Anyone interested in doing Doctors Without Borders after residency?

[Pkboi24]

I'm interested in joining Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders). I figured I would do a couple of assignments for them upon finishing my residency. Anyone else thinking about doing this? Who knows, maybe I'll be working alongside you in 7-8 years.

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[shoyt]

I'm interested in joining Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders). I figured I would do a couple of assignments for them upon finishing my residency. Anyone else thinking about doing this? Who knows, maybe I'll be working alongside you in 7-8 years.

Yeah I'm definitely interested in doing assignments for them...maybe even full-time if that were possible. In fact, the whole reason I want to become a doctor is become I feel God is calling me to help the disadvantaged in places like Africa. I'm not sure if this would be a good thing to say in PS/interviews though.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

I'm interested in joining Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders). I figured I would do a couple of assignments for them upon finishing my residency. Anyone else thinking about doing this? Who knows, maybe I'll be working alongside you in 7-8 years.

I am extremely interested in participating in DWB. However I believe they say that you must have had 2 years experience as an attending. They might have meant as any practicing doctor but I researched the site a few months ago and am too lazy to go back now =D. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by a few assignments but they ask for at least a 6 month commitment (fewer if you are a surgeon). Hopefully this will bode well with the hospital I will be working at. It might be easier for one in private practice with partners to take that time away from work.

Anyway, there are other programs you can do besides DWB. A doctor I shadowed did the last year of his residency in a third world country. He also continues to go on missions to Africa every year. I'm trying to find a program that would bring me to West China, or anywhere in E or SE Asia.

 

[Wolfgang12345]

I'm also really interested in practicing medicine in other countries, particularly China. I don't know of many resources to look for opportunities like this, but I will definitely look into Doctors without Borders. Does anyone else know other organizations which allow US doctors to travel? Thanks! 👍

 

[ahumdinger]

I've wanted to do this ever since I withdrew my application to the peace corps. But I went to their website and it says that couples will not be assigned to the same location. Is this true? The wording sort of made it sound like if you're a doctor going on a mission, you can't bring a spouse who's not a doctor. Why don't they assign doctor couples together?

 

[mfpullen]

I've already contacted them to show interest! hehe

I plan on either doing DWB or the CDC'S EIS.

 

[LabMonster]

Yep. One of the reasons I'm doing this gig.

 

[CMar830]

Yep. One of the reasons I'm doing this gig.

LabMonster -- me too. And my hope rests on Wake right now, so if I get in (please please please), let's plan a trip 👍

 

[LabMonster]

LabMonster -- me too. And my hope rests on Wake right now, so if I get in (please please please), let's plan a trip 👍

Best of Luck!

 

[Pkboi24]

I am extremely interested in participating in DWB. However I believe they say that you must have had 2 years experience as an attending. They might have meant as any practicing doctor but I researched the site a few months ago and am too lazy to go back now =D. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by a few assignments but they ask for at least a 6 month commitment (fewer if you are a surgeon). Hopefully this will bode well with the hospital I will be working at. It might be easier for one in private practice with partners to take that time away from work.

Anyway, there are other programs you can do besides DWB. A doctor I shadowed did the last year of his residency in a third world country. He also continues to go on missions to Africa every year. I'm trying to find a program that would bring me to West China, or anywhere in E or SE Asia.

I think the website said each assignment is about 6-12 months. I'm actually doing a medical internship in Shanghai, China this summer. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, I will get to learn in detail what medicine is like outside of the US.

 

[noonday]

i'm in. been interested in them since i was 12...

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

I think the website said each assignment is about 6-12 months. I'm actually doing a medical internship in Shanghai, China this summer. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, I will get to learn in detail what medicine is like outside of the US.

How did you get that internship? I have been looking around and couldn't find anything that offer that opportunity! Ahh, I'm extremely jealous. YOU SUCK 😛

Actually, could PM with the details? It's something I'm looking into possibly for winter break or next summer.

 

[Flopotomist]

how do you pay back student loans if you do something like this? I think this would be awesome.. but when I finish I will have ~250k in loans that need to be paid back.

 

[Pkboi24]

how do you pay back student loans if you do something like this? I think this would be awesome.. but when I finish I will have ~250k in loans that need to be paid back.

