Taking a year off to do Humanitarian Work

[WallyWAF]

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I feel strongly about giving some time to do humanitarian work in third world countries and serve those who are wanting health care by doing field work, though I don't intend to make it my career. I was looking into programs such as Doctor's Without Borders (MSF) and the peace corps and found a old thread that helped out a bit http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=268652 but wanted to revive the thread.

I am starting medical school next year and wanted to do this when I'm young(er) and before kids, and my thoughts were possibly before Residency or immediately after, before I start my practice. I know that it is frowned upon if you don't right through to residency, and and though you are a "Doctor" your scope of help is limited before licensure. The problems after residency are you are neck deep in debt, and though I don't mind not making any money, it would nice to find a program that wouldn't put me too much further in the hole. I have applied to the HPSP Navy program and really like that you can do humanitarian work through them and am debating accepting their offer, but that is a huge commitment.

I know schools offer clubs and short trips for such and I found many religion based and non-for profit, and school sponsored shorter mission trips (few days- a few wks) that I hope to do during my summers in medical school, along with international rotations; but wanted to know of any other programs anyone knows of like MSF that are ~1 yr and you actually get out in the field. What about pre-residency programs that you can do? Anyone know of anyone who did this? Thanks!

 

[TexasPhysician]

If you look hard enough, you can always set-up medical work in another country. The summer after year 1 of medical school is usually free for whatever. A friend of mine spent 1 month in Guatemala and 1 month in Tanzania. My med school has elective rotations set up in Ethiopia during year 4 of medical school. You could also take a year off in the middle of med school for medical work overseas (some have done this). Some residencies even allow you to do work overseas. Duke's psychiatry residency will allow you to do up to 9 months of work in another country (your choice) in psychiatry. If I can find ways to do psychiatry in another country, surely there are ways to do so in many more fields.