Medical Teams Abroad Program

The Medical Teams Abroad Program sends teams of surgical professionals overseas to provide on-site surgery for medically-needy children. These doctors and nurses volunteer their time and services, pay their own expenses, and help arrange for shipments of donated supplies and equipment. Teams usually stay from 7 to 10 days, providing surgery for children as well as health screening and training for local medical providers. The types of surgery vary with each trip according to need and available resources. Recent trips have included cleft palate, ear, nose and throat, and club foot corrections. As many as 75 to 100 children may receive surgical services on each trip, while scores of others receive dental services, medical consultations and medications. Everything is provided free-of-charge. Children who need additional services are referred to the stateside (international inbound) program either in our chapter or in one of the other HTC chapters.

It’s worth mentioning that our doctors and nurses often tell us that participating in a medical team trip is among the most satisfying, inspiring, and affirming work they have ever done. If you are a medical professional and would like to volunteer for a trip, click here.

The International Inbound Program

The Medical Stateside Program brings children from other countries to the U.S. for the purpose of either improving their quality of life or saving their lives through donated surgery not available in their home countries. Participating children come to our attention in many ways, including nationally-approved foreign contacts established through previous work, screening programs conducted by volunteer overseas doctors, and sometimes just individual pleas for help we receive in the mail. Volunteer escorts accompany these children on their long flights away from home and family. Tickets are usually donated by the airlines or through private donors so that children and their families do not have the extra burden of air fare.

During their stay in this country, each child lives with a volunteer ‘host family’ which is licensed according to state regulations. These wonderful families provide much more than a place for the child to live. They provide the love, security, and nurturing these children need to see them through the frightening and often painful ordeal of hospitalization and surgery. Medical care is provided by volunteer doctors, nurses, medical personnel and hospitals that donate services. When the medical treatment and recuperation period is completed, children return home with the precious gift of health.

If you know of a child needing assistance, click here to apply for our International Inbound Program.

Stateside/Domestic Programs

Around the corner, in our own communities, are children who do not have the advantages many Americans take for granted for a healthy start in life. To meet this growing need, the Oregon and Washington Chapter is partnering with local homeless shelters to provide health and wellness classes to families in temporary housing. Guest speakers are invited to teach once a month on a range of topics such as nutrition, parenting, and first aid, giving parents the tools they need to raise healthier children. Our chapter also serves medically needy U.S. children who are ineligible for U.S. government assistance. We help these children with medical-related needs, such as prescription medications, medical equipment such as wheel chairs, and donated medical services from physicians. We do not obtain donated hospital care in this program. Still in its early stages, our domestic programs will expand as Healing the Children works to meet the needs of local children in the future.