Medical Teams Abroad

Via the Medical Teams Abroad Program (MTAP), Healing the Children Northeast, Inc., provides medical and surgical treatment to needy children all over the world. As a part of our program, we assemble volunteer teams of medical and surgical health professionals.  Teams travel to host countries, where children and young adults are treated free of charge.  There are several different planned and probable dates for surgical trips on the schedule each year.

 Every team member is carefully recruited and selected by the Team Leader (generally, a surgeon who has traveled