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When parents take their children on medical mission trips, they get the tools to establish the mindset for service and appreciation within their children. Children get to experience a new culture and gain perspectives beyond their day-to-day scope of life back home. They will become inspired for their future careers as they do things they have never done, explore places they have never been, and serve people they have never met. Young family members and students play a wide variety of roles in our clinics. They can help in community education, registration, hand washing station, and photography. They can shadow […]

June 16-22, 2024 If you are looking for adventure this summer, don’t miss the IMR trip to South Africa. This trip includes not one but TWO safaris! You’ll participate in an evening safari the day you arrive plus a full-day safari on day six of your trip. At two exclusive game reserves in South Africa, you’ll have the chance to see white lions, hippos, elephants, ostriches, giraffes, zebras, African buffalos, wildebeests, and many, many more African animals in their natural habitats. Your trip will also include a visit the PheZulu Zulu village where the Gasa clan welcomes visitors, giving them

The Butterfly IQ+ point-of-care ultrasound has been a game changer in the field for assessments and diagnoses. IMR volunteers have used the portable device to show expectant mothers their precious babies and search for suspected gallstones and kidney stones to relieve patients in pain. Providers have also used the ultrasound as an educational tool to give student volunteer experiences with live medical cases they wouldn’t get in the classroom. Providers often bring their own personal devices to enhance their mission trip work. But thanks to a generous grant from our phenomenal partner, the Making a Difference Foundation, there are three

Harnessing the capabilities of technology, IMR volunteers in Ecuador used 3D printers to craft personalized 3D-printed partials for patients, elevating smiles and multiplying the positive effect dental care has on IMR patients. This initiative goes beyond dental innovation; it’s a testament to what can be achieved when diverse skills converge for a shared purpose. The precision and accuracy achieved through 3D printing are unparalleled in limited-resource settings. Traditional methods of creating partials and dentures often involve multiple steps, including manual mold-making and adjustments, which can lead to patient inconsistencies and discomfort. However, 3D printing allows for creating highly customized, patient-specific

IMR Heroes Battle for the Survival of a Young Khmer Woman in the Thailand Gulf A young Khmer (Cambodian) mother came to the IMR clinic after losing more than three liters of blood during and following childbirth. She was limp in her husband’s arms as he desperately crossed the island shore with all his strength to reach us. The IMR team quickly took action, not knowing if it was possible to get her to a hospital on time. After starting an IV, the IMR team carried her across the sand to a boat, the only possible transportation, which sped as

Dr. Farhaad Riyaz, a surgeon from Michigan (standing, far right), chronicled his time with IMR Team Tanzania in October-November 2023. He wanted to donate his skills and fulfill his passion for providing training for local healthcare workers, and came away with an awareness of the deep struggles of the Tanzanian people to receive healthcare. Read his story. Join Us in Making a Difference. You can join an IMR medical mission team or donate today! Join the Mission Donate Now

Learn how the generosity of IMR supporters made the difference for a young boy from Tanzania.   In October, 2023, a large group of providers, nurses, students, dentist, and nonmedical volunteers ventured to Arusha, Tanzania in hope of delivering health and hope. It was a routine day in clinic. Everyone was hard at work. In shuffled in a little boy and his mother. He was all smiles and full of energy! Liam was a bright-eyed child who recently benefited from IMR’s comprehensive healthcare services. Living in the region without government insurance or access to primary healthcare, his mother wanted him

Nicaragua – Rio Indio, October 22-28, 2023 Join International Medical Relief on an amazing opportunity to work with the indigenous Rama people, a closed tribe of the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, and poverty is especially evident in indigenous communities. The Rama live in isolated, remote villages that lack medical aid or healthcare resources. They don’t get much assistance from the outside world, requiring them to be primarily self-sufficient. To take advantage of an IMR clinic, many families will have to paddle hours on the river to reach one. Known

Medical mission trips with International Medical Relief have been making a difference in the lives of patients – and volunteers – for more than 20 years. In addition to providing life-changing opportunities for individuals, IMR offers once-in-a-lifetime short-term medical missions for groups of all types:  hospital groups, locum tenens groups, student groups, clubs, dental or medical offices, friends or colleagues. All are welcome. With the advantages of customized airfare, special inclusions and discounts, tailored itineraries, and more, IMR will take your group behind the scenes of international medicine practices in a clinic setting that will cement or revitalize your team’s

By Sheldon Berkowitz, MD, FAAP, IMR Volunteer Many clinicians and nurses are leaving health care due to experiencing burnout. When I started my career as a pediatrician 40 years ago, I can’t recall ever hearing about this topic, or people leaving the field of medicine due to burnout. Yes, there has always been frustration with various aspects of health care, but these frustrations seem to have increased in the last decade. In my mind, three main reasons have contributed to this burnout, at least in the outpatient practice of medicine: electronic medical record (EMR) usage, increased oversight and the COVID

Monterrico, Guatemala: Students and Faculty Working Together IMR was honored to host a phenomenal group of PA faculty and students on the coast of Guatemala. Having students on teams offers a platform to take the classroom beyond the walls and expose future providers to a global perspective. For many, this is their first time out of the country. What a special opportunity, personal and professional growth through service. If you are part of a professional or student organization interested in serving with your group, we’d love to talk with you! Call us at (970) 635-0110 or email karla@internationalmedicalrelief.org. Hatay Turkey:

IMR teams were busy extending the reach of hope and compassion across the globe in March. At one point, we had five teams in the field at once! IMR volunteers were making a difference in Turkey, Nepal, Guatemala, India, and Poland all at the same time. Turkey: Earthquake Relief Cold, freezing rain, winds, and no electricity have not stopped the IMR teams from serving the people of Turkey with grace and compassion. Hundreds of patients a day have received hope and health from IMR caregivers who have invested their time, talent, and treasure to bring the Turkish people affected by

