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Medical Volunter Abroad

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I am a nursing student who is determined to volunteer abroad! I will be leaving next summer (2014) for 3 weeks to work in a local hospital in Vietnam shadowing doctors, assisting in procedures, communicating with patients and learning the ins 'n outs of a foreign healthcare system.

What is my donation covering?
Airfare: $1600
Program fee: $860
Medical insurance (required): $200
Background check (required): $25
Visa: $100
Vaccinations: $200
My goal is to raise $3000. However I am saving & plan to cover at least $500 myself so the bare minimum I'm trying to reach is $2500. Anything beyond that will of course be a tremendous help.

Why help abroad?
Traveling has been one of the more life changing events of my life. I've had the opportunity to immerse myself in new cultures, learn from people who are different than me, and reflect on my experiences through a new perspective.

In addition to those things, there is one more critical goal I have for volunteering abroad: I want to gain a broader perspective of the healthcare field. I could stay in Dallas this summer and intern at a hospital but that would be limited, one-sided exposure. If I can volunteer abroad, I have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in a place that operates under entirely different circumstances from those of the US. I believe this kind of exposure will lead me to become a well-rounded and overall better healthcare provider.




Why Vietnam?
Vietnam is currently in the process of developing a universal healthcare system, which should go into affect in 2014. Vietnam has made great progress since the 1990s & provides generally good quality healthcare today (average life expectancy is 72, child mortality rate has decreased significantly, etc.). Despite the growing popularity in traditional medicine, many Vietnamese people still partake in ancient traditions/alternative medicine.

The country is not without its problems, especially in rural areas. Hepatitis A and B are still serious health threats. Typhoid fever, dengue fever and malaria are also very common. Not to mention, many Vietnamese people are experiencing the complicated aftermath of chemical warfare used in the Vietnam war. The biolgoical weapon 'Agent Orange' not only destroyed crops & fields, but also infiltrated the food chain/human body. It leads to miscarriages and defects at birth still to this day.

I think it will be exciting to see the healthcare shift in a place that only in the past few years changed titles from an "underdeveloped" to "middle-income" country (Vietnam was at one time among the most poor nations in the world). Vietnam still struggles with many healthcare challenges that Westerners do not have to worry about, and yet they push onward, transforming rapidly into a successful nation. I'm anxious to be a first hand witness in the metamorphosis!




What other volunteer work have you done?
I started volunteering at a very young age. Some work includes: Dallas Public Library, Dallas Zoo, pianist for Gingerbread Trail (Waxahachie, TX), Attitudes & Attire, North Hills Hospital, Community Hospice of Texas.

Who are you?
I am a college graduate (UT Austin) who lives in Dallas. I teach piano and work in an investment office. I have decided to go back to school for nursing (5 years after my first bachelor's) because I have a desire to learn a meaningful skill that I can carry with me all my life. After volunteering in a variety of healthcare settings over the years, I finally decided that nursing was the best option for me. I am excited to begin the journey!

I like scuba diving, swimming, reading, writing, watching thunderstorms, playing with animals, WalMart, teaching music, organizing, traveling, staying busy with tasks.

I don't like changes in an otherwise good plan, driving, flying, being on a computer all day, WalMart, sandwiches, people who don't RSVP to parties, going to the post office, fast food (except Chik-fil-a).


*NOTE* I have no Facebook. This is not because I'm a fake person but b/c I have no time (nor the desire to stalk people from my past) to mess with it. I will be writing a travel blog courtesy of my volunteer program: http://www.volunteerhq.org/volunteer-diaries/whitneyhain

Organizer

Whitney Hain
Organizer
Dallas, TX

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