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
Malawi
Lilongwe – Lilongwe Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery (LION)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
Volunteers work to improve trauma and non-trauma care at the hospital. In non-trauma care, the emphasis is on total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, and arthroscopic surgery of multiple joints. The primary trainees are orthopaedic residents and consultants at LION. When appropriate, training may extend to nurses, allied health professionals, and medical students. Training will take the form of informal continuing education; didactic, clinical, and combination instruction methods. The residents would receive more theoretical and practical training while training for the orthopaedic consultants would focus on surgical techniques as well as theoretical and practical training.
Qualifications
Volunteers must be board-certified and have active medical licenses. Orthopaedic surgery residents may be accepted at the discretion of the On-site Coordinator if accompanied by another approved volunteer.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Tanzania
Moshi – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2-4 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Tanzania
Moshi – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2-4 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Volunteers provide training at KCMC to orthopaedic faculty members and residents. Generalists as needed as well as sub-specialists in a variety of specialties.
Qualifications
Currently licensed orthopedists (active or retired). Final year residents accepted with an appropriate preceptor.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Housing provided for a reasonable fee.
Uganda
Kampala, Uganda – Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
Uganda
Kampala, Uganda – Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH)
Format
In-person only
Length
2-4 weeks
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.
Qualifications
Board eligible/certified; current license to practice (active or retired); minimum of 1 year experience.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Housing provided for a reasonable fee.
Your expertise can travel further.
Join a global community of health professionals strengthening orthopaedic care through education and partnership.
Questions first?