International Volunteer Opportunities and Missionaries for Physician Assistants

International Volunteer Opportunities and Missionaries for Physician Assistants

Whether you’re a pre-PA, a PA student, or a professional PA looking for international volunteer opportunities or mission trips to enhance your global impact, look no further! In this post, you’ll find a variety of resources to get you started on planning your trip and even links to places you may have never heard of before. If you have any resources or comments to contribute to this posting, please leave them in the comments section below and I’d be happy to include any and all changes or additions.

First off, I’ll start by directing your attention to AAPAs “Before You Go--Preparing for International Practice.” This is not only useful, but essential on so many levels! You’ll find links for researching the country you’ll visit, passport information, visa information, insurance, immunizations, physician supervision, guidelines for working internationally, and much more!

Now, let me direct your attention to AAPAs International Volunteer Opportunities page, where you’ll find out:

• What you need to know before making a trip
• The “Before You Go” checklist of travel information and questions to ask before accepting a volunteer position - found above
• A list of volunteer databases (given by AAPA) known to accept physician assistants including, but not limited to:
• International Medical Volunteers Association - contains resources for international volunteering
• International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse - a list of more opportunities
• Omni Med - database of global health service opportunities

In addition, the International Practice guide lists guidelines for international licensure, liability coverage, and transporting medical supplies that may be helpful.

A list of International PA Caucuses involved in the delivery of international healthcare are:

• Physician Assistants for Global Health
• Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants

International Physician Assistants

International Physician Assistants

Updated: 08/06/2015

Whether you are a recently graduated PA, a seasoned PA looking for a fresh career outside the US border, or a pre-PA looking into international opportunities after graduation, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, you’ll find everything you’ll need from physician assistant (PA) schools in other countries to international resources for job listings, to organizations uniting international PAs! As AAPA’s 2013-2015 Strategic Plan does not include any efforts or services associated with international PA practice, it will become increasingly difficult for PAs to learn about changes developing outside the US. If you have any resources or comments to add to this posting, please leave them in the comments below and I’d be happy to include any and all changes or additions.

First, I’ll direct your attention to AAPAs “International Practice” page, which offers information about international licensure, liability coverage, transporting medical supplies, and ethical practice. They also have a FAQ and Guidelines for Working Internationally, which you might find useful. Other resources were previously available, but have been removed from the site. One example was AAPAs “Before You Go--Preparing for International Practice” which included passport information, visa information, insurance, immunizations, physician supervision, guidelines for working internationally, and much more! AAPA also used to have another resource titled International Employment and Training, where you could stay up-to-date on the most current status of employment challenges faced internationally by PAs. Write to AAPA at aapa@aapa.org and let them know if you feel materials like this are necessary and needed in the PA community.

International PA Caucuses involved in the delivery of international healthcare are:

• Physician Assistants for Global Health
• Facebook
• Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants