PHYSICAL THERAPY

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Thimphu, Bhutan – National Referral Hospital

Volunteers facilitate the training of physical therapy technician students, provide continuing education and consultant services to the physical therapy technicians, assist with the development of pediatric PT support services and the manufacturing of simple orthotics and adaptive equipment, and provide teacher mentoring and training so that the local staff will take over more of the teaching duties. Volunteers must be licensed to practice physical therapy in the US or Canada and have more than five years of work experience.  Volunteers must have teaching/training experience and a strong desire to teach.  There may be opportunities for OTs specialized in hand therapy or pediatrics.  Assignments are 4 months.

La Paz, Bolivia – Hospital Arco Iris (HAI)

Volunteers will work to improve the quality of physical therapy services at HAI through updating and broadening therapists' skills and knowledge of physical therapy theory and through clinical training in the following areas: cardiopulmonary, stoke/trauma, orthopaedics, and pediatrics. Volunteers must be able to speak Spanish at an intermediate level in order to communicate with the staff and patients in the clinic. A translator will be provided for any formal lectures. Assignments are 2-4 weeks. Assignments are 2 – 4 weeks.

Guatemala City, Guatemala - Universidad Mariano Galvez (UMG)

Volunteers with academic experience and an expertise in overall curricular development, and/or with expertise in developing the curriculum for a particular content area (eg, neuromuscular) are needed to work with faculty at UMG to revise their physical therapy curriculum. An individual with a Fulbright or someone who is interested in applying for a Fulbright is ideal, though not required. Most importantly the program seeks individuals who are interested in working with the project beyond one isolated 1-week visit; the format might include repeated 1-week visits, or one or more several week visits with follow ups by email with UMG, etc. Retired faculty are encouraged to apply. Intermediate Spanish is necessary, and full fluency is ideal.

Deschapelles, Haiti - Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS)

HVO is partnering with HAS to provide continuing education in rehabilitation care, management and services development for the physical therapist manager, physical therapist and rehabilitation technicians. HVO will recruit volunteers for up to 6 training sessions a year. Volunteers with 3-5 years of experience and expertise working in similar resource poor settings with community based rehabilitation or management and leadership training skills are needed. Volunteers with experience in pediatric orthotics, splinting, pediatric burn management, and club foot are also being recruited. Prior international experience required, occupational therapists accepted. Assignments are 2-4 weeks.

Vellore, India - Christian Medical College (CMC)

Volunteers provide continuing education for physiotherapy staff, students, and faculty through classroom instruction and clinical training.  Volunteers work to improve the quality of physical therapy services to patients in the CMC system through updating and broadening therapists' knowledge of physical therapy theory and procedure in the areas such as manual therapy, sports medicine, treatment of spinal musculoskeletal dysfunction, cardiopulmonary and pediatrics. Volunteers must hold a current license to practice physical therapy and have at least 2 years of clinical experience.  Prior teaching/training experience is preferred. Assignments are a minimum of 2 weeks.

Blantyre, Malawi - Malawi College of Medicine Program in Physiotherapy

Volunteers provide physical therapy education for undergraduate students enrolled in the BSc Hons Program in Physiotherapy. In addition to work with students, volunteers provide evidence-based continuing professional development courses for academicians and clinicians to improve teaching, clinical reasoning and/or clinical practice. Suggested topics of training are: foundational sciences, cardiovascular and respiratory physiotherapy, integumentary physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, neuromuscular physiotherapy, obstetrical-gynecological physiotherapy, pediatric physiotherapy. Teaching experience preferred. Standard assignments are 4 weeks though 2 week assignments may be considered depending on the course.

Lima, Peru - EsSalud Hospital System

RECRUITMENT SUSPENDED
Volunteers provide lectures, presentations, and hands-on instruction to physical therapists.  Volunteers focus on updating and broadening therapists' knowledge of physical therapy theory in any area of physical therapy practice, such as manual therapy, adult or pediatric rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory care, or amputee rehabilitation.  Volunteers must be fully licensed physical therapists or occupational therapists with a minimum of 3 years of clinical experience.  Volunteers are sought who have advanced knowledge and expertise in any area of physical therapy practice.  Preference is given to clinical instructors or individuals with classroom teaching experience. Assignments are 2 - 4 weeks.

Kigali, Rwanda – Kigali Health Institute

Volunteers provide continuing education and training in order to upgrade the clinical reasoning and clinical practice skills of Rwandan physiotherapists and physiotherapy educators. Volunteers may provide professional development courses with a focus on clinical content in all areas, especially musculoskeletal, cardiovascular-pulmonary and neurologic disorders and impairments. Volunteers are required to have academic experience including curriculum development. Assignments are 2-4 weeks (4 weeks preferred).

Vieux Fort, St. Lucia - St. Jude Hospital

Volunteers provide continuing education training for the physical therapy staff and nursing staff and support patient care and community outreach. Volunteers should be prepared to provide in-service sessions. The volunteer will provide training in one or more of the following areas: modalities, range of motion, general therapeutic exercise, patient handling, pressure ulcer prevention, vital signs, cardiopulmonary physio, documentation, and more. This site will accept occupational therapists. Assignments are a 1 week minimum.

Paramaribo, Suriname - Medical Sciences of Anton de Kom University of Suriname

Volunteers assist and provide training for the faculty in curriculum development; assist with professional development of future faculty members or clinical instructors; provide continuing education to faculty; and assist faculty members in teaching physical therapy students. Volunteers may be active or retired with a license to practice physical therapy and have at least 2 years of professional experience.  A master's degree or higher education, and academic or continuing education teaching experience are required.  Assignments are 2 - 4 weeks.

Da Nang, Vietnam – Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital

Volunteers provide clinical education to physical therapists and physical therapy students in various areas as well as focus on increasing the physical therapy staff's capabilities in problem solving and taking on the role of teachers.  The hospital provides in-patient and out-patient care for children and adults.  Fully licensed PTs with at least 2 years of experience are sought.  Assignments are 2 - 4 weeks.