Canadians have a wide-spread reputation for charity, volunteering and commitment to humanitarian efforts around the world and the Flying Doctors of Canada (FDOC) are no exception. FDOC is a non-governmental, non-profit, registered charity organization made up of doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and general volunteers who are committed to humanitarianism and helping those who are most in need. We hope you will choose to support us!
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Looking back on the past year two words come to mind... BIGGER and BETTER! The 2011 year has been nothing less than spectacular ! With two very successful back to back missions to El Salvador and Nicaragua, our organization has advanced to a new level of humanitarianism proving to ourselves , our supporters, our partners and above all our patients that we can and we do deliver on our promises of high quality, high impact, appropriate and sustainable and interventions in the developing world.
As always, El Salvador remains at the core of our Central American focus. Our mission to Izalco, Sonsonate this past July was more impactful than ever with a team of 34 volunteers delivering sophisticated medical assessments, diagnosis and treatments and support to over 2000 patients. In contrast, Nicaragua has historically been a more unpredictable and difficult environment for our teams. Nonetheless, the adaptability and sheer determination of our team under very difficult conditions made for successes far beyond those expected. Against some very heavy odds, our team of 22 attended to over 1000 patients during six clinics, and fitted many more for glasses in our Lentes Para La Gente program. Our return to Nicaragua was not easy to be sure, but we have learned from the past and look forward to future with great excitement. We will are more prepared than ever to continue our current projects and reach further abroad in 2012 !
All of this would not be possible without the ongoing support of our donors and the countless volunteers that work tirelessly behind the sceens, including our entirely voluntary Board of Directors. We would also like to extend a special thank you to all of our partners including Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC), Dr. Antonio Hernandez (FUDECOM), Monte Short (Los Medicos Volodares) and Michael Marcotte (Imagine Nation Foundation) as well as all of our donors for their support over the past year. We would could not do what we do without you, so thank you. Finally, we would like express our gratitude to Ryan Williamson who traveled with us and voluntarily worked endless hours in the background to capture and document our work on film for the purposes of raising support and awareness for our cause. His documentary may be viewed online via the link below.
View FDOC Documentary Now
FDOC Health Centre
Thanks to the ongoing cooperation of our Salvadoran partners during this past trip, we were successful in locating several candidate sites for the new FDOC Centro de Salud. Plans for purchase, land preparation and construction are moving forward and we hope to have a permanent location from which to base ongoing and future projects by the end of 2011.
At the present time our plans involve the construction of a simple health centre which will provide free medical and surgical services, including the provision of free medicines. The construction plan is a multi-part project which is planned for completion in 2014. It is our sincere hope that our donors will continue to support our efforts to make this beacon of hope a reality for the Salvadoran people who so desperately need it.
Update
We are now in the process of acquiring property and hope to begin construction in the Spring of 2012! This is the first step in our plan to bring sustainable solutions to the Salvadoran people... the first step of many.
Haiti 2012: April 9 - 22 (Open)
In April of 2012 we will be returning to the southeastern region of Haiti and offering free clinics in several communities surrounding Cascade Pichon. This is a "Professionals Only" trip and we are unable to accomodate students.
El Salvador 2012: July 9 - 20 (Open)
We will be returning to Izalco, El Salvador with our usual large team of 30-40 volunteers in July of 2012. This trip is open to all volunteers including students and applicants are accepted based the needs of the group.
Flying Doctors of Canada
Copyright 2010
The Flying Doctors of Canada was founded by Drs. Benjamin Cavilla, Daniel Kopac and Rodrigo Onell, all graduates of the University of Alberta, Canada. From its inception in 2006, The Flying Doctors of Canada has grown out of the realization that there are relatively few opportunities for Canadian healthcare professionals to become involved as volunteers in international health initiatives and charity projects under the auspices of a formal Canadian group. There are many such charity and humanitarian volunteer opportunities of varying efficacy originating with our colleagues in the United States, however it was felt that it is our duty as Canadians to make a unique and Canadian contribution to global healthcare efforts. To this end, the Flying Doctors of Canada officially took flight in March 2008.
Our Mission
Over the next five years, the Flying Doctors of Canada will be working towards establishing itself as a reputable and internationally recognized group of healthcare professionals who are committed to promoting and providing medical care and education and community development without regard for race, religion, or nationality to those who are most in need.
