Volunteer with Partners In Health

Serving Where You Are

Becoming an advocate and/or fundraiser for social justice and health care equity is one of the most powerful ways to help PIH. One person at a time, one community at a time, we can build a movement together. We have always benefited from an extended network of volunteer advocates and supporters who not only spread the word about our work, but also take initiative to host events, raise money, launch awareness campaigns, start groups or clubs dedicated to the issues of social justice, and much more.

If you have read about our work and the issues we face and think that there is a way to engage people you know in the global efforts to achieve equity and justice in health care, please help us do so. Sign up at http://act.pih.org/ to connect with people in your area, to host an event or to join an online community where you can discuss the issues most important to you.

Boston Opportunities

Volunteer Java Programmer – Various locations: Partners In Health’s supported projects in Mexico and Guatemala are piloting phone-based technology that allows health workers in remote areas to use clinical protocols on cell phones.  Partners In Health seeks a programmer proficient in Java to help translate clinical protocols that are currently in the form of paper flowcharts into the open source software program called CommCare. This position is an excellent opportunity to connect programming skills with social entrepreneurship and global health, working with an organization dedicated to delivering high quality care to the poorest people of the world. The project will directly benefit rural, underserved areas of Chiapas, Mexico and Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Time commitment is 12+ hours per week for at least 10 weeks. The work can be done remotely with communication with people based in the PIH Boston office. The Volunteer will be supervised and mentored by programmers at Dimagi, Inc. and by the PIH Project Coordinator and Clinical Director for Chiapas and Mexico.  To apply, please send a resume and statement of interest to lpalazuelos@pih.org.

CommCare is a program based on JavaRosa, an open source platform for mobile data collection. CommCare is a collaborative project among many partners including Dimagi, Inc, D-tree International and the computer science department of the University of Washington

Office Volunteers – Boston: Partners In Health is seeking detail-oriented volunteers to help in the Boston offices with regular administrative responsibilities. Volunteers need to be available during regular business hours for a minimum of 15 hours per week and should be able to commit for three months. Patience, flexibility, and attention to detail are mandatory for this position.  Interested applicants should complete the volunteer application form and send it to volunteer@pih.org. Thank you in advance for your interest.

Translators - Partners In Health occasionally needs professional translations of documents such as training manuals, research materials, communications, and work orders. Translators may be needed on specific dates for intensive short-term projects or on short notice to translate documents. PIH is seeking volunteers with translation experience in the following language pairs to support our office in Boston, MA:

  • Haitian Creole to English
  • English to Haitian Creole

Interested applicants should complete the volunteer application form and submit it along with a sample of previous translation work to volunteer@pih.org. In the application question about specific skills and talents, please list your language pair(s) and summarize your translation experience, listing any credentials you have (translator certifications, degrees, certificates, or courses).

 

PIH International Volunteer Opportunities

Apart from the programs listed below, we generally do not recruit volunteers for overseas work. On occasion, however, we post specific tasks well suited for volunteers. These opportunities are not common because the bulk of our work is carried out by local employees—medical professionals, administrative staff, community health workers, and support staff—and language barriers and limited resources for supervision and training also prevent us from accommodating volunteers regularly. Any open positions will be posted here when available.

If you would like to volunteer with us and are not interested or qualified for any of the opportunities you see here, we do keep applications on file in case an opportunity arises. Feel free to submit a cover letter and resume to us at volunteer@pih.org.

GIS Internships (Unpaid)
Over the past year, PIH has embraced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the purpose of Monitoring and Evaluation and at the present is engaged in building GIS capacity across its various country programs. As part of this innovative step, PIH is looking for unpaid interns who will be integrated within the teams in different countries (Lesotho, Malawi and Peru), implement initial data-collection initiatives and help mentor and train our local partners in GIS. More information and how to apply. Please send a cover letter specifying the position and a resume, to Jitka Hiscox, jhiscox@pih.org.

Volunteer Medical Informatics Data Manager – APZU, Malawi: Partners In Health/APZU is seeking a Volunteer Medical Informatics Data Manager to be the point person for the all Electronic Medical Record (EMR) activities across the district at every site. Responsibilities include creating schedules for data entry, data cleaning and reporting, supervising these activities, providing constructive feedback, training new staff, and scheduling meetings with the APZU and MOH clinical teams. In doing so the Data Manager offers data to make informed clinical and programmatical decisions and therefore increases the quality of health care services. More information and how to apply. 

