Get Out There
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Naturopathic doctors and students often don’t realize the opportunities that are available to them with regards to international work. I often get questions of the nature: “can I really make a difference?”, “will what I do really help?” The answer to both of these questions is yes.
The extent of global health concerns is vast when it comes to developing nations, yet there are still huge voids in care in many of the world’s poorest nations. Are naturopathic doctors the missing piece in the puzzle? Perhaps not entirely, but our skills and abilities are like no other when it comes to being educators and working with populations that still use traditional medicines on a regular basis.
There is often a high cost involved with volunteering. This is not because grass roots organizations are profiting, but because not only are you volunteering your time, but you are also making a charitable donation to keep the programs themselves running. Without the ability to charge volunteers a program fee, organizations would not only be unable to cover the costs to host you, but also be unable to meet their basic financial needs to keep functioning. In my mind it is a great way to donate to an organization, because you can see for yourself where your money is going and how it is helping!
Choose an organization based on your internal passion for the work it is doing. It can be daunting with the amount of choice available to naturopathic doctors and students now (which never use to be the case!), so sometimes choosing a country that sparks your interest can be the first place to start. Look for registered organizations that are freely willing to answer all of your questions and concerns, and make sure you understand where you fees are going.
Ultimately, I promise you, that if you open yourself up to the world, the world will open itself up to you. Your skills as a doctor will improve both on a medical and a person-to-person level. It truly is worth the investment of your finances, your time, and your love of helping people.
Dr. Nicole Redvers, ND (CCNM)
ND Global Network
www.NDglobalnetwork.com
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International Opportunities
Center for the Adolescents of San Miguel de Allende offers volunteers experience with focuses such as maternity care, sex education and violence prevention.
Cross-Cultural Solutions offers medical internships in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania working in the local hospital with local doctors. Programs are also available in Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Russia, and India.
The Foundation for Integrated Medicine in Africa offers medical experience with mobile clinics serving remote areas of Northern Kenya.
HBI invites volunteers on two trips in 2011, one summer and one fall. Volunteers will work with mobile and community clinics and social outreach programs.