International Clinical Mentoring

  Cambodia

Phnom Penh

  Congo-Democratic Republic of

Brazzaville

  Nepal

• Kathmandu: 
Kathmandu

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

  Vietnam

• All Other Areas in Vietnam: 
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon),  Can Tho

  Zambia

Lusaka

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Until December 2009

Description: ICEHA clinical mentors build capacity of health systems by coaching local health professionals in developing countries. Tasks include:
- Coach local physicians and nurses in AIDS care at the bedside
- Give seminars related to HIV/AIDS care
- Provide clinical assisstance to local health workers during rounds
- Train local health workers on HIV/AIDS topics as needed
- Share operational expertise to improve clinic efficiencies

Highlights: What Local Health Providers Say

"ICEHA's training program taught us infectious diseases doctors - not to be afraid any longer of our HIV-infected patients! You have given us the tools that we can apply to our clinics tomorrow, even if we may not yet have the antiretroviral medication available."
Nguyen Van Ngoc, M.D. Vice Director, Hoa Binh Provincial Hospital, Vietnam

"On behalf of the PHD staff and the people of Banteay Meanchey province, I want to express our profound thanks for the honorable work and effort you devoted to our inpatients and the useful experience you shared with our doctors and nurses during your mission in this province. The staff and the people of Banteay Meanchey, especially the patients, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you."
Dr. Witchook, Administrator at Monkol Borei Hospital, Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia (Letter to Dr. Richard Kauffman, an ICEHA volunteer)

"The assistance and clinical coaching by volunteer experts is exactly what Cambodia needs in its referral hospitals at the time when the Ministry of Health is trying to make antiretroviral medication available to its HIV-infected population."
Chawalit Natpratan, M.D. Director, Family Health International (FHI) Cambodia

Impact Of Clinical Mentoring

"The sensation that I have felt in providing something better for the victims of this world is so incredible and ironically I don't believe that this feeling could ever be "bought" by any amount of money anywhere. Even participating in ICEHA's program for a relatively short period (three months), my experience will have a lasting effect on my own future for decades to come. It has given me a feeling of power to make this a less unjust and unequal world. We don't have to wait for our leaders to make this planet a better place to live but are able to construct it in our daily lives, in our relationships, in our future."
Marcio Fonseca, M.D.

Life Changing Experience

"This has been the most awesome experience in my life! I will never forget this. The effect on my private practice in the US is significant. I look at HIV care so differently now."
Richard Kaufmann, M.D.

"I have been on many humanitarian missions, but this by far has been the most rewarding. I have recommended this program to my colleagues, doctors and nurses. It is a noble and worthwhile cause."
Jennett Baker, RN

Continuous Volunteer Support

"I would like to express my gratitude to ICEHA for its consistent communication and support throughout the entire volunteer application process, from the moment I first enquired about volunteering to these last hectic days before I depart for my volunteer assignment in Cambodia. I have worked as a consultant for several organizations, but working with ICEHA has been the most positive experience I have had."
Brianne Fitzgerald, RN, MPH

In The Clinics

It has been the most incredible experience of my life. The people are very friendly, the clinic staff is very dedicated and eager to learn. The patients are very sick with advanced disease - the clinic just registered their 500th patient and it has been open for only 3 months! The contribution of ICEHA volunteers here is greatly needed. Our knowledge and experience as HIV providers is invaluable and much appreciated."
Vincent Jarvis, MD

"I haven't seen patients like this since I worked at NYU Hospital back in 1989 and the early 90s. Intellectually I knew what to expect but it was something else to see people and hear their stories."
Jennifer Innis, RN, MA

"The clinic staff are bright, enthusiastic and very energetic. They soak up knowledge like sponges! It is very gratifying to give out some small piece of information and have a flurry of discussion and excitement ensue. After I explained HIV progression and the high viral load and high infectivity during seroconversion, there was much amazement. We assume that health care professionals everywhere are aware of these things, but that is not true here." Barbara Newlin, MSN, ARNP

Qualifications: Clinical mentors must have professional certification in good standing and have experience with prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS or Infectious Diseases.

Positions are open now for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants as well as non-medical HIV/AIDS specialists.

Minimum Education: Bachelors

Cost in US$: 0

Salary / Pay: ICEHA covers all expenses including lodging, daily living expenses, international and work related local travel expenses. A stipend is available for assignments longer than 3 months.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A typical ICEHA clincal mentor is a physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, social worker or pharmacist wiht expertise in treatment and/or prevention of HIV/AIDS or other infectious diseases. Mentors come from many different countries. Age is not a determinant of a successful mentor - the best determinant is compassion, commitment and willingness to make a short-term contribution to coaching counterparts in resource-limited settings.

Age Range: 25 - 70+

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 2

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

International Center for Equal Healthcare Access's Mission Statement: The International Center for Equal Healthcare Access (ICEHA) is a unique non profit organization of healthcare professionals who volunteer to transfer their expertise on HIV care and infectious diseases to colleagues in developing countries. While the recent increase in antiretroviral drug supplies is a positive step in curbing the HIV epidemic, the human resources needed to administer these drugs are woefully inadequate in most developing countries. Using an innovative method of clinical mentoring, ICEHA's programs specifically result in the rapid scale-up of skills of the local healthcare staff and strengthen the overall quality of healthcare delivered in developing countries. This enables countries to fight the HIV epidemic from within.

Year Founded: 2001