As doctor or a medical student
wondering about medical volunteering overseas, have you ever asked
yourself: “How can I do that? How could I really find the time and
money needed in order to help out somewhere in the world where the
need is great?”
First of all, volunteering overseas is
not for everyone. Some doctors cannot adapt well to the unfamiliar
practices and mindset of other cultures. It is unnerving when tools
and support are lacking, and where it may seem like life is worth so
little. Yet doctors are generally a pretty smart bunch, able to deal
with a wide variety of personalities and perspectives, and many will
do just fine.
But first you have to get there, which
brings us back to the original question; however, the question must
be rephrased. You cannot “find” the time or the money, as if they
are sitting discarded by the side of the road, waiting for you to
pick them up. The question that should be asked is: “Where is your
time and money going, that you have nothing left to give?” What
habits do you need to develop to change this situation?
Almost all American doctors are in the
top 5% group of wage earners. So you are targeted deliberately and
desperately by credit companies, stores, medical supply gurus, but
also by your medical friends, culture, and surroundings to spend,
spend, spend. Unless you decide early on and repeatedly to combat
this onslaught, you will find yourself like most doctors: moaning
over your debts and with no time off even years into your career, all
the while making
4
times the national median income.
The strategy is simple, it only needs
to be implemented. Cut the club membership and go to 24-hour fitness.
Buy the Kia instead of the BMW; they are both have 4 wheels to get
you here and there. You don’t have to buy the cheapest thing all
the time, but you certainly don’t need the most expensive either.
Do you really need the most recent i-phone, i-watch, or laptop? A
flat screen in every room? Do you need to shop at Tiffani’s every
week? If you are serious about helping those in this world with
nothing, then you need to live with a little less. Perhaps most
importantly: where do you live? Does it have to be the gated, golf
course, sea-side neighborhood with a pool, or can you have a normal
but decent house instead?
As for time: you must guard it. Medical
training takes nearly every second of your day, but you still have
small bits here and there, albeit annoyingly unpredictable. Do not go
golfing or skiing or out drinking every moment that you are off. Put
some time into volunteering locally, going to church, or just taking
a walk. Get used to saying no to non-priority duties. If you
understand that the poor of this world need medical attention, you
will be less drawn to more and more work and play here.
When you are interviewing, tell your
prospective employer that you want to volunteer overseas. Most bosses
are very sympathetic to this and will go out of their way to help
you, but don’t take their sacrifice for granted. Let them know in
advance if you are going to be out of town and need someone to cover
for you. If you join a group, the same thing applies: tell everyone
up front, during the interview, that you want to have some time off
for volunteering regularly. Make it clear that you are looking for
time in addition to the usual vacation. You can’t take all of your
time meant for family and rest and expect to be working twice as hard
overseas with no break. You may not need all the time off that some
jobs may offer, but you need at least 2 weeks off per year that is
actually vacation. Be ready to be paid a little less in exchange for
volunteer time, and don’t expect everyone to appreciate you, though
many will admire you if you stick with it.
Lastly, make connections that will help
you get overseas. It is easier to walk this path with others who know
the way. If you are a medical student, do not spend every elective
month of your fourth year on an interview rotation; instead, find a
program or position overseas for part of it. Many schools have
international programs now, making it easy to get involved. You may
not come back to something like this for many years due to residency
requirements, but getting your feet wet early is very helpful.
If you have finished your training,
find out who is doing what overseas and have coffee with them. Often
these people are busy, so be persistent. See if you can tag along.
Find out what your hospital or group is already doing, or what the
churches in town are doing overseas. Contact one of the many groups
that organize medical mission trips, choosing one that is reputable
and allows newcomers. Your first trip does not need to be medical;
but it needs to be service, not just vacation. Treat it like you are
on a medical student rotation, even if you are a seasoned
practitioner. If you go overseas like you know everything already,
you are not going to be useful. There is more to say about
how
to prepare yourself culturally and otherwise, but that is another
topic.
Every year, many doctors serve overseas
and find it extremely rewarding. You can be one of them, if you
develop the habits needed: protect your time, do not overspend your
money, and make the right connections.
