A practical guide for short-term pediatric surgery global volunteers.
BACKGROUND
The tremendous need for increasing the quantity and quality of global pediatric surgical care in underserved areas has been well documented. Concomitantly there has been a significant increase in interest by pediatric surgeons in helping to relieve this problem through surgical volunteerism. The intent of the article is to serve as a practical guide for pediatric surgeons contemplating or planning a short-term global volunteer endeavor.


METHODS
The article is based on the authors' personal experiences and on the published experiences of other volunteers.


RESULTS
The following aspects of volunteerism are discussed: ethical considerations, where and how to go, what and whom to take with you, what to expect in your volunteer locale, and what to do and what to avoid in order to enhance the volunteer experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The points discussed in this guide will hopefully make the volunteer activity one that results in greatly improved immediate and long term surgical care for children and improves the chances that the activity will be a meaningful, pleasant, and productive experience for both the volunteer and the host physician.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, 4800 Alberta Ave, El Paso, TX, 79905. USA. Electronic address: donald.meier@ttuhsc.edu.
Donald E
DE
Meier
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, 4800 Alberta Ave, El Paso, TX, 79905. USA. Electronic address: tamara.fitzgerald@ttuhsc.edu.
Tamara N
TN
Fitzgerald
Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA; Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon. Electronic address: jraxt@cmh.edu.
Jason R
JR
Axt
D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014838:Volunteers
Global volunteerism; Pediatric surgery; Resource-poor hospitals; Surgical improvisation