Medical Volunteers Needed—Work in Peru!

My placement was for several weeks in a community clinic. I was able to choose the area/specialty of the clinic that I wanted to work in. There was no english spoken there whatsoever, so a basic understanding of spanish is recommended, as well as the lessons offered at Maximo Nivel (excellent teachers and staff and great central locatin). If you have any questions about the experience please check ut Facebook group "IVHQ Cusco and Peru" - IVHQ contracts through Maximo Nivel so although you pay IVHQ, from thereafter you work directly with Maximo Nivel. I believe you can go straight through MN, however for some reason when I looked at this option before my trip, it was considerablly more expensive, which I don't understand. But I suggest looking into the price differences before you book because things can change. Overall awesome experience and Cusco is a great little, big city to spend some time : )

I am a fourth year medical student getting ready to graduate. I spent 3 weeks working in a government health center 1 hour outside Cusco. I learned so much and hope I gave back something as well. The doctors, nurses, midwives, and other staff I worked with were wonderful, patient, and welcoming. I had the opportunity to help deliver 2 babies! I was also able suture, do wound dressings, attend rounds, and assist consults. The staff at Maximo was also great and extremely helpful. A stray dog bit me a few days in, and the staff immediately rushed a doctor to my home stay to clean the bite and get me my rabies vaccines. My Spanish teacher Ricardo was excellent--I took 1 week and wish I could have done more. And it was wonderful making new friends in the other volunteers and my Spanish conversation partner. Overall, this was the best possible way to get ready for residency and I hope the sense of courage and caring this trip helped instill carries through my career. I want to move to Cusco--it's a magical place.

I sincerely enjoyed this volunteer trip. I felt that I was able to give to those in need, and in return, I met amazing people. From the first day I arrived to the very minute I left, I felt like Cusco had become a second home for me. The friends I made and the experience of volunteering will be with my forever. I hope to work with Maximo Nivel again in the near future.