Volunteers should be aware of the warning nonetheless. This experience for the resident provides exposure to a wide range of pathologies not commonly seen in the United States, as well as an introduction to issues in effective cross cultural communication. Working without the vast array of resources available in typical American health care settings, residents must learn to be flexible, to adapt to different circumstances and to hone their decision making skills. Senior residents interested in applying for the OO-OREF Traveling Fellowship should send in the CV with a cover letter outlining the reasons for their interest and a letter of recommendation from the director of their residency program. These application materials should be sent to Nancy Kelly, MHS, Executive Director, Orthopaedics Overseas, P.O. Box 65157, Washington, DC 20035.
Admissions are on a rolling basis.
Fellows will receive round trip airfare to the site, housing and a stipend. Assignments are four weeks in length, although longer rotations are possible if appropriate. Fellows are expected to submit a report to Orthopaedics Overseas upon their return summarizing what they learned, both personally and professionally. Volunteers who can commit to one to three months are preferred, but assignments as short as two weeks may be possible. See the PTO Haiti program description for more information.