Our Focus
The Flying Doctors of Canada are currently focusing all of their efforts in Central America, specifically in El Salvador. There is a plan to extend our efforts to other locations within the western hemisphere including rural Haiti, however it this will be a gradual process which ensures that the communties in which we are currently involved continue to thrive long after we are gone.
Humanitarian mission work is becoming ever more popular with each passing year. The involvement of Hollywood-stars such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Ricky Martin, Oprah Winfrey and Sean Penn in humanitarian efforts has put philanthropy on the front of every tabloid across the continent. While their involvement in such endeavors has served to greatly increase public awareness of the great need that exists all over the world, it has not necessarily translated into effective action. There are a number of reasons as to why this is often the case but among the most prevalent are:
- A lack of understanding of the problem.
- A lack of goal directed leadership and cooperation between competing organizations.
- A failure to utilize appropriate technology to implement sustainable solutions
From the Top Down
There are many organizations in existence today that have mandates which are similar to those of The Flying Doctors of Canada and who attempt to improve the health of those who are most in need. However, many such organizations often are unprepared both mentally and logistically for the problems which they will face and become frustrated with the lack of impact brought about by their efforts. The fundamental problem plaguing all such organizations is their Bottom Up organization. Despite their mandate to improve health, most of these organizations were founded and are directed by non-healthcare professionals. The Flying Doctors of Canada is a humanitarian organization that was founded by Doctors and is lead by Doctors every step of the way, from start to finish.
From the Ground Up
The Flying Doctors of Canada strongly believe that good health begins with the fulfillment of basic needs beginning with clean drinking water and nutritious food sources and dry shelter. Only when these basic needs have been met on a long-term basis can modern medicine hope to have a long-lasting impact. For this reason, The Flying Doctors of Canada work side-by-side and in cooperation with an entire team of builders and engineers who have the knowledge and skills for the development of a platform from which sustainable healthcare may be delivered.
From Now On
The Flying Doctors of Canada are devoted to providing long-term solutions to everyday problems. Through extensive research into the barriers to health in each and every target community, and through cooperation with community leaders, the Flying Doctors of Canada strive to provide appropriate and sustainable solutions to local and persistent problems. Key to our approach is the accompaniment of every entrance plan by an exit plan. Our motto is "A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out", and our goal is to help fallen communities stand again and walk on their own.
In order to be successful, humanitarian organizations must build an approach based on a solid platform which is supported by fundamental supports on a solid foundation. The Flying Doctors of Canada believe that this support structure is best achieved through a Three-Pillar Approach. The three pillars on which our philosophical platform is supported are:
1. Fulfillment of Basic Needs
2. Health Education
3. Medical Intervention
The order of these pillars is not random but instead reflects the fact that the Fulfillment of Basic Needs is our first priority, followed by Health Education and lastly Medical Intervention. This prioritization is based on careful thought into the epidemiology, etiology, pathology and the natural history of disease and recognition of our limitations as health care providers in the developing world setting. In addition to these three areas of intervention, there is also a need for ongoing support of this model which requires Economic Development. The Flying Doctors of Canada are currently exploring ways in which we can integrate micro-finance into our efforts.
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL OPERATIONS
Dr. Benjamin Cavilla was born and raised in Alberta, Canada where he completed his primary, secondary and post-secondary education, obtaining his Bachelors degree in Science in Biochemistry from the University of Lethbridge.
In 2000 he initiated his post-graduate training in Vancouver, BC, subsequently obtaining a Master of Science degree in Medical Genetics from the University of British Columbia in 2002.
Graduating from medical school in 2006, he obtained his Medical Doctoral degree from the University of Alberta, after which he pursued specialty training in Family Medicine.
Having worked and traveled throughout many of the regions since 2004, Dr. Cavilla is conversant in Spanish and has an intimate and up close knowledge of Central America. His travels and humanitarian efforts have spanned the continent from Canadas Arctic to interior Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. He has dedicated himself to providing the best care possible under very limited conditions and gaining an understanding of the cultural context which impedes the delivery of more universal and effective health care in these regions. In his spare time he enjoys flying small aircraft over the west coast region of Canada.
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS
Dr. Rodrigo Onell was born in Chile and immigrated to Canada in 1989 . He obtained an undergraduate degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Alberta and worked as a laboratory technologist in Transfusion Medicine prior to completing medical school at the University of Alberta in 2006. Over the years, he has been actively involved in various local community groups targeting health promotion. He has recently completed his training in Hematopathology at the University of Alberta and is now fully qualified.
