ACOMS Review - Spring 2019 ACOMS Review April 2019 | Page 7

What are some challenges of
humanitarian work?
Some difficulties include lack of
sleep and working in a foreign
environment with staff who are
unfamiliar with you and speak
a different language. It is also
difficult to establish trust with
patients and their families when
we are there for a set amount
of time. Lastly, it’s hard leaving
with the possibility of unfinished
business and knowing you still
have to leave.
What would you say to
surgeons who are hesitant to try mission work?
I recommend starting with something easy. Don’t push the boundaries of your scope. It is very
easy to become overwhelmed. I recommend starting with a “tooth mission.” A tooth mission
gives you the opportunity to get a feel for what it’s like working in an environment that may
be fraught with miscommunication and lack of instruments and other resources. After you
become comfortable with easier humanitarian surgery, then think about moving to a more
challenging mission.
What are steps that surgeons can take to start getting involved in global surgery?
Getting involved takes a lot of work. Organizations may reject you or not even respond, but
you have to keep trying. It’s a difficult process, because organizations are hesitant to work
with a new surgeon, especially if they have no experience working in foreign conditions, but
eventually you will be selected for a project. Most importantly, remember mission work can be
overwhelming, so start within your scope.