Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background and where you are from?

As a partially retired family medicine physician from Portland, Oregon, I’m lucky to have the time to volunteer at my local county Free Clinic where most of our patients are Hispanic. Consequently, I frequently volunteer in underserved communities in Central America to try to improve my Spanish fluency through cultural immersion. 

How did you get involved with  Global Care Force?

Internet searching led me to Global Care Force (GCF) as they have been serving at the US-Mexico border for several years. However, when I inquired, it was evident that the medical care needs at the border were much less and that Global Care Force was also staffing clinics in Ukraine.

I had previously volunteered with another volunteer organization in 2023, working at mobile clinics for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, but had never found a way to volunteer in Ukraine until I tried to volunteer in Mexico with GCF!

You’ve volunteered in Latin America with other organizations. How does Global Care Force differ in their missions?

Several of the volunteer medical groups I’ve worked with in Central America do return to the same remote communities every three months to try and provide some continuity of care but never have I encountered an organization that provides monthly follow-ups to the communities they serve. Many of the remote, previously occupied communities that GCF serves feel forgotten after years of war and environmental destruction. Consequently, the patients are thrilled to see our translators and local staff who return monthly without fail despite hot summers and cold winters!

Any stories you can share, whether a patient, a Ukrainian staff member, or another volunteer that made an impact on you? What memories will stay with you? 

Whether just a cortisone injection for the patient having to postpone their knee replacement because of shelling at the orthopedic hospital in Kherson, or just a house call to treat a bite from a previously friendly pet cat now a bit stressed by loud noise, you will be amazed at the resilience you will witness and the welcome you will receive. My most memorable patient was just in for a routine diabetes checkup, but her sugar levels were already well controlled, so I had moved on just to inquire routinely about stress and sleep. She then admitted that she had lost all three of her sons in the war, to which I could not respond, so we just held hands while my supremely skilled translator (& professional physical therapist) Andry saved the day so ably filling in for my failed words.

If someone is considering volunteering with Global Care Force, whether in Ukraine or elsewhere, what would you tell them?

You will always feel secure and well cared for, despite some of the logistical challenges, because the team in Ukraine has been hosting volunteers monthly for over three years. Accommodations are wonderful, but good luck not returning home a bit heavier as our mission chief, Dr Lev, is quite the foodie!

Interested in volunterring with Global Care Force? Learn more!