Being fluent in both Spanish and English and having a broad knowledge of clinical laboratory medicine Dr. Onell brings a formidable advantage to The Flying Doctors of Canada. He has personally witnessed the inequalities in health care both locally and internationally and is highly motivated to facilitate improved healthcare to those in need around the world. Like the rest of the group, Dr. Onell believes that sustainability is of paramount importance to humanitarian efforts.
DIRECTOR OF SURGICAL OPERATIONS
Dr. Daniel Kopac was born in Poland and grew up in southwestern Ontario where completed his primary, secondary and post-secondary education. After majoring in Chemistry and obtaining his Bachelors degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1999 he moved to Alberta going on to complete a Masters degree in Chemistry and a Medical Doctoral degree from the University of Alberta. Following his completion of Medical school in 2006, Dr. Kopac finishes his specialty training in General Surgery in 2011 after which he plans to pursue sub-specialty training in Vascular Surgery in Vancouver, BC.
Over the years Dr. Kopac has become increasingly involved with issues surrounding the delivery of healthcare in the developing world. After traveling to El Salvador with long-time friend and colleague Dr. Cavilla in 2006, he became involved with The Flying Doctors of Canada.
Combined with his fluency in both Polish and English and working knowledge of French, Dr. Kopac's surgical skills bring a valuable component to The Flying Doctors of Canada. He believes that the utilization of local resources and the development of local infrastructure is paramount to providing sustainable healthcare in Latin America and around the globe.
DIRECTOR
Dr. Diego Villa grew up in Bogotá, Colombia, where he obtained his medical degree. He then moved to the US for a brief period of time, during which he completed a master's degree in public health at Harvard University and his medical internship at Georgetown
University. He subsequently moved to Vancouver for his internal medicine and medical oncology training. After one year of further training in lymphoma and autologous stem cell transplantation at Princess Margaret Hospital, he recently joined the medical staff at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. He is passionate about his clinical, research, and teaching endeavors in the areas of lymphoid malignancies and breast cancer.
Diego first became involved in humanitarian work during his third year of medical school, when he traveled as part of a medical mission to a remote area in Colombia's Pacific coast which is only accessible by boat. He has traveled to Nicaragua and El Salvador with the FDOCs as a professional volunteer. His fluency in Spanish and English has been an asset to patient care and the medical operation on-site. His favorite aspect of participating with the FDOCs is bridging the worlds of Latin America and Canada.
DIRECTOR OF HABITAT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Simon Boersma was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1971, where his family settled in Lethbridge, Alberta. Shortly after completing his secondary education in 1979, Simon moved to Vienna to work with an organization involved in helping people caught behind the Iron Curtain and in the famine-stricken country of Somalia. After, returning to Canada in 1981, he began working in the building industry. Over the past 20 years he has become an expert in his field, and he is now the owner of a built-housing group producing affordable housing options in the Edmonton region of Alberta, Canada.
Simon has traveled to many third world countries over the years in order to help those who are most in need. His long list of projects includes building homes for Romanian orphans and building a treatment centre in South Africa for Zulu children infected with HIV to name but a few.
Combined with his language abilities which include English, Dutch, and German, Simons building skills make him an extremely important component of the Flying Doctors of Canadas multifaceted approach. He believes very strongly in providing solutions which remain within the framework of local culture, and strives to avoid the imposition of North American values. He strongly believes that if you teach a man to fish, he will never go hungry again.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Michael Cavilla was born in Mississauga, Ontario and raised in Alberta, Canada where he completed his post secondary education in 1993, and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Lethbridge.
Between the years of 1991 and 1995, he was employed with Revenue Canada's Custom Border Services Agency as a Customs Officer at a land crossing in British Columbia, protecting the safety and security of Canada and Canadians.
In 1995, Michael was hired by the Calgary Police Service where he is currently assigned as a Detective to the Homicide Unit, Major Crimes Section of the Calgary Police Service. Michael has been involved in numerous charitable and humanitarian projects most recently in the impoverished country of Romania. Michael has a heart for those less fortunate, and is looking forward to the challenge of facilitating the provision of sustainable healthcare in the developing world in the coming years.
