FAQS
WHAT ARE SURGICORPS INTERNATIONAL’S MISSION AND VALUES?
Surgicorps International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free surgical and medical care to people in need in developing countries.
Surgicorps Values:
- Providing free surgical and medical care to people in need in developing countries, thus allowing them to become functional members of their society.
- Providing individuals the personally rewarding experience of giving back through serving others.
- Fostering an exchange of knowledge and experience among medical professionals resulting in improved surgical techniques and patient care.
- Locally-based cultural interaction is an important component of Surgicorps trips.
DOES SURGICORPS ONLY PERFORM CLEFT PALATE/CLEFT LIP PROCEDURES?
Cleft lip and palate surgeries do represent a large portion of our cases on some trips. We do however provide a wide range of other types of surgical and medical care. These include hand surgery, treatment of burn scar contractures (on many missions the most common problem seen), treatment of traumatic injuries/deformities (i.e. farm accidents, animal bites, motor vehicle accidents, etc.), dental, vision and dermatology screenings.
WHY DOESN’T SURGICORPS SERVE THOSE IN NEED IN THE UNITED STATES?
In most cases, the surgical procedures provided by Surgicorps are widely available and paid for through private or government-funded insurance in the United States.
ARE THERE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO WORK SIMILAR TO THAT DONE BY SURGICORPS?
There are many other organizations that provide care similar to that provided by Surgicorps, some smaller than Surgicorps, and others much larger (i.e. Operation Smile). Each of these organizations is unique in their own way, all striving to improve the delivery of health-care throughout the world. For example, Smile Train does not provide surgeries directly to patients but raises funds to support and empower local medical professionals. We run a relatively small number of trips each year, limiting the number of trip participants, and making multi-year commitments to specific countries. This provides what we feel is a special experience for our medical and non-medical team members. Volunteers often describe their relationship to Surgicorps as “family”.
WHO CONSTITUTES A SURGICORPS MEDICAL MISSION TEAM?
Surgicorps International’s medical missions are staffed by medical and non-medical volunteers. The medical team makeup reflects each country’s needs and requests. Members may include Surgeons with differing specialties: Anesthesiologists, CRNAs, Physician Assistants, RNs, Surgical Techs, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Dentists and Dermatologists. Non-medical participants have diverse backgrounds and are a minimum of 16 years of age. They perform a myriad of tasks, including providing comfort in pre- and post-op areas, practicing play therapy, transporting patients, and packing supplies. Volunteers also help to chronicle the trip through photography, blog postings and website reports on the outcome of the journey.
HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE ON A SURGICORPS MEDICAL MISSION TEAM?
Need does not necessarily determine the size of Surgicorps’ teams. The number of medical personnel is directly related to a country’s ability to host the surgeries and their surgical needs. Teams may also be self-limiting because Surgicorps trips are self-funded. In the future, Surgicorps hopes to have the financial resources it needs to subsidize mission members’ costs.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A VOLUNTEER?
Complete and forward a volunteer application to the office that can be found on the volunteer page of the Surgicorps website. Deadline for receipt of the volunteer application is September 1st prior to the year of the team departure (i.e. September 2020 for trip in 2021) unless noted differently on the volunteer page.
HOW DOES THE VOLUNTEER SELECTION OCCUR?
Surgicorps’ has an established process that includes a committee for the selection of each team. All applications are reviewed by the committee and all references verified. Submission of a volunteer application does not guarantee a position. Team configurations are determined by the country’s surgical needs and the host facilities’ operating room capabilities. Selection of volunteer medical staff positions are the first priority. There are a small number of positions for non-medical team members in some of the countries.
HOW ARE SURGICORPS’ TRIPS FUNDED?
Surgicorps’ trips range in cost from $40,000 to $90,000. The level of expense depends on a variety of issues, including airfare, the size and sophistication of the host country facility (e.g. a fully equipped mission hospital or a more rudimentary facility that lacks even the most basic supplies), and the potential need to financially support patients and their families for transportation, housing, and food. Surgicorps International’s trips are made possible by different types of donations. First, the medical and non-medical participants of the team pay for a majority of their expenses. In most cases, they pay 100% of their travel and accommodations. This does not, however, represent the full cost of the trip for each person. In most cases, team members take unpaid leave to accompany a trip or use benefit time at their place of employment. Annual donated services to Surgicorps are valued at over $400,000. As much as possible, medical supplies are obtained via in-kind donations from companies or individuals.
WHY ARE UNRESTRICTED DONATIONS IMPORTANT?
Surgicorps expends 100% of trip volunteer donations on the mission. There is never any surplus, although overages in medical supplies will be retained in the host country for later use in local hospitals. Surgicorps must close a funding gap of between $10,000 and $20,000 per trip. The ability to provide the highest quality of services and the safest experience for its medical mission participants and in-country patients depends on the generosity of individuals and businesses giving unrestricted donations each year.
HOW CAN I STAY UP-TO-DATE ON SURGICORPS’ LATEST TRIP?
- Contact us here to join our email list.
- Be a frequent visitor to our website—www.surgicorps.org—and see posts from trip participants, updates to the travel schedule and more.
- Follow Surgicorps on Instagram
- Like Surgicorps on Facebook
- I’M UNABLE TO VOLUNTEER FOR A SURGICORPS MEDICAL MISSION. WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN I HELP?
- Make a contribution. Unrestricted donations are applied to the area of greatest need. Donors may also make designated contributions to a special trip and/or purpose.
- You can make a difference by contributing items you can purchase on your next trip to the grocery store. View list here.
- Host a House Party or invite Surgicorps to make a presentation at your church, school or community meeting.
- Refer potential volunteers—medical and non-medical—to Surgicorps.
- Attend one of Surgicorps’ annual fundraising events and bring a friend!
