Launching Into Medical Missions

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Launching Into Medical Missions

• Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH
• President, Institute for International Medicine
• www.inmed.us

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Presentation Objectives

• At the completion of this presentation,
  participants will be able to more effectively
• Make career decisions leading towards
  international service
• Prepare themselves with the necessary
  professional skills
• Prepare their personal lives for the unique
  challenges of international service

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Launching Into Medical Missions Its Not Just
Academic

• Somolia, 1993

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Launching Into Medical Missions Its Not Just
Academic

• Myanmar (Burma)

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Launching Into Medical Missions Its Not Just
Academic

• Angolan Civil War

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We want to help!

• A Distinguished Legacy

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We want to help!

• Record Interest Among Health Care Professionals

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Obstacles Ahead!

• Launching Into Medical Missions Is Not So Easy As
  It May Seem

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How To Launch Into Medical Missions

• Develop Your Professional Skills
• Prepare Your Personal Life
• Wisely Choose Your Path To Service

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Develop Your Professional Skills

• Diseases are different
• Medical resources are minimal
• Cultural context is challenging
• Leadership skills are deficient

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Disease ARE Different

• Cerebral Malaria In Honduras

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Medical Resources ARE Minimal

• 24 Drug Pharmacy In Angola

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Cultural Context IS Challenging

• In China, traditional people are encouraged to
  donate blood, but few are willing, believing that
  blood contains ones life force, and that to
  have their blood removed is therefore a
  death-defying event.

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Leadership Skills ARE Deficient

• Many health problems cant be solved one person
  at a time. They demand community-wide action.

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Prepare Your Personal Life

• Personal Finances
• Personal Health
• Family Relationships
• Faith Community
• Documents Passport, Visa, Airlines, Insurance

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Personal Finances

• Debts paid
• Reserve fund
• Long-term savings

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Personal Health

• Healthy lifestyle
• Controlled Chronic Conditions
• Vaccinations, prophylaxis
• Emergency care evacuation
• Acceptable Risk

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Family Relationships

• International intimacy
• Cross-cultural kids
• Single satisfied
• Way-extended family

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Faith Community

• Your personal connection with God
• Your personal community of faith

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Documents

• Passport
• Visa
• Airlines
• Insurance
• Practitioner licenses
• Malpractice

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Wisely Choose Your Path To Service

• Professional specialty
• Community to serve
• Sending organization
• Language learning
• Time commitment

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How can I launch into medical missions?

• Ask those who have gone before you!

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Cindy ObenhausLaunched into medical missions

• Maison de Nassaince, Haiti

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Antoinette BrownLaunched into medical missions

• Duncan Hospital, India

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Jim EliasLaunched into medical missions

• Mushili Health Center, Zambia

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Tim Lori MyrickLaunched into medical missions

• Jordan, UAE, Comoros Islands

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Launching YOURSELF into medical missions