The Flying Doctors of Canada is currently in the process of establishing itself as an internationally recognized humanitarian organization and as such there is a progressive plan in place for future growth and expansion. This plan includes continued projects in Central America with the gradual initiation of projects in more isolated and desperate areas as the group grows. Plans for expansion currently include Haiti, Guatemala and parts of South America and Africa.
El Salvador
FDOC is currently making plans for a repeat medical mission to Izalco in the Department of Sonsonate, El Salvador, from July 9 - 20, 2012. We are currently accepting applications for student and non-student volunteers.
Nicaragua/Guatemala
FDOC returned to Nicaragua in August of 2011 and is currently considering plans to reach more remote and needy areas in the eastern part of that country for future projects. We will be sending a recon team up the San Juan River in the coming months to explore the situation in this region. At the present time it is unclear whether or not we will return to Nicaragua or initiate new projects in Guatemala. The website will be updated as this information becomes available.
Haiti
In cooperation with LMV and Heart to Heart International, FDOC will be sending a team of professionals to Haiti from April 14 - 28, 2012. Students will NOT be considered. Conditions in Haiti can be very difficult with limited access to shelter, running water and electricity. Applicants with prior humanitarian experience will be given preference.
El Salvador is the smallest, yet most densely populated country in Central America. Reeling from more than a decade of civil war which resulted in the loss of more than 60,000 lives, El Salvador is a country in desperate need. With many areas of the country with limited access to clean water and healthy food, the Salvadoran people suffer with chronic disease year after year. Many conditions which are commonly seen and effectively treated in Canada remain unchecked in El Salvador. Despite many well trained physicans in their country, few Salvadorans can afford the cost of a clinic visit, far less the cost of treatment. As a result, conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anemia, arthritis and many others are permitted to progress unchecked, leading to early heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, blindness, chronic infections, chronic pain, amputations, shortness of breath, fatigue, pain and general suffering.
Can you imagine living life in this way? The causes of these problems are multiple and the solutions are complex. Nonetheless, the Flying Doctors of Canada continue to strive to improve the lives of Salvadorans who suffer year after year by supporting community development and education, addressing root causes of illness and diagnosing and treating disease.
In March of 2010, after months of discussion with the leaders of both LMV and FUDECOM, two board members from the Flying Doctors of Canada traveled to El Salvador to carry out an on-the-ground Needs Assessment in preparation for a larger scale mission. Traveling together and working alongside LMV and FUDECOM teams, Dr. Cavilla (Director of Medical Operations) and Simon Boersma (Director of Habitat and Sustainability) were immediately taken by the great level of need in Department of Sonsonate. Among the worst conditions he has ever seen over the six years that he has been working in El Salvador, Dr. Cavilla was immediately compelled to return with the FDOC team and in July of 2010 projects in El Salvador were initiated, treating almost 2000 patients and installing 50 Eco-stoves.
In July of 2011, the Flying Doctors of Canada returned to Izalco, Sonsonate with a team of 34 volunteers to provide high impact developmental, medical and dental interventions alongside their partners from FUDECOM. With the help of a fully functional mobile laboratory and moblie x-ray department, our team diagnosed and treated more than 2500 patients over 12 days periiod while our special projects teams constructed and installed 46 Eco-stoves adding to the previous year's. All in all, the trip was nothing short of a huge sucess!
The Flying Doctors of Canada will be returning to Izalco again from July 9-20, 2012 to continue with projects in this region, including construction of a free health centre for the desperate people in that area. This facility will make surgery and inpatient care possible and will provide our Salvadoran medical colleagues a place from which they can continue to serve their people on an ongoing basis.
LMV
Los Médicos Voladores (LMV) -- in Spanish, the flying doctors -- is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that provides education, medical, dental and vision aid to people in need in over 30 locations. LMV is a US-based organization led by Monte Short, an extraordinary humanitarian and long-time friend of Dr. Cavilla. The goal of LMV is to improve the health and well-being of geographically diverse peoples through education and the provision of no-cost, high-quality medical, dental, and optometric clinics. LMV serves Mexico, Central and South America, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the migrant labor populations of southeast California. Since 1975 LMV has offered more than 250 short-term medical, dental, optometry, and other healthcare clinics, treating over 7,000 patients per year.
FUDECOM
The Fundacíon para el Desarrollo Comunal y Municipal (www.fudecom.org) is an El Salvador-based organization led by Dr. Antonio Hernandez, a medical doctor and dedicated humanitarian.
