Home / Specialty Areas / Oncology Volunteer Opportunities
Specialty Area
Oncology
Cancer care that stays local.
HVO oncology volunteers support local teams in building diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary care — teaching rather than treating.
HVO’s Role
Local providers and educators lead. HVO volunteers teach alongside them.
Partner with oncology departments
HVO works with hospitals, universities, and oncology 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.
“
HVO, thank you for helping us start from scratch and for standing by us as we built a center of excellence. We are not just treating cancer, we are building a future.
Soniya Dulal, MD
On-Site Coordinator — Oncology
Oncology 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.
Bhutan – Not currently recruiting
Thimphu – Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1 month in-person; variable for virtual
Bhutan – Not currently recruiting
Thimphu – Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1 month in-person; variable for virtual
Physicians, laboratory professionals, and nurses are needed. To fulfill the project goals, volunteers participate in the daily activities on the oncology inpatient and outpatient unit with the emphasis on education and role modeling. In addition, volunteers prepare lectures/presentations for the hospital staff about cancer related topics. As the project develops, there is interest in collaborating with the chemotherapy pharmacist and helping to develop chemotherapy and pain management protocols.
Qualifications
As of October 2025, the Bhutan Department of Immigration will not issue work permits to those over the age of 65. Because of this, no individuals over the age of 65 will be permitted to volunteer with HVO’s projects in Bhutan. This contradicts previous guidance that HVO received in July 2025, when our partners had offered to obtain exemptions to the age limit policy. We wish there were more that we could do for volunteers affected by this policy, but unfortunately this is out of our hands and those of our partners in Bhutan.
Physicians & nurses specialized in oncology; board-certified or in active practice for at least 5 years. Final year oncology fellows and or physicians who recently completed fellowships will be accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor.
Companions Allowed
Bhutan’s immigration regulations do not allow volunteers who are staying less than 90 days to bring family members. For longer stays, volunteers may bring a spouse. Not suitable for minors.
Housing
Housing is available on a first-come, first served basis. Let HVO staff know if you are interested in housing so that necessary arrangements can be made.
Honduras
Tegucigalpa – San Felipe Hospital
Format
In-person
Length
1 week
Honduras
Tegucigalpa – San Felipe Hospital
Format
In-person
Length
1 week
Volunteers provide teaching and training in surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology for staff (physicians, nurses, lab personnel, etc.), residents, and students at San Felipe Hospital, a public facility that serves as the national referral center for all serious oncology case. Training activities fall under these main categories:
• Seminars and workshops on surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology.
• Curriculum development if requested.
• Intraoperative technical training
Qualifications
Volunteers must be appropriately trained and board-certified physicians who specialize in oncology, including surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology. Volunteers must have five years of experience in active practice and be certified in their oncology specialty. Retirees are welcomed to participate.
Final-year surgical oncology fellows or senior general surgical residents or physicians who have recently completed their fellowships but do not have active hospital privileges must be paired with physicians who meet the eligibility standards above.
Companions Allowed
Adults only, no minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; assistance and information on nearby facilities provided.
Nepal
Bhaktapur – Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1-2 weeks; variable for virtual
Nepal
Bhaktapur – Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1-2 weeks; variable for virtual
HVO volunteers will contribute to the development and implementation of a structured surgical gynecologic oncology training program at BCH. Volunteers will work with BCH staff to develop a gynecologic oncology curriculum for both didactic and clinical skills, and provide surgical and didactic training to BCH gynecologic oncologists.
Qualifications
Board-certified gynecologic or radiation oncologists with at least two years of post-fellowship experience. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Nepal
Dharan – B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2 weeks minimum
Nepal
Dharan – B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2 weeks minimum
This project is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of medical oncology residents and fellows from the Doctor of Medicine (DM) program, enhance the capacity of faculty in the department to educate and train medical oncologists, strengthen community outreach by training community health workers in home-based palliative care for oncology patients, and improve the knowledge and skills of nursing students and oncology nurses. Examples of activities for volunteers include delivering lectures, providing clinical guidance, discussing research, and participating in training workshops.
Qualifications
Medical oncology volunteers must be board-certified oncologists with a minimum of 5 years clinical experience in any aspect of solid tumor oncology, hematologic malignancies, benign heme conditions, or clinical research.
Nursing volunteers must be board-certified oncology trained nurses with an RN, BSN, or higher and have a minimum of 3 years of clinical practice. Nurses with clinical expertise in inpatient or infusion oncology are preferred. Residents and fellows will not be considered for this project.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Housing is provided.
Nepal
Kathmandu – National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1-3 weeks; variable for virtual
Nepal
Kathmandu – National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
1-3 weeks; variable for virtual
HVO volunteers will seek to improve NAMS oncology residency program and increase knowledge of non-oncology residents and staff regarding oncology.
Qualifications
Board-certified oncologists. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Vietnam
Hanoi – National Cancer Hospital (NCH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2 weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Vietnam
Hanoi – National Cancer Hospital (NCH)
Format
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length
2 weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
HVO volunteers will work with NCH personnel to increase knowledge and skills in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, as well as increase the capacity of NCH oncologists to design, conduct and publish research.
Qualifications
Volunteers must be licensed physicians certified in oncology who are either retired or in active practice. Pathologists, plastic surgeons, colorectal surgeons, thoracic surgeons, and individuals (MD or PhD) with experience in study design, data analysis, and statistical methods are also needed. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Companions Allowed
Adults and minors.
Housing
Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Your expertise can travel further.
Join a global community of health professionals strengthening oncology care through education and partnership.
Questions first?