Peru Medical Volunteering

Hello internet! My name is Andrew Valliyil, and this summer I hope to be travelling to Peru to participate in a doctors abroad program to serve as a medical volunteer! I recently graduated medical school and I've always wanted to experience healthcare from an international angle. Working with underserved populations and resource limited communities has always been a passion of mine, and I hope to use the knowledge and skills that I learned in medical school to make a difference in Peru. I plan to learn how healthcare is delivered from a global health perspective, teach others how to become better clinicians, and use what I've learned to transform healthcare delivery back here in the U.S. 

Through IVHQ (International Volunteer Headquarters) I have the opportunity of travelling to Cusco, Peru, to provide medical services in a variety of Peruvian communities, hospitals, and clinics. IVHQ offers responsible volunteerism, quality, and the community involvement that I'm looking for to provide an experience that I hope will be both rewarding and beneficial in my career. Having placed over 60,000 volunteers in areas around the world that are in dire need of medical help, IVHQ has made significant global impact through volunteerism, investment, and offering a meaningful experience that allows us to understand and help people who aren't able to receive the same privileges as we do.

However, as many of you may know, the financial burden of medical school is extremely daunting (~400K!!!), and the crushing debt severely limits the extent to which I can help others. I believe this program would be a tremendous experience for me, and I hope you would please consider donating. Any amount would be great appreciated, and would go a long ways in not only creating a better generation of doctors such as myself, but a better life for the people of Peru. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my story!