Please feel free to forward any suggestions you may have on
appropriate volunteerism resources for volunteers in the United States via the feedback form
available in the "Contact Us" section.
Please note that the following links are provided as a
courtesy to those with an interest in humanitarian outreach. Unless otherwise indicated, the American College of Surgeons is not affiliated
with these organizations, and not responsible for the content of their
websites.
Some organizations that provide opportunities for surgeons interested in volunteering in the United States:
General Resources on Domestic Volunteerism
Volunteers in Medicine (VIM)
Volunteers in Medicine recognizes the importance of retired medical and lay volunteers in caring for the uninsured and is working towards a national network of free clinics based on this model.
National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC)
The NAFC supports community-based, non-profit, volunteer-supported Free Clinics serving the uninsured and underinsured by bringing advocacy, networking, and needed resources to free clinics to help them face their many challenges.
NACCHO Health Equity and Social Justice Initiatives
National Association of City and County Health Officials' Health Equity and Social Justice initiatives explore why certain populations bear a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality and what health departments can do to better address the causes of these inequities. Resources provided by NACCHO include the the LHD National Coalition for Health Equity, the Health Equity Campaign, the Health Equity and Social Justice Toolkit, and publications tailored to local health departments.
Physician’s Innovation Network (PIN)
Physicians’ Innovation Network (PIN) is a national resource for communities interested in the Project Access model of care delivery to the uninsured. Project Access is a comprehensive approach to sustainable solutions for caring for the uninsured that allows providers to tailor their contributions to the needs of individual patients. Project Access organizes fragmented pieces of charity care in a community into an organized system that is more efficient and effective in providing care to the uninsured. PIN provides consultation and other resources to communities looking to adopt the Project Access model.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides free reconstructive plastic surgery and related medical services to disadvantaged children and young people with physical deformities from the United States and internationally. Weekend clinics staffed by volunteers are held monthly in San Diego California to provide surgery, dental care, and speech therapy. Interested surgeons must be actively practicing, Board Certified, currently licensed and credentialed to practice in California, and have proof of malpractice insurance. Volunteers also need experience in treating children and young adults.
Operation Access
Operation Access sees that low-income uninsured people in the San Francisco area have access to necessary surgical care. Through a network of medical volunteers, hospitals, and referring clinics in 17 communities, more than 3,300 donated surgeries since 1993 have contributed to improved health, ability to work, and quality of life. Operation Access’ surgeon volunteers are actively practicing surgeons with privileges at one of the hospitals participating in the program; please see the Operation Access website for additional information.
Access OC
Based on the Operation Access model, Access OC was created by the Health Funders Partnership of Orange County to address the local need for specialty care. Access OC provides outpatient surgeries at five local hospitals for uninsured residents of Orange County referred by the county’s system of free clinics. In addition, Access OC is working to improve communication between physicians through its eReferral and Telemedicine programs. Access OC relies on volunteers with privileges at its partner hospitals; please see the Access OC website for additional information.
Surgery on Sunday
Surgery on Sunday provides free outpatient surgery on one Sunday a month at the Lexington Surgical Center in Lexington, KY to uninsured patients in the region. Patients are referred by health care clinics in the area. Volunteers are required to have current medical license in Kentucky.
Unnatural Causes
Unnatural
Causes explores how the social conditions in which Americans are born,
live, and work profoundly affect health and longevity, even more than
medical care, behaviors and genes. The series challenges fundamental
beliefs about what makes Americans healthy, and offers new remedies for
an ailing society.