Still Reeling
Nicaragua is the largest and poorest country in Central America and is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As a result of heavy foreign involvement in its history over the last 100 years, Nicaragua is an eclectic mix of Latin and American cultures. Surrounded by neighbors that live for futból, it is only country in central america where baseból is the national sport and where you will hear Regatón beats and Kenny Rogers all at the same time!
Ravaged by decades of civil war fueled by under-handed American politics and wave after wave of natural disasters, the Nicaraguan people have suffered more than any other group in the Central America. Still recovering from Hurricane Mitch which dumped several meters of rain over the region and left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless in its wake, many Nicaraguans struggle to survive day to day without fulfillment of even the most basic needs. Polluted water, micronutrient deficiency, parasitic infection, and chronic heart and lung disease continue to plague communities. Despite all of this, Nicas have emerged as some of the most friendly and hospitable people in all of Central America.
OUR PROJECT
The Flying Doctors of Canada launched humanitarian efforts in the Southwestern region of Nicaragua in 2009. While this mission was successful in many ways, significant political obstacles were encountered that made it difficult to deliver the high-impact and sustainable interventions that our organization is committed to. As a result, the Flying Doctors of Canada temporarily suspended missions to Nicaragua in 2010.
As of Jan 2011, the Flying Doctors of Canada re-entered into talks with the Ministerio del Salud at their request. These discussions resulted in the mutually supported resumption of efforts in that region in the summer of 2011. Although there were significant strides forward made during this mission, we feel that we are still not reaching those who need us most and plans to reach more remote and needy areas in Nicaragua are being considered.
At the present time we do not have definitive plans to return to Nicaragua. The website will be updated as more information becomes available.
OUR PARTNERS
NEWTON-SAN JUAN SISTER CITY PROJECT
http://sanjuandelsursistercityproject.wordpress.com
BACKGROUND
OUR PROJECTS
In March of 2011, the Flying Doctors of Canada partnered with Los Médicos Voladores and Heart to Heart International to bring medical aid to some of the most needy areas of Haiti, a country where it is truly difficult to distinguish one needy area from the next. During this mission we traveled into some very difficult terrain in the southeast corner of the country and conducted clinics in 4 communities. Thanks to an overwhelming outpouring of support and generosity from supporters we were able to deliver medical treatment to almost 800 patients.
In addition to delivering desperately needy care to the Haitian people, we were able to lay some vital foundations for future trips. As such, we will be once again returning to Haiti next April in partnership with these two organizations. We plan to conduct repeat clinics in the communities of Bel Anse, Cascade Pichon, Bleck and Foret de Pins and addition to others we have not visited before. Conditions will be difficult be we are confident that we will be prepared to deal with whatever we encounter.
The Flying Doctors of Canada welcome individuals or groups of individuals who wish to volunteer their time to charity and contribute to our humanitarian efforts abroad. Individual volunteers or groups of volunteers may become involved in one of several capacities. These include: general volunteers, translators, pre-professional students, Allied Health students, nursing students, medical students, paramedics, Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Radiation Technologists, nurses and physicians.
Expected Roles
Your role as a volunteer with the Flying Doctors of Canada is first and foremost to be an effective and hard-working member of the FDOC team. Every team member plays an essential role in achieving our goal of providing high quality healthcare to as many people as possible. However there are obvious differences in the training and abilities of different volunteers and we will make every attempt to use the the unique skills of each volunteer to their maximum potential.
Student volunteers, whether they are pre-professional, Applied Health, nursing or medical, have roles which vary depending on individual skills and personal aspirations. In general, student volunteers are selected to be involved with FDOC missions on a competitive basis as a part of the Doctors of Tomorrow (DOT) Program or as a part of the Student Technologist Applied Studies (STAT) Program. At the present time the Flying Doctors of Canada accepts DOT Program applicants from students attending the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. FDOC accepts STAT Program applicants from students attending the Red River College and the University of Alberta only. Details regarding these programs and application procedures can be found on subsequent pages.
The application deadline has been extended to February 15, 2012. Please check back frequently in the coming weeks for announcements regarding information sessions at your institution.
General Volunteers are essential to the success of FDOC missions. From helping with group coordination, to setting up clinics, to organizing the throngs of patients, to assisting with construction projects or simply just helping out with odd jobs, general volunteers can expect to be kept busy.
