Doctors Without Borders - "must go alone" requirement and alternative programs

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I'd really like to do DWB someday, but it says on their FAQ that you have to go by yourself. What's an international-medicine-loving couple of married doctors supposed to do? Spend 9 months apart? That seems ridiculous, especially since I'm sure that many medically-needy sites could use more than one doctor at a time.

Has anyone heard anything about this? Are there any similar programs that would let significant others stay together during their time abroad?

Originally Posted by Spin

I'd really like to do DWB someday, but it says on their FAQ that you have to go by yourself. What's an international-medicine-loving couple of married doctors supposed to do? Spend 9 months apart? That seems ridiculous, especially since I'm sure that many medically-needy sites could use more than one doctor at a time.

Has anyone heard anything about this? Are there any similar programs that would let significant others stay together during their time abroad?

It's not like they have thousands of doctors willing to sacrifice a whole year's worth of salary to go work in thew field, and at least the upped the pay to $1400/month from $1000/month a couple years back. If you or your wife are one of the specialties that they are in need of specifically they will make accommodations. They have a 1 year minimum policy, but I have heard that when they are in desperate need (which is often) they will take on physicians who are only willing to commit to 6 months. I heard it from a DWB speaker at a DWB presentation. In order to have that question answered honestly you should go to one of their information sessions. I respect the fact that unlike PeaceCorp in the info sessions they are truthful (at least to some extent) about the unfortunate scenarios that can and have occurred to field volunteers. And they'll tell you the truth about how lenient you can get them to be. Remember, even though they have the appearance of selective volunteer program, its still YOU they need. And two doctors is better than none.

But you have to have been a working physician (not resident) for a couple years before they'll take you. Who knows if by then the idea of going off to a war torn zone with your wife and offering your services while your student loan debt accumulates may not sound that enticing. You'll just have to see how you really feel about it once you are done with residency. Most residents are so fed up with the meager pay and long hours, that they long for the day they are not residents and can cash in on their rightly deserved $200K. Most med students who enter med school because they want to help underserved areas and war torn countries dont ever end up doing it because reality sets in and you get jaded. Let's see how willing you will be to do this after youve spent 2 years in preclinical classes busting your ass, then another 2 years on rotations where you may or may not bust your ass, and then another 4 years being worked beyond the point of exhaustion, where your days off are so you can sleep before you're next shift....you'll just have to see if by then you really want to do it...and if you are married now, the odds of your having kids or your wife being pregnant by then are pretty high, making the idealistic scenario of going to work in DWB less likely of a reality.