“A teacher can never doubt the rewards of having students listen and adopt your teachings. The camaraderie of sharing with teaching colleagues was very rewarding.“
-HVO Oral Health 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
Vientiane, Laos – National University of Laos
Volunteers will provide support to the Lao dentists, dental faculty, and dental students in clinical general dentistry through training and education.
Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Assignment: 1-2 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Current license to practice (active or retired); general dentists & specialists accepted. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions: Adults only, no minors.
Dhulikhel, Nepal – Dhulikhel Dental School
Volunteers will work to improve the dental education for the students, dental assistants and hygienists at Dhulikhel Dental School in conjunction with the Kathmandu University School of Medicine and Dhulikhel Hospital by providing clinical and didactic training in all aspects of clinical dentistry. Requested topics for instruction include infection control and hygiene in the dental school, dental lab techniques, orthodontics and oral pathology. HVO volunteers will also collaborate with and mentor faculty about effective teaching methods and techniques.
Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Assignment: 2 weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Board eligible/certified; current license to practice (active or retired). Final-year residents may be considered if accompanied by a licensed oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Dental assistants must be a CDA and have at least five years of experience.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Kathmandu, Nepal – Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University (TU)
The goal of this project is to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of students, clinicians, and faculty associated with Tribhuvan University’s dental department. The university offers a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and a Master of Dental Surgery. Volunteers will be providing didactic lectures, clinical instructions, and demonstration workshops at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, a tertiary care government hospital with 700 beds.
Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Assignment: One to four weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Volunteers must be board eligible/certified dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and other dental specialists with three years of experience. The project is open to volunteers who have been retired for less than a year. Residents who have completed one year of residency are also eligible.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Muhimbili University
Volunteers provide instruction and lectures to the Faculty of Dentistry at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). The faculty evaluated the DDS curriculum and requested updates in oral surgery, orthodontics, and preventative and restorative dentistry. The dean has also requested assistance with curriculum revision. Volunteers are not needed in February or July due to exams. The dental school is on summer break from August to mid-October, but the oral surgery department runs year-round.
Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Assignment: 2 weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Dentists, specialists & oral and maxillofacial surgeons; surgeons must be board certified; current license to practice. Final year residents accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor. Final year residents (oral surgery) accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions: Adults only, no minors.
Mukono, Uganda – Uganda Christian University Dental School
One goal of this project is to improve the knowledge and skills in pediatric dentistry and additional specializations (including orthodontics, endodontics, public health, etc.) among students enrolled in Uganda Christian University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Another goal is to support UCU’s School of Dentistry in the establishment of a pediatric dentistry residency by assisting with curriculum development, with particular emphasis on research. When addressing these goals, volunteers may work with pediatric faculty and clinical staff to provide lectures, clinical mentorship, curriculum development, or research support.
Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Assignment: at least 1 week minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Board eligible/certified dentists with experience in pediatrics. Final-year residents and retired dentists may be considered for placement. For volunteers interested in going to the site, HVO requires a minimum of three months to process paperwork since registration with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council is needed. Registration with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council is not necessary for online volunteers.
Housing: TBA
Companions: TBA