General volunteers with bilingual language abilities are obviously utilized to the fullest extent in defined roles as translators at both construction and clinic sites. Students are not accepted as general volunteers. Interested individuals should contact our office by email BEFORE submitting an application.
Application 2012.pdf
Doctors of Tomorrow (DOT) Program
The Flying Doctors of Canada are committed to ongoing education and are very eager to involve university/ college level students who are currently engaged in pre-professional programs of study and who have an interest in humanitarian efforts. The DOT Programs have been specifically designed to provide interested students with real-life exposure to healthcare in the developing world.
Limited positions are available for DOT Program volunteers and are highly competitive. Opportunities for involvement available to undergraduate students registered at U of L, U of A and U of C.
The deadline for application to the DOT Programs for 2012 has been extended to February 15, 2012 and applications post-marked after this date will not be considered.
Your Role
Student volunteers are an essential component of the Flying Doctors of Canada multi-pronged approach to improving health care in impoverished countries. Your role in health education, sanitation projects and first-hand assistance in clinics are of primary importance. Exposure to the concepts of primary prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and secondary prevention are valuable opportunities to be gained from your experience with the Flying Doctors of Canada.
Effective and sustainable healthcare cannot be delivered in isolation. In keeping with our principle From the Ground Up, pre-professional volunteers will be expected to contribute to all aspects of the Flying Doctors of Canada multi-pronged approach on a rotational basis. This means that DOT Program volunteers will be expected to participate in the delivery of community health education seminars and construction projects. In addition, each DOT Program volunteer will be given the opportunity to be directly involved in patient assessment and treatment along side one of our doctors on a rotational basis. Depending on the number of interested parties, it is estimated that each participant will spend at least three half-days in clinic over the course of 6 days, although this may vary.
COSTS
Return transportation from Canada, as well as food and accommodation while abroad will be arranged by FDOC and are included in the Trip Administration Fee (TAF). TAFs may vary and are location dependent but are estimated to range between $2000 and $2500 per volunteer. The TAF for the upcoming missions to Central America in the summer 2012 has been set at $2500. This represents an increase from previous years and is reflective of the rising costs associated with improving programs, extending our reach and augmenting our impact. In general, based on past experience successful applicants to the DOT Program can expect to pay between $1000 and $1500 out of pocket depending on the succes of their fundraising efforts (see next section). A deposit in the amount of $1500 is required before March15th, 2012 for all selected applicants.
Under exceptional circumstances, a very limited number of scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2000 are available to keen students who have a demonstrated financial obstacle which would prevent their participation in our programs. Application for these scholarships are made by the submission of a written letter to the Board of Directors detailing the circumstances and are considered on a case by case basis.
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising is a vital component of your volunteer experience with the Flying Doctors of Canada. Although individuals are not permitted to fundraise on behalf of the Flying Doctors of Canada, DOT teams are encouraged to do so in order to help offset their TAFs and to assist in the purchase of much needed supplies and medications for upcoming trips. The Flying Doctors of Canada will apply 50% of all funds raised by each DOT team to the team's total TAF. The remainder will of the funds raised will go directly to buying medicine, supplies and equipment.
Applicants to the DOT Program should be aware that acceptance to this program is a priveledge and demands a SIGNIFICANT dedication of time and effort! All successful applicants are expected to contribute equally to their respective teams in the 6-7 months prior to each trip. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary actions including removal from the team and loss of deposits. The cutt-off for team fundraising has been set to June 15, 2012. Teams submitting funds after this date will not be credited for the purposes of off-setting TAFs.
The Flying Doctors of Canada accepts applications from professional students who are pursuing either Dentistry or Medicine. Opportunities for professional students having completed less than 2 years of studies at the time of application will only be considered within the scope of the DOT Programs at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.
Medical students who have completed more than 2 years of studies at the time of application are eligible to apply for opportunities with our organization on an independent basis. Such students will be involved in direct patient assessment and supervised treatment of patients along side qualified physicians. Interested students should submit a written application to the Flying Doctors of Canada detailing why they would like to be selected and why they would be suited to such an experience.
Written evaluations of your performance will be provided upon request for the purposes of receiving credit for elective experiences. Opportunities for Professional Students
are NOT available in Haiti at this time.
Quality Improvement Projects