Our IMR team physician, Dr. Lisa, did a wonderful job of summarizing our 2022 Himalayan Expedition medical mission trip. The team trekked almost 100 miles to deliver care to remote communities in the Himalayas. This is her story: Mission of a Lifetime: Himalayan Expedition I’ve always been mesmerized by the Himalayan mountains. Seeing the Himalayas in real life has been on my bucket list for at least 20 years, but if I was going to make the journey, I felt strongly that it needed to be mission driven versus being a tourist or a trekker. When I came across IMR

Our long-term commitment in Guatemala is so rewarding! With team after team serving so many, we have a great opportunity to educate. With simple topics that transform healthcare literacy and improve outcomes, we are reaching new heights. Our team spent a wonderful day providing wellness checks and education to students and their families. After two years of online learning due to the pandemic, these kiddos are starting in-person school! Two years! Our IMR team wanted to make sure they were healthy. The day was incredible! From one of our newest members of the IMR family, Teri, “Spent the most amazing

In Tanzania, 25 volunteers came together from four countries – Zambia, Canada, Tanzania and USA. The team included six doctors, two clinical officers, two nurses, one dentist and many other volunteers playing critical roles. One of the best parts (and there are many!) of our work is the human connections we make, the lifelong friendships that are formed, and the beautiful memories we create. One of our Tanzania volunteers shared, “The WiFi signal is weak, but our connections are strong!” Increasing COVID Vaccination Rates On this trip, we worked hard to fight the stigma of COVID vaccine hesitancy through community-wide

During our service in Honduras, a mother came to clinic with her child who had a poor appetite, was losing weight, and was unable to chew. The mother was desperately seeking a solution to help her child. Dr. Hsu, a pediatrician, suggested we provide a blender so that the mother could blend healthy foods for this precious kiddo. We were able to use a portion of our budgeted patient assistance funds to purchase a blender that would allow this mother to give her child the food he needs. Our amazing host, Ana, searched for one and found it for us.

Our team had the pleasure of serving the gracious people of Pitumarca. It is small, warm town about a three-hour drive outside of Cusco. Pitumarca has a fully indigenous population that traces back to pre-Inca civilization. “Pitu” is the native name for a flute instrument and Marca is the region. 95% of this community speaks Quechua. This was the first time in the town’s long history that any medical teams arrived to provide needed care. IMR prides itself in bringing compassionate care to communities with little to no access to medical care. The elders in the community greeted our team

PERU IS CALLING YOU! Join IMR on a Medical Mission to Peru: Weeklong, Signature, and Mini Missions are Available to Cusco in Early March Since 2012, more than 300 IMR volunteers have served more than 9000 patients in Peru. This country is one of our favorites! The proud Quechua people in Cusco, with their colorful clothing and beautiful smiles, have very limited access to healthcare and are so grateful for our assistance. Join us in Cusco in March! See Upcoming Medical Mission Trips to Peru Why Join a Medical Mission to Peru? The People The warm, hardworking, indigenous Quechua people

International Travel is Back! See updates on some of our most recent trips and learn about upcoming missions. Report from the Field | Oct 30-Nov 6, Nov 13-20 Sustainability in Tanzania Two IMR teams completed amazing work in Tanzania with the help of two of our corporate partners. MDF Instruments donated stethoscopes to all our nurses who were thrilled to have new equipment to work with that they could call their own. The Pueblo West (Colorado) Fire Department donated CPR manikins that allowed us to certify local Tanzanian health care providers in CPR and basic life support. We donated the

Dr. Barbara Morris, a family medicine physician/geriatrician from Colorado who served with us in Guatemala writes phenomenal daily accounts of her time volunteering. Below are excerpts from some of her experiences. The Mayor Makes a Visit The drive didn’t seem so long today as we headed back to yesterday’s site. Once again, we were greeted by 100 eager (though very hot) faces, waiting patiently for us to begin. Set up was easy and off we went to community health, triage, providers, and pharmacy. Immediately, Stephanie (our fabulous EMT) asked for help: a 21-day-old with a temp of 102 and not

Haiti Disaster Response Team Report 2,801 Patients Impacted. 13 Communities Visited. 45 Days of Relief Work. From August 19 to October 2, International Medical Relief was on the ground in Les Cayes, Haiti serving several communities who were impacted by the earthquake. With the help of 71 volunteers and staff, and $36,000 of donated medical supplies, our teams were able to aid nearly 3,000 people through medical care, health education, and rice and bean giveaways. The Unforgettable Haitian People of 2021 I recently went to Haiti on a disaster relief medical mission as a nurse practitioner with International Medical Relief. Haiti’s

Thanks to Amity, RN, one of our fabulous Zambia team members for sharing her photos and reflections on her experiences. Here I am teaching hypertension prevention to these beautiful women and explaining stroke symptoms. I have seen well over 300 patients this week and the most prevalent ailment I’ve come across is hypertension. And really, only in a limited amount. The people we visited today had very few and minor complaints, mostly arthritic pain and the need for reading glasses. Visiting the local village of Mukuni. We were blessed to be able to visit the palace. Before you enter, you

On August 24, 2019, the Bahamas was hit with an extremely powerful and devastating category 5 hurricane named Dorian. Dorian continued to intensify over the following days and reached its peak with one-minute sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) by September 1, 2019. It made landfall in the Bahamas in Elbow Cay and again on Grand Bahama several hours later. Dorian spent 36 hours over the Bahamas with high winds and torrential rains, swamping neighborhoods in muddy brown floodwaters and destroying or severely damaging thousands of homes and causing widespread power outages. Damage in the Bahamas was catastrophic due