International outreach and trainees: how to get involved—and why it’s worth the effort

Excerpt

When is a good time start volunteering for outreach work? Is it after residency, after landing a job, or after the kids finish college? There is no perfect answer, but one thing holds true: volunteering is always a valuable use of your time, and the earlier you get involved, the better. As a physician, your career continually evolves and the experiences you have early on influence how you practice. As an international volunteer, you work with physicians from around the world who will broaden your mind to a more global view of medicine. International outreach exposure can make a huge impact on the direction of your career and improve the lives of many others. …