Medical programs like Doctors Without Borders
If you want to volunteer with Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF), but don’t meet their requirements or can’t commit to a long-term program, Projects Abroad is the perfect alternative.
We’re not affiliated with Doctors Without Borders, but there are similarities and differences between us.
You might be wondering what to expect from our medical programs, and how they compare with Doctors Without Borders programs. We explain this in greater detail below.
Doctors Without Borders is a medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by:
- Armed conflict
- Epidemics
- Natural disasters
- Exclusion from healthcare
The organization recruits medical and other professionals to care for and treat people in crisis around the world.
Projects Abroad has a different focus. Our medical programs are built around experiential education for undergraduate, pre-med, and medical students.
We offer:
- Internships where you learn directly from doctors in medical facilities like hospitals and clinics
- The opportunity to add real-world, clinical experience to your resume
- The chance to learn about medical practices and treatment methods in developing countries
- An ethical experience where your work is always supervised by professionals and guided by our Medical Ethics Policy
Our medical programs are ideal for:
If you’re looking for programs like Doctors Without Borders related to specific medical fields, take a look at our Medicine Internships in:
See a full list of our medical internships abroad.
The Difference between Projects Abroad and Doctors Without Borders
There are a number of important differences between Projects Abroad and Doctors without Borders.
Requirements
Doctors without Borders requires you to be skilled and qualified. Generally, you need to be a doctor, nurse, or water-sanitation expert, with at least two years of experience.
Our Medicine & Healthcare Internships are open to students of all levels of experience. We also offer medical programs specifically designed for high school students. The majority of our programs focus on learning and observation, so we don’t require previous medical experience.
Context
Doctors without Borders brings medical care to areas where the need is greatest. These areas are often caught in crisis such as armed conflict, natural disasters, and endemic disease.
Projects Abroad doesn’t work in crisis or emergency contexts. We’ve identified specific areas of need in the countries where we work, and address these needs through Public Health Projects and medical outreach programs. In addition, we only operate in stable situations monitored by our trained staff on the ground.
Timeline
Doctors without Borders processes applications in several months. An assignment generally lasts 9 to 12 months for most professions.
Projects Abroad accepts applications in several weeks and an assignment generally lasts anywhere between two to eight weeks. Concerned about the difference you can make in a short period of time? Read our blog about how we ensure we make a real impact through short-term volunteering.
Medical internships similar to Doctors Without Borders
Summer is the perfect time of year to volunteer abroad or do an international internship, and have a similar experience to what Doctors without Borders offers.
With Projects Abroad, you can combine summer travel with clinical work for the ultimate medical experience overseas.
To find a medical program that matches your interests and goals, speak to one of our Project Experts today.
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