Health Volunteers Overseas

The idea for the organization was sparked by an article by Dr. Ralph Crawshaw, published in the December 1984 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the article,[3] Dr. Crawshaw urged fellow medical practitioners to "make a substantial difference to your colleagues in developing countries" and cited the example of Orthopaedics Overseas. In 1986, the Orthopaedics Overseas Board of Directors voted to become the first division of the newly created Health Volunteers Overseas. Two anesthesiologists went to Ethiopia for the first HVO volunteer trip later that year.

Since opening its doors in 1986, HVO volunteers have completed more than 12,000 short-term assignments in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and Oceania.[4] Volunteers are drawn from the fields of anesthesia, dermatology, emergency medicine, hematology, internal medicine, mental health, nursing education, obstetrics & gynecology, oncology, oral health, orthopaedics, pediatrics, pharmacology, physical therapy, and wound management.

The delivery of health care services in any country is dependent on a trained cadre of health care professionals. The well-documented global shortage of health care providers[5] disproportionately impacts resource-scarce countries. Faced with serious resource constraints, as well as an immense burden of disease, these countries are faced with enormous needs in the health care sector but have limited capacity to educate and support the workforce necessary to meet these needs. As a result, not enough health care professionals are trained, few are offered the opportunity for continued professional education and growth, and most work in isolation with little chance to learn from nearby colleagues. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2013, there was a global deficit of more the 17.4 million health workers – a figure that is predicted to grow to 18 million by the year 2030.[6]

The focus of HVO programs is on building capacity through the delivery of appropriate educational programs that provide the local health care professionals with critical skills, knowledge and ability. Teaching in the learner’s home environment enables each program to concentrate on health practices and procedures that are both relevant and realistic to that setting. The ultimate goal of HVO programs is to identify and train local health care personnel who can, in time, assume the role of training others. HVO is exporting knowledge and skills, instead of medical supplies and equipment.

Over the past ten years, the scope of HVO’s approach has expanded significantly. In addition to the deployment of short-term ‘boots on the ground’ volunteers HVO has implemented several other program delivery channels which, when taken together, represent a more holistic and multifaceted approach to addressing the issue of training, education professional development of health care professionals in resource-scarce countries. These include:

• Scholarship opportunities for colleagues at project sites who demonstrate exceptional abilities and leadership skills. Offering these future leaders opportunities to learn and participate in regional and international trainings and conferences allows them to share the information with their colleagues at project sites, provides networking opportunities and accelerates their careers.
• Development and support of longer term placements designed to address critical, specific needs requested by our partner institutions. The scope of the projects (development of a new department, creation of a quality assurance program, one more example) require a longer time commitment, usually three to six months. These projects are jointly designed by the host institution and HVO and have specific outcomes and deliverables
• HVO has been fielding numerous requests from sites in recent years for non-clinical training – leadership, management, administration, and basic research skills are frequent requests.
• The pandemic hastened HVO’s pivot to virtual training as a means of delivering programming. After considering numerous e-learning platforms, staff determined that they did not meet the criteria of being easily available, affordable, and flexible for use at HVO sites. A survey was sent to HVO’s international partners to clarify their interest in virtual training, their online capacity, and their availability for training in the midst of the pandemic. Not only was there considerable interest, but the urgency for professional contact and support during these difficult times was particularly acute. With the input of an experienced instructional designer HVO was able to develop remote education interface (REI) for HVO utilizing Google sites. HVO’s REI is customized to fit our unique program model and is flexible, user friendly, and easily accessible. Each project site can work with HVO staff to customize an REI based on their specific training needs and technological capacities, providing a streamlined and centralized location for trainees and volunteers to engage in training and access resources.

HVO is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a diverse background of experience and professions. There are more than 195 health care professionals serving in a variety of leadership positions with HVO, providing the framework for managing HVO's extensive portfolio of projects. A staff of ten is under the management of the Executive Director.

HVO is a Platinum Participant in the GuideStar Exchange, highlighting their commitment to transparency,[7] and the organization meets the 20 charity standards of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.[8] HVO has been selected three times for the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington (Classes of 2004-2005; 2010-2011; 2017–18).[9]

A unique aspect of HVO's organizational model is the involvement and support provided by leading professional health care associations. These associations, with the year in which they first became a sponsor, are as follows:

• American Academy of Dermatology (2002)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (1993)
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (1999)
• American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (1992)
• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (1987)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2016)
• American College of Physicians (1988)
• American Dental Association (1990)
• American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (1999)
• American Physical Therapy Association (1995)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (2007)
• American Society of Hematology (2007)
• British Society for Haematology (2018)

HVO volunteers are trained, licensed health care professionals who are screened by similarly skilled project directors to ensure that their skills and expertise are appropriate to a particular site. Volunteers work alongside their colleagues in resource-scarce countries, providing new insights and techniques. They introduce new teaching methodologies, update or create teaching curricula, and inspire new ways of thinking and problem solving.

Nearly 40% of HVO volunteers are repeat volunteers. Volunteers cover their own travel costs and the average out-of-pocket costs associated with an overseas assignment are $2,900.

Since 2006 HVO recognizes exceptional volunteers annually with the HVO Golden Apple Award.[10] these are individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the sustainability and effectiveness of Health Volunteers Overseas and to its ability to meet its mission.

Health Volunteers Overseas works with local health care professionals in the following countries:

• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China
• Costa Rica
• Ghana
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Laos
• Malawi
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Peru
• Rwanda
• St. Lucia
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Vietnam

1. Health Volunteers Overseas Website
2. HVO Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements
3. Information on global health care crisis, from the Global Health Workforce Alliance
4. HVO meets 20 out of 20 charity standards of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
5. HVO Board of Directors
6. Golden Apple recipients