ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

Mission Accomplished?: Measuring success on humanitarian trips

by Alexandra Schultz • December 1, 2010

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

The first time Gayle Woodson, MD, went on an international otolaryngology outreach mission 15 years ago, she was “a little afraid to go.” The chair of otolaryngology at Southern Illinois University in Springfield was traveling to Tanzania, a country prone to violence and war, and there was no telling what kind of environment she was entering.

You Might Also Like

  • Mission Possible: Humanitarian work allows otolaryngologists to enact change
  • A Conversation with… Dr. Byron Bailey, Humanitarian & Teacher
  • Keys to a Successful Medical Mission
  • Results of the ENT Today Readership Survey: Meeting Our Mission
Explore This Issue
December 2010

Dr. Woodson still recalls what an impression the experience made on her. “I was always thinking I wanted to give back. On my first trip to El Salvador, we had armed guards at all times. Over time it was a lot safer, and it was incredible to see the changes in the people—standing up straight, and looking us in the eye with dignity,” she said.

Dr. Woodson performing video bronchoscopy at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre

Dr. Woodson performing video bronchoscopy at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre

Dr. Woodson is one of approximately 10 to 15 percent of the 9,000 members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) who, according to Catherine Lincoln, CAE, MA, senior manager of the Academy’s International/Humanitarian Affairs Committee, participate in international medical missions. Volunteers include practicing otolaryngologists, residents and retirees, she said. But while doctors say such trips are intrinsically rewarding, how can they know the missions are measurably successful?

Several groups are in the process of establishing approaches to measure the effectiveness of their programs. James E. Saunders, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and chair of the AAO-HNS Humanitarian Efforts Committee, said the movement might be a result of a generational shift in humanitarian service.

“More and more younger individuals [are getting] involved and asking the harder questions about the larger picture of what we offer, thinking about things like public health issues that impact on the diseases we treat…and also an increasing interest in research that is related to international medicine, whether on the causes of disease, the resources available or the outcomes of such work,” he said.

Evidence-Based Missions

The AAO-HNS Humanitarian Efforts Committee recently appointed a group within the committee to look at best practices, reasonable outcomes and ethics abroad. According to Dr. Saunders, the group met in October to discuss these issues, and plans to draft a post-trip action survey to assess the effectiveness of their techniques abroad, such as training local doctors and involving them in the administration of treatment.

Tanzania

“I think our goal as a committee will be more of saying, ‘This is what I think you should strive for, these are the kinds of things that are best practices,’ and part of best practice should be evaluating outcomes, no question,” he said.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 | Single Page

Filed Under: Career Development, Departments Tagged With: career development, evidence-based medicine, humanitarian trips, indigenous care, international, surgical missionIssue: December 2010

You Might Also Like:

  • Mission Possible: Humanitarian work allows otolaryngologists to enact change
  • A Conversation with… Dr. Byron Bailey, Humanitarian & Teacher
  • Keys to a Successful Medical Mission
  • Results of the ENT Today Readership Survey: Meeting Our Mission

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Experts Delve into Treatment Options for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
    • Weaning Patients Off of PPIs
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • New Developments in the Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Potential New Option for Chronic Tube Dysfunction and Patulous Disease
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Did You Receive COVID-19 Relief? Here Are Reporting Considerations for 2021
    • Otolaryngology Experts Share Best Practices in Five Areas
    • How Climate Change May Be Affecting Sleep Patterns for Adults and Children
    • Laryngologists Discuss Tough Tracheostomy Choices During COVID-19 Era
    • Head and Neck Cancer: Experts Discuss How to Improve Surgery Quality and Value

Polls

Did you receive funding from the CARES Act or Paycheck Protection Program?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2021 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.