Support Us

Volunteer Links

Do I need to have medical training to be a volunteer?

No, we’ve had lots of volunteers with no formal medical training. Volunteers with no medical background usually carry out new or ongoing projects at the clinic. Among many other accomplishments, past non-medical volunteers have designed a sexual education program, implemented a vaccination campaign, developed a diabetes and hypertension program, performed a health needs assessment, helped coordinate patient care in Santa Cruz and work in the pharmacy. In addition to health programming, volunteers have also tutored local children in English, built a children’s library at the clinic, kick start a solar energy project, film a documentary and fundraise for the clinic. Our volunteers have had pre-med, public health, social work, education, engineering, film and IT backgrounds or simply have had an interest in health, Bolivia and helping underserved communities.

Volunteer

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the clinic. Our volunteers are doctors,nurses, medical students, public health workers, social workers, teachers and more.

Volunteers take on many critical roles at the clinic.

US doctors volunteer from a few weeks to several months taking care of Centro Medico patients and supervising rotating US medical students and residents. Meanwhile, the doctors gain valuable knowledge of tropical diseases and learn to apply their knowledge in a clinical setting with minimal technology. Residents and 4th year medical students complete tropical and rural medicine rotations at the clinic for credit. Some students also teach basic healthcare to community groups.

Non-clinical volunteers have performed needs assessments of the surrounding communities, developed a variety of health programs, taught health education and set up classes in computers and English. Volunteers in the US have also helped fundraise and coordinate clinic events.

Many of our volunteers have come in not knowing much about healthcare in Bolivia, but despite these obstacles, have accomplished impressive goals and helped saved lives.

Overall, our volunteers come from other countries but always end up becoming a part of Bolivian culture and leave with a new family.

If you are interested in joining CMHP as a volunteer, please fill out this quick and easy questionnaire and we will get back to you regarding opportunities.

Our Volunteers

Featured Volunteer from Abroad

Ethan Molitch-Hou

Ethan Molitch-Hou October, 2002-March, 2003 Ethan came down after graduating from Northwestern University. While there he had the opportunity to translate for his family as well as Cindy and Paul. He also taught English and Computers to local students. Ethan established a computer database for the patient information.

Volunteer Blog: An Exerpt

Blogs, blogs, blogs! What are we going to do with all of these Blogs?!

posted by Mike September 8, 2007

People are really starting to rave about my blogs. I'm even keeping my fingers crossed for some sponsors! Possibly from Fingers Crosserstm which is a global chain of restaurants where they serve finger foods and hang finger related things on the walls.

Keep Reading

Featured Local Volunteer

Veronica Rivera

Over 100 American volunteer medical students, healthcare workers and doctors have come and gone at Centro Medico Humberto Parra, but there are several young indispensable volunteers from the town of Palacios who have been working at the clinic every week since 2002! Veronica is one of them. Read more...