Construction Volunteers – Zanmi Lasante, Haiti: Partners In Health/Zanmi Lasante is in need of skilled tradespeople including: carpenters, plumbers, welders/metalworkers, electricians, medical equipment installers and biomedical technicians to volunteer with PIH to help build the Mirebalais hospital. More information and how to apply. For questions about these positions, please email Heidi Burgess, Mirebalais Volunteer Coordinator, at hburgess@pih.org.

Surgeon – Zanmi Lasante, Haiti: Partners In Health/Zanmi Lasante is looking for a volunteer general surgeon to work with the Zanmi Lasante surgical team in Haiti. This volunteer will report to PIH's Boston-based Medical Director and Zanmi Lasante's Director of Surgical Services, based in Haiti. The volunteer will be posted initially in Cange, Haiti and then possibly at one of our two other surgical sites in the Central Plateau. The caseload would include routine general surgery as well as management of surgical emergencies, trauma, and emergency caesarian sections. The individual must have completed residency training and be proficient in general surgery and caesarian sections. Experience working in a developing country is helpful, and a strong commitment to social justice is essential. Fluency in either French or Haitian Creole is preferred. A minimum commitment of 6-12 months is necessary. Interested candidates should send resume and letter to volunteer@pih.org.

Socios En Salud Volunteers

Each year, PIH’s sister-organization in Peru hosts a number of volunteers to work on specific projects, ranging from research to graphic design and assisting with program design and management. There is a rolling application process, and prospective volunteers are encouraged to apply throughout the year. Review the current opportunities. To apply, please send a cover letter specifying the position in which you are interested and when you are available to start as well as a resume to Elaine Weisman, Peru project assistant at eweisman@pih.org.

Chiapas Medical Student Volunteers

PIH's supported project in Chiapas, Mexico focuses on training a network of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to provide continuous care and follow-up for common diseases in poor, rural communities. There are often opportunities for Medical Residents to take part in this process, serving as hands-on teachers while themselves learning how to teach CHPs effectively. Along with the Medical Director, Residents travel from community to community to accompany CHPs as they see patients and teach structured and unstructured lessons. Residents are also invited to take part in a curriculum on Chiapas history, CHP models and social medicine consisting of readings and discussion prior to and/or during their visit. 

The project seeks volunteers with proficiency/comfort with Spanish, an interest in teaching and community health, and the ability to contribute 14+ days, not including travel time. Interested volunteers should send a note and CV to chiapas@pih.org.

 

Other Opportunities

Partners In Health works in partnership with a variety of other organizations, both in the United States and in the countries where we work.  Below is a list of volunteer opportunities at these affiliate organizations.

Physicians for Haiti - Volunteer Officer and Intern Positions: Physicians for Haiti is a Boston-based non-profit organization that works with health professionals in Haiti and Boston to create continuing educational opportunities. They work in partnership with those working on the ground in Haiti to care for the patients, thus helping to increase access to quality healthcare in Haiti. The mission of Physicians for Haiti is to inspire, empower, and support the development of leaders among Haiti's next generation of health professionals. They are a volunteer-run and -sustained organization, and are looking to expand our volunteer officer and intern positions and invite applicants of all levels of education and backgrounds. Read a full description of our ten available positions and how to apply.

Project Muso Volunteers - Mali: Project Muso, a PIH partner project, is currently accepting applications for four, high-impact, 13-month field positions in Mali. These volunteer field positions play a critical role in the development of Project Muso's rapidly growing healthcare, microenterprise, education, and community organizing programs. This is an excellent opportunity for highly motivated, talented, dynamic individuals committed to global health and social justice. Read more about these position on Project Muso's website. To apply for one of these positions or request more information, please email volunteer@projectmuso.org.

 

 

How to find other volunteer opportunities:

Listings

Publications

  • Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide by Lonely Planet
  • How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Zahara Heckscher, and Stefano DeZerega (Penguin Books)

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