Go to med school in Texas. Haha.

 

[mfpullen]

how do you pay back student loans if you do something like this? I think this would be awesome.. but when I finish I will have ~250k in loans that need to be paid back.

Work in public health for Uncle Sam, they forgive a huge portion of your federal student loans. That's what I plan on doing.

MFP

 

[KittycooMD]

DWB came to speak at my University a couple years ago and ever since then I have been fascinated!
I'd love to work for DWB, so hopefully one day we can all meet up in Africa or South America!

 

[Delo_Ohm]

Hey everyone,

I feel like I am in the same spot that a lot of you have mentioned. I am very excited about the prospect, and feel that once I am privileged enough to have such training (med school etc) I will be so excited to share it. However, in my searching I have occasionally heard that if you spend too much time out of the country you will have a hard time getting back into practice here.

The idea is that as a doctor you have been used to the primitive medicine that is practiced in the underdeveloped areas that you are in, and you will not be as up to date as your "competition" (doc's who have been here and keeping up on journals, techniques, drugs, equipment etc.)

Let me know if you hear any differently because I would love to do away with that discouraging idea.

 

[Pkboi24]

Hey everyone,

I feel like I am in the same spot that a lot of you have mentioned. I am very excited about the prospect, and feel that once I am privileged enough to have such training (med school etc) I will be so excited to share it. However, in my searching I have occasionally heard that if you spend too much time out of the country you will have a hard time getting back into practice here.

The idea is that as a doctor you have been used to the primitive medicine that is practiced in the underdeveloped areas that you are in, and you will not be as up to date as your "competition" (doc's who have been here and keeping up on journals, techniques, drugs, equipment etc.)

Let me know if you hear any differently because I would love to do away with that discouraging idea.

Honestly, that's just a price you have to pay. The benefit here is that you will probably see more patients and gain more experience in patient care in one year than most physician will in five.

To me, it's not even a question. I will gladly sacrifice the advancement of my technical expertise to to better the lives of hundreds of people. It's what makes me strive for a career in medicine. If it were possible to raise a family on the income from DWB, I would gladly commit my career to it. Sadly, I know this is impossible.

 

[idealist]

I would think that if you're doing Doctors without Borders you would qualify for some kind of loan forgiveness. No such luck? Because it's international service?

how do you pay back student loans if you do something like this? I think this would be awesome.. but when I finish I will have ~250k in loans that need to be paid back.

 

[Anastasis]

I'm interested in joining Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders). I figured I would do a couple of assignments for them upon finishing my residency. Anyone else thinking about doing this? Who knows, maybe I'll be working alongside you in 7-8 years.

Me! Doesn't it sound like the coolest stuff ever?

 

[MrMeowskers]

Im really glad to see these posts by everyone here. I felt like there werent too many others who wanted to do things like this, but its encouraging to see that this many other future doctors are interested in working in the third world.
My only wish is that I am able to work in a place like Africa or SE Asia, where people are in dire need of basic medical care. I was wondering if anyone knows of other organizations that work in these areas and do more long-term work, such as multiple years. Maybe I am wrong, but I was pretty sure that MSF is something that doctors only do for a few months. I am really hoping to work in a place for a long period of time, but I dont know how feasible that is. If anyone has any insight, let me know.. thanks.

Also, someone had previously posted that they didnt think this topic was something they should bring up in an interview and prior to my interviews I felt the same way. However, it is what I truly want to do, so I figured it was better to be sincere and honest rather than conjure up some story that wasnt true, andin the end I0 discussed this topic in all of my interviews. I have so far been accepted to 3 of 4 places I interviewed at, so it couldnt have been a bad thing to tell them this is what I want to do. I think a lot of doctors wish they could do something like that, but dont have the time once they have families. It seems like they have a lot of respect for others that are actually able to do such a thing, at least in my experience... Good luck to you all!

 

[docbill]

Difinetly, I will be involved in MSF (not DWB... dam people have to change everything.. DWB, WMD, Freedom fries).

I was born during a war, and when all the doctors left the country, MSF and other NGO came in and helped. It is the least I can do. I hope to learn Spanish to add to my language skills.

 

[Pkboi24]

Difinetly, I will be involved in MSF (not DWB... dam people have to change everything.. DWB, WMD, Freedom fries).

I was born during a war, and when all the doctors left the country, MSF and other NGO came in and helped. It is the least I can do. I hope to learn Spanish to add to my language skills.

I would say MSF but I can't speak French and don't want to butcher an otherwise beautiful language.

In the Hong Kong office, they're called "No Country Line Doctors" - that is, of course, a very literal translation.

 

[CostalShowers]

I've wanted to do this ever since I withdrew my application to the peace corps. But I went to their website and it says that couples will not be assigned to the same location. Is this true? The wording sort of made it sound like if you're a doctor going on a mission, you can't bring a spouse who's not a doctor. Why don't they assign doctor couples together?

I was under the impression that they just don't assign couples together (if they are both doctors) on their first assignment, but that once you're in the system with experience it becomes a little more flexible.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I plan on doing MSF (Doctors without Borders) as soon as my residency's up. I was wondering if people think that certain specialties are better suited for this type of endeavour than others? Would something like FP or ER or General Surgery be better? Any specialties that might not be useful?

 

[Anastasis]

There was a pretty interesting thread about this awhile back:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=180641&highlight=world

Hope that helps!

 

[ProReduction]

I've wanted to do this ever since I withdrew my application to the peace corps. But I went to their website and it says that couples will not be assigned to the same location. Is this true? The wording sort of made it sound like if you're a doctor going on a mission, you can't bring a spouse who's not a doctor. Why don't they assign doctor couples together?

I've been in contact with MSF for awhile. You must have two years of post-residency work. You have to have all certifications of course. You cannot bring family members with you on assignment.

 

[Pkboi24]

I've been in contact with MSF for awhile. You must have two years of post-residency work. You have to have all certifications of course. You cannot bring family members with you on assignment.

Are you serious? So I have to stay single until I'm 33? What a bummer...

 

[SeminoleFan3]

There was a pretty interesting thread about this awhile back:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=180641&highlight=world

Hope that helps!

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[NonTradMed]

Hm, I'm curious, with the heavy loans, the 'no family' policy and the third world working conditions, what kind of docs are typically attracted to DWB? Your average doc coming out of residency will probably be married and with six figure student loans to pay off....what motivates people to still do DWB despite these hurdles?

I would personally love to do a DWB type of deal, maybe not for a six month long deployment. Perhaps to China (since I'm fluent in Chinese) and treating patients for a few weeks to a month at a time would be great. I know that at least one program allows US docs to go to China and perform cleft lip repairs and other minor cosmetic surgery for peasants who can't afford it, so if I qualify, that is a great place for me to start.

 

[Pkboi24]

Hm, I'm curious, with the heavy loans, the 'no family' policy and the third world working conditions, what kind of docs are typically attracted to DWB? Your average doc coming out of residency will probably be married and with six figure student loans to pay off....what motivates people to still do DWB despite these hurdles?

I would personally love to do a DWB type of deal, maybe not for a six month long deployment. Perhaps to China (since I'm fluent in Chinese) and treating patients for a few weeks to a month at a time would be great. I know that at least one program allows US docs to go to China and perform cleft lip repairs and other minor cosmetic surgery for peasants who can't afford it, so if I qualify, that is a great place for me to start.

I'm going to guess that these people are generally liberals with an overactive conscience. Don't have much debt either because they had good Fin Aid, or went to school in Texas. No families because they don't like to be tied down. Won't stand for injustice and want to save the world one life at a time.

 

[ahumdinger]

but what if your spouse is also a physician? I don't see the reasoning behind not assigning husband-wife physicians in the same location, even for the first assignment.

 

[akinf]

It didn't say you can't have a family, it said you can't bring your family. I'm sure that some of the docs that do go have families at home.

 

[LabMonster]

Hm, I'm curious, with the heavy loans, the 'no family' policy and the third world working conditions, what kind of docs are typically attracted to DWB? Your average doc coming out of residency will probably be married and with six figure student loans to pay off....what motivates people to still do DWB despite these hurdles?

I'll be 34 when I begin my residency, so the reasons you've listed are valid "deal breakers." I will most likely pay off my loans etc before enrolling. I'll likely be in my 50's or 60's when I go - but that just means I'll know what I'm doing 😉


No rush.