Over the last 12 months, Health Volunteers Overseas has marked several milestones and celebrated many new achievements. In 2016, HVO launched ten new projects in eight different countries. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) became HVO’s newest sponsor, supporting the launch of a new obstetrics and gynecology program. For the tenth year in a row, the Golden Apple Award was distributed to a group of HVO volunteers, supporters, and overseas partners who made exceptional contributions to the organization’s effectiveness and sustainability. In August, HVO marked its 30th anniversary, and launched a year-long celebration of the organization’s mission, and the countless health workers who help make that mission possible. The Biennial HVO Photo Contest was one component of this year-long celebration. The contest opened in September and winners were announced in November.
Throughout the year, HVO also shared countless stories of health workers who share a passionate commitment to improving global health. Stories such as these—tales of HVO volunteers, their overseas colleagues, and the patients they serve—lay at the heart of the HVO mission. As this eventful year draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to look back on some of the most popular stories we have shared in 2016.
- Bhutan Wheelchair Service Training: Changing Lives One Wheelchair at a Time
HVO volunteer and leader Linda Wolff, MPT reflects on her May 2016 trip to Thimphu, Bhutan, where she and a group of fellow volunteers delivered the World Health Organization’s Wheelchair Service Provision Training program to a cohort of Bhutanese physiotherapists and wheelchair users. A follow up training is currently scheduled for summer 2017.
- Guest Blog: Resources for Nurse Volunteers from One Nurse at a Time
In honor of National Nurses Week, Emily Scott, RN, Vice Pesident of the nonprofit organization One Nurse at a Time, contributed this guest post highlighting scholarship opportunities and other resources that are available for nurses who wish to complete an international volunteer assignment.
- Strengthening Systems for Success: The Bhutan Cancer Registry
Narhari Timilshina, MPH traveled to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, home of HVO’s oncology training project in Bhutan, with an ambitious agenda. Timilshina, a public health expert and clinical epidemiologist, wanted to create the nation’s first cancer registry. This post details his experience and the important impact of the project.
- Orthopaedics Overseas: A Trainee’s Perspective
One of the most popular HVO blog posts of all time is a profile of Dr. Isaac Kajja, a former HVO trainee and current on-site coordinator of HVO’s orthopaedics training project in Uganda. In 2016, it was announced that Dr. Kajja, who is Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Mulago Teaching Hospital of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, would speak during the 2016 Orthopaedics Overseas Luncheon at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.- NOTE: Tickets for for the 2017 luncheon are now available. This year, the luncheon will be co-hosted by Orthopaedics Overseas and the Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie (SICOT) on Friday, March 17, 2017 from noon – 2 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront during the AAOS Annual Meeting.
- Volunteer Story: Love for Travel Leads to Global Health Commitment
Long-time HVO volunteer Kirsten Kristensen, PT, MS shared the story of how her lifelong love of travel and commitment to the health care profession were combined during her numerous HVO assignments.
The HVO blog is updated each week with new content, similar to the stories highlighted above. Be sure to follow along and help us #SharetheStory on Facebook and Twitter!
Have you made your 2016 gift? There’s still time! Visit www.hvousa.org/giving to become part of the story!