Is A Medical Mission Trip Right For You?
Is a medical mission trip right for you? There are a myriad of logistics involved in planning and pursuing a medical mission trip. Let’s get into the basics of who, what, where, when, and why.
Who?
The question of who you are going with is step one. Are you going with an organization that plans mission trips, are you going independently through a self set up volunteer agreement, or are you going where there was a natural disaster to help out with a pop up organization?
Each of these options carry a different amount of responsibility in planning. Going through an organization will take the work off of many moving parts such as which establishment you will volunteer with, where you will be staying and which airport to fly into. Along with this, comes a sense of security and safety due to long standing agreements and arrangements between the organization and the community.
Going with a group of people is also considered safer by many because of the good old saying of, “power in numbers”. With that said, going independently can be equally safe with the proper precautions.
What?
What capacity do you plan to volunteer in? This is crucial because to perform certain tasks, you may be required to have specific qualifications or certifications. Exploring these requirements and understanding your role will help make the process easier and keep expectations in check.
So many times people are under the impression that anyone can go to a third world country and perform medical care without much experience or qualifications, but the reality is that no matter where you practice medicine, your goal should be to do no harm and to stay within your scope of practice and knowledge.
Where?
The fun part!! Where do you want to go?! It is important to find a location that is in need of extra hands on deck, whether that is because of a recent disaster or ongoing medical need. Make sure to check MYPABOX to see if the programs you’re interested in emphasize medical mission trips or caring for underserved populations!
Despite wanting to go somewhere to help, your own safety should be in the forefront of your mind. To ensure your own safety, you can look into crime rates of the area, the political status of the country, and if there has been any issues with foreigners coming to volunteer recently.
As a bonus, you can pick a location that is close to somewhere you want to go on an adventure or vacation and extend your stay!
When?
Do you plan on going during a summer break, a gap year, or taking time off of school to pursue this goal? Knowing the “when” will allow you to allocate the appropriate amount of time needed to have a great experience.
I find it best to volunteer for no shorter than 2 weeks, ideally much longer! This is because longer periods of time allows you the ability to become integrated into the community and grasp a true understanding as to why your help is needed.
Although it is great that you want to give your time to help, if you’re only there for one week, you miss the opportunity to appreciate the local culture and customs, which is an underrated part of volunteering both locally and abroad. Equally important, the timing of your mission trip may dictate when you are applying to PA school. Make sure you don’t miss important deadlines by double checking them on MYPABOX.
Why?
The most important part. Why do you want to go on a medical mission trip? This is not something I can answer for you! Discovering the reason why you want to help people, both abroad and locally is going to be your driving force throughout other volunteer opportunities and your career. Having a solid foundation in your “why” will motivate you through difficult days, sad cases, and small frustrations.
If you can answer all 5 of these questions, the who, what, where, when and why, then you are ready to start planning your medical mission trip!
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