Participating in an expedition to serve the medical needs of remote communities can be a rewarding and career-building experience. Professionals and students in all health fields are welcome to apply. We also accept limited numbers of non-medical volunteers on a space-available basis.

 

Contact us well in advance of desired dates as coordination with Peruvian health authorities and considerable logistic arrangements are required. Some trips also fill early.

​

Medical Service Trips are scheduled many months in advance to try and ensure that we have sufficient participants to cover the costs of boat operation, crew, and medications for the trip. Since a majority of our participants are senior medical students from the US and UK, many trips are scheduled based on the academic calendars of medical schools. We do add other dates as well from time to time. 

​

If it looks like a given trip won't have enough participants, we make every effort to notify interested parties 75 to 90 days in advance (i.e., hopefully prior to purchasing flight tickets or booking additional travel before or after the service trip). 

​

Activities of Medical, Dental and other Volunteers

​

On medical service trips, volunteers assist with collecting patient histories and data, collecting community-level health information, photographic documentation, dispensing of prescribed medicines, and instructing patients on the proper use of medicines and preventative health care. Qualified volunteers also directly attend or assist with attending patients when a licensed Peruvian physician or dentist is present. Volunteers interested in dental, pediatric, internal and general medicine will have ample opportunities to interact with patients and medical personnel in those fields. Opportunities for more specialized fields (surgery, neurobiology, etc.) are restricted to the largest hospitals in Iquitos. In rural communities, clinics and health posts, the full range of patients and medical conditions are seen, but some patients will be sent to larger centers (i.e. Iquitos) for diagnosis or treatment due to the local lack of specialized equipment and lab facilities. Most rural clinics have power only a few hours daily (if at all), and facilities and equipment are very limited. Such clinics are the only medical facilities available for the populations of most riverine communities.

​

There is a high demand for dental attention in all riverine communities, and dental caries/cavities and poor dental care are chronic issues. In most cases, dental attention means extraction of teeth. Except in Iquitos and a few other larger centers (and at our Orosa Clinic) there is no capacity for restorative work and during expeditions it is often impossible to attend to all of those who request extractions. A critical role for dental and other volunteers is education on oral hygiene in the communities visited.

​

 

 

Internships

​

A limited number of short-term internships are available for medical and undergraduate students interested in reducing the costs of participating on boat-based medical expeditions. There is a limit of one internship per student on a first come, first served basis.  Duties can generally be completed within the time frame of the expedition, or in some cases within one day after the end of an expedition.

​

Patient Data Compilation (1 or 2 internships available) (internship cost reduction of $200 for a 5-7 day expedition; $250 for 8-11 days; $300 for 12-15 days)

• Language: Spanish skills very helpful for reading patient data sheets, but not essential.

• Duties: At the end of each community clinic, the intern(s) collects and organizes all patient data forms. The intern(s) enters patient data in an Excel spreadsheet (laptop and software provided), familiarity with Microsoft Office software and laptop operation is essential.
  While a diligent intern can enter a considerable amount of data on the medical trip itself, it is generally necessary to spend 1 or 2 days (for longer expeditions) in Iquitos at the end of the expedition to complete data entry.

• Additional Benefits: Project Amazonas will provide additional housing for 1-2 nights at the end of trip in addition to the reduction in trip participation costs.

​

Pharmacy and Supplies organization and inventory (1 internship) (internship cost reduction of $150 for 5-7 day expedition; $200 for 8-11 days; $250 for 12-15 days)

• Language: No Spanish skills needed.

• Duties: During the expedition, the intern keeps medications organized and restocked. Intern is expected to review the medications list prior to the expedition and be familiar with the general categories of medications. At the end of the expedition, the intern completes a detailed inventory of remaining medications and supplies, repacks medications and supplies, and submits the completed inventory. This generally will take 4-6 hours of work at the end of each expedition and can usually be done on the return trip.

• Additional Benefits: Project Amazonas will provide housing for 1 additional night at the end of the trip if needed in addition to the reduction in trip participation costs.

​

Community Information Collection (1 internship) (internship cost reduction of $150 for 5-7 day expedition; $200 for 8-11 days; $250 for 12-15 days)

• Language: Intermediate to advanced Spanish essential.

• Duties: The intern collects community information from each location served, including demographic and environmental details, GPS coordinates, and community leadership data. The intern enters the collected data on a computer form and produces a basic map of each community. Knowledge of Microsoft Office software and ability to use a GPS unit are necessary, as is a willingness to walk around communities and interview community leaders and residents.

​

Translation Assistant (1 or 2 internships available depending on number of expedition participants) (internship cost reduction of $200 for 5-7 day expedition; $250 for 8-11 days; $300 for 12-15 days)

• Language: Fluency or an advanced level in Spanish is essential.

• Duties: The intern commits to assisting with Spanish-English translation as needed during the course of the expedition. The intern demonstrates flexibility, patience and perseverance in facilitating effective communication between the medical team and patients and community members in the Amazon.

​

UK students! Pay Attention & Save Money!!

 

If you APPLY IN ADVANCE, and are approved, the NHS will reimburse accommodations at a rate of up to £55/night for commercial accommodations, and up to £25/night for non-commercial accommodations. You may be able to be reimbursed for some travel and other expenses as well. Details can be found at:

 

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf/travel-and-dual-accommodation-expenses

​

​

​