Omni Med’s core mission is to get more
health care providers directly involved in the quest for global health
equity, through health education programs, and other innovative
programs that our volunteers develop. As such, we have several programs
that offer direct service opportunities to health providers of all
types.
Belize: In this program, visiting health
providers, primarily physicians, travel throughout the country in a
ten-day template, teaching their Belizean colleagues at 7 sites. The
program is ideal for those who have never done global health service
work previously. Belize is a safe, English-speaking country and over 40
health volunteers have traveled through this program since its
inception in January 1999. The Omni Med Belize model relies primarily
on teaching, since this is the most effective way for
non-ophthalmologists or maxillo-facial surgeons to share their skills
in short-term ventures abroad. Interested candidates should have good
teaching skills, though many of our most effective providers have had
no academic affiliations. A passion to make a difference and a
willingness to show adaptability, flexibility and a sense of humor are
key components when working in any developing country. Volunteers cover
the cost of their flight and in-country expenses. For those interested,
please contact Dr Edward O’Neil at ejoneil@omnimed.org.
Guyana: In this program, health providers
travel to Georgetown, Guyana with typically two or three other
providers to teach at Georgetown Public Hospital for one week. Unlike
the Belize model, volunteers remain in housing provided by the hospital
and spend days teaching medical students, residents, and attending
physicians on the wards, and some evenings giving CME lectures to
80-100 health providers. Guyana is an English-speaking country, and
Omni Med has established a fruitful relationship with the Ministry of
Health and the leaders of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Volunteers
cover the cost of their flight and any in-country expenses, which are
minimal. For those interested, please contact Dr James Eadie at jseadie@gmail.com or Dr John
O’Brien at johnobrien49@yahoo.com.
Guyana Cervical Cancer Prevention Program;
Reproductive Women's Health: Guyana is a small, impoverished
country on the northeast coast of South America, with a population of
751,000 (2002 census), 72% of which is rural. Poverty
disproportionately effects the rural interior population, the vast
majority of whom are Amerindians. 71% of the rural interior population
suffers critical poverty (daily expenditures of less than US $1 per
person in the household), compared to 19% of the country as a whole,
and less than 9% for the urban population. While a South American
country, Guyana has more of a Caribbean influence and feel, and is the
only English-speaking country in South America.
Volunteers travel
as part of a team with Omni Med, and will often work in some capacity
in the two programs during the visit. The level of involvement in each
of the programs is adjusted according to skill levels and interests. A
typical visit is two weeks long, with one week spent at the main
teaching hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The second
week is usually spent conducting mobile clinics to the remote
Amerindian villages of the hinterland. Further information on the
programs can be found under the Programs
section. For those interested volunteering or donating equipment or
supplies, please contact Dr. John E. Varallo at varalloj@gmail.com.
Volunteer
Who: Physicians, residents, midwives, nurse
practitioners; anthropologists and graduate students. Volunteers must
have experience teaching, and experience volunteering/working in a
developing country, or at least extensive travel experience in
developing countries.
Visits are typically two weeks in
duration: one week at GPHC and one week conducting mobile clinics to
remote Amerindian villages in the hinterland. Depending on needs, some
visits spend both weeks at GPHC or both on the mobile clinics.
Volunteers travel as part of a team with Omni Med, and will often work
in some capacity in the two programs during the visit.
Teaching and training of health
workers: physicians, mid-level providers, nurses, community health
workers and medical students. This involves morning reports, ward
rounds, clinics, L&D, operating room, workshops, lectures, and
evening CMEs (powerpoint presentations).
Service – providing care at
GPHC and on the mobile clinics.
Planned 2008 Trip Dates
January 13-27; April 13-27; July
13-27; October 13-27
2009 trip dates not yet set, but
will likely follow the 2008 quarterly template.
Donate
Thailand Center for Eye Excellence: Drs
Michael Morley and Katharine Morrow have developed a cooperative
program with Dr Suwat in the NKP region of northeast Thailand in which
visiting ophthalmologists screen and then operate on local indigent
patients with cataracts and other eye diseases. Drs Morley and Morrow
have taken teams of ophthalmologic professionals with them, including
nurses, students, and other allied health personnel. The program is run
primarily out of the Center for Eye Research and Education (CERE) and
the Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston (OCB), with assistance from Lions
Clubs. Those health providers who work in ophthalmology should contact
Drs Morrow or Morley directly at kathy.morley@comcast.net,
or mgmorley@eyeboston.com.
St Mary’s Hospital in Nairobi Kenya:
Since 2000, Omni Med has worked with Father Bill Fryda, MD, the founder
and immediate past director of St Mary’s Hospital. Omni Med has
shipped over $500,000 worth of medical supplies and worked with Dr
Fryda to bring orthopedic surgeons to St Mary’s. Dr Fryda is
currently building two new sites for St Mary’s and Omni Med will
recruit physicians over the coming few years to meet Dr Fryda’s
goal of developing regularly recurring educational programs in various
clinical areas at the Educational Center of St Mary’s. Please
direct inquiries to Dr O’Neil at Omni Med. ejoneil@omnimed.org or ejoneil@comcast.net.
The Quest for Global Health Equity: Omni Med
has limited slots for those interested in serving abroad currently.
However, the two books published by the American Medical Association
bring the opportunities of global health service directly to those who
are interested. Please see the “New Books” section of this website for
ordering information.
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