“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
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Faculté d’Odontologie
Please note: HVO is not currently placing volunteers at this project.
HVO volunteers will support the Faculté d’Odontologie in its mission to graduate dentists who are able to work independently to serve the Haitian population, working to improve the dental education program and increase the Faculté d’Odontologie’s capacity to serve as a resource for the people of Haiti and the Haitian dental community.

Assignment: 1 week
Teaching Topics: Dentistry – all topics; oral & maxillofacial surgery – all topics
Opportunities for Those-in-Training: No.
Qualifications: Dentists, specialists & oral and maxillofacial surgeons; surgeons must be board certified; current license to practice; 3-5 years of clinical experience. Volunteers to this site must have prior relevant international health experience.
Activities: Clinical training, continuing education, curriculum development, didactic instruction, education material development, faculty/staff training, mentoring.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions: Not suitable for companion/spouse; not suitable for children.
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.

Assignment: 1-2 weeks
Teaching Topics: Dentistry – all topics; restorative dentistry, oral pathology, periodontics, preventative dentistry (esp. pediatric), dental radiology and dental clinic management of particular interest
Opportunities for Those-in-Training: No
Qualifications: Current license to practice (active or retired); general dentists & specialists accepted.
Activities: Clinical training, continuing education, didactic instruction, faculty/staff training, formal lecturing, mentoring.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions: Suitable for companion/spouse; not suitable for children.
Kathmandu, 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.

Assignment: 2 weeks
Teaching Topics: Dentistry – all topics; oral & maxillofacial surgery – all topics
Opportunities for Those-in-Training: Final year residents accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor.
Qualifications: Board eligible/certified; current license to practice (active or retired).
Activities: Chair-side training, clinical training, continuing education, curriculum development, didactic instruction, education material development, faculty/staff training, formal lecturing, mentoring.
Housing: Housing provided for a reasonable fee.
Companions: Suitable for companion/spouse; suitable for children.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Muhimbili University
Volunteers provide chair-side instruction and lectures to undergraduate and post-graduate students, as well as continuing education to the faculty at Muhimbili University and assist them with revising the current curriculum. Areas of focus are oral & maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatrics preventative and restorative dentistry.

Assignment: 2 weeks
Teaching Topics: Dentistry – all topics; orthodontics, pediatrics, preventative dentistry and restorative dentistry of particular interest; oral & maxillofacial surgery – all topics
Opportunities for Those-in-Training: Final year residents (oral surgery) accepted if paired with an appropriate preceptor.
Qualifications: Dentists, specialists & oral and maxillofacial surgeons; surgeons must be board certified; current license to practice.
Activities: Chair-side training, clinical training, continuing education, curriculum development, didactic instruction, education material development, faculty/staff training, formal lecturing, mentoring.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions: Suitable for companion/spouse; not suitable for children.