Bryn Mawr College

Volunteer and International Opportunities

 

Volunteer Opportunities in the Bryn Mawr and Philadelphia areas

In the Health Professions Advising Office, there are several volunteer opportunities binders that provide information on many organizations that have opportunities to volunteer on a regular basis while students are at Bryn Mawr College. The information is sorted in three ways:

Alphabetical list of local organizations with their contact information and a brief description
     Link to the .pdf file for the alphabetical listings

List of local organizations sorted by area of interest
     Link to the .pdf file sorted by keywords

List of local organizations sorted by location
     Link to the .pdf file of locations list

Information about the Foal Sitting Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Please come into our office and view the binders themselves. In the binders your may find brochures, applications, and evaluations from former Bryn Mawr undergraduates and postbac students.

Career Development Office and Civic Engagement Office Resources

      The Career Development Office (CDO) and Civic Engagement Office (CEO) are also available to help you with your search. An on-line database of volunteer opportunities, OCEAN, can be accessed through the CDO website at www.haverford.edu/cdo . The database can be searched by category, geographical location, or keyword. The database is regularly updated. The CSO is available to help you find non-medical or policy related volunteer positions. They also operate a transportation reimbursement program that they encourage you to participate in. The CEO offers partial transportation reimbursement for volunteers; for additional information about travel reimbursement and to obtain the necessary forms, please visit the CEO on Cambrian Row.

Opportunities for International Service or Study

Databases and Annotated Listings of Positions and Programs

International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse (IHOC)

Sponsored by the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School

A searchable database of both volunteer and paid positions throughout the world. 

Global Heath Medical Education Consortium

Annotated list of websites, related information for those interested in international health.

International Health Resources

Annotated listing of international heath sites from UC Berkeley Public Health Library

International Medical Volunteers Association

General information on how to become an international volunteer as well as links to hundreds of volunteer opportunities.

World Health Organization

Main site for the organization.

International Healthcare Opportunities

Child Family Health International

Service-abroad opportunity for students in Quito, Ecuador or  in India in the rural Himalayas.  Offers clinical experience, training in tropical medicine, integrative medicine; offers a well-run program, valuable home-stay experience, great Spanish language practice.  Program offers four-week rotations, or longer quarter program also available.  Self-funded by student.
For more information contact: 415-863-4900 or www.cfhi.org

Medical Ministries International

Abroad program linking high school, college and medical students with rotations in more than 20 countries.  Opportunities for experience outside the realm of traditional/modern medicine and a chance to see the world.  Short (one to two week) programs offered as well longer programs.

Unite for Sight Volunteer Program

Located in Ghana, Benin or Tanzania.  Volunteers receive training and will then screen patients for operable cataracts, arrange for cataract surgeries, distribute eyeglasses and conduct eye health education in local schools and community centers.  Program open to all persons over the age of 18, including premedical and medical students, public health professionals, nurses, graduate students and doctors.
 For more information: www.uniteforsight.org or contact JStaple@uniteforsight.org for application and details.  Website also includes application deadlines dates.

Service Learning Program in Peru

A program to provide assistance to street children.  No Spanish required, two free classes, meals and boarding included in fee, inexpensive.  Program lasts anywhere from two weeks to years.

Spanish Language Programs for Learning Medical Terminology

Amerispan SALUD Medical Spanish Program
Offers Spanish immersion, medical vocabulary instruction and service learning visits to clinics.  Several locations and starting dates available.

Summer Program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine in Mexico

This course is for students seriously interested in learning a language, experiencing different levels of hands-on clinical and enjoying a culture. You will be required to attend class everyday. Language courses are all morning (4 hours) and the clinical aspect in the afternoon is also 4 hours. The clinical aspect in community clinics is basic unless prior arrangements have been made.

Program in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Offers one-on-one Medical-Spanish language tutoring and an opportunity to volunteer in a local clinic with a Guatemalteca physician (other service projects affiliated with the school are also offered).  Students must have an intermediate grasp of Spanish prior to enrolling in Medical Spanish or volunteering at the clinic.  Program is very inexpensive.