The most cliché response to the question “Why do you want to be a doctor” is “I want to help people”. Volunteering at a local hospital or clinic will give you an opportunity to get your hands dirty and truely help those in need. But, it is important to note that without degrees under your belt, your responsibilities will be minimal.
In underdeveloped countries, health care personel is often despairingly lacking even as a premed student will be put in the situation to really make a difference. You will open your eyes to the rest of the world and will redefine your commitment to medicine.
Most clinics are severely understaffed and any assistance is of great help. Any person that has the potential to spread knowledge of the conditions to assist the receipt of aid in the area is appreciative. Your experiences have the potential to compel you to reverse the medical brain drain when you get your degree.
If you want to avoid paying exuberant fees to an organization to volunteer, you certainly have the option to contact a hospital or clinic directly. This may sound like a daunting task, but it will save you a lot of money. If you have any friends or family in another country, try to live with them for a summer. Then, visit a local doctor and offer to help free of charge. It also may be beneficial to search which places allow medical student externships and give them a call.
Child Family Health International (CFHI) - Offers programs in Bolivia, Ecuador, India, Mexico, and South Africa that senior level premedical students are eligible for (as medical, nursing, and MPH students and residents). Offers Premed Volunteering Abroad.
Projects Abroad - This organization offers programs in Bolivia, China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. You will premed volunteer abroad or directly assist the nurses and doctors.
M.E.D.I.C.O. - Medical, eye, and dental international care organization, inc. (M.E.D.I.C.O.) sends teams of professionals to provide care to rural areas of Honduras. They set up makeshift clinics for the communities during their week-long missions.
International Service Learning - Has opportunities for premedical students in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Mexico, Panama, and Guyana. Premedical students are given various hands-on patient responsibilities at a clinic or teaching hospital in the region. Sponsorships are available to defray costs to help premeds volunteer abroad .
Mar de Jade - Offers a Medical Volunteer Program with Spanish Classes in Chacala Mexico. Volunteers will work in the Casa Clinica in Las Varas while also a smaller portion of the time is devoted to learning Spanish and more towards premed volunteer abroad. International medical electives are offered at this site through American medical schools, and have specific courses designated at UCSF and UCLA.
Medical Spanish course at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine - The course offers: 1) Basic - intermediate Spanish language instruction, 2) Seminar introduction to health care systems in Mexico, 3) Use of medical terminology and colloquial idioms, 4) Contact with real patients in medically supervised clinics, and 5) Opportunity to study Public Health aspects of the community and premed volunteer abroad.
Amigos de las Americas - Has health education programs in Latin American nations. Although their website doesn’t show programs specifically in medicine, past volunteers have had exciting experiences in clinics and hospitals, so you should contact them directly about this availability.
Unite For Sight - Another organization with international opportunities for 2 weeks to 1 year or more to premed volunteer abroad. They don't have any program fee, so you can focus your energies on helping the community instead of paying a lot of money.
Foundations for Sustainable Development - Offers a variety of internships of different lengths in Latin America, Asia and Africa. They are focused on college students and recent college graduates to premed volunteer abroad. They work mainly with grass-roots organizations.
American Medical Students Association - You can search by country, region, opportunity type, and/or eligibility requirements to find a number of opportunities.
The Chiapas Project - has semi-annual week-long trips to Chiapas, Mexico that provide free healthcare to the indigenous people of Ocotopec village. The website seems to be outdated, but it would be worth a try to email or get a hold of the directors. As a non-medical volunteer (with no certifications) you will assist dentists and doctors with procedures and working at the pharmacy of medications that the group brings to the area. Available to premed volunteer abroad.
Doctors for Global Health - Offers volunteer opportunities in El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Uganda. Prospective volunteers should explicitly ask if premedical students are accepted/needed.
Bairopite Clinic - You can volunteer at this clinic in East Timor (Indonesia).
The College Corps - If you go to University in the Boston, MA area, then this is a program that partners with other organizations such as CHFI. They offer academic credit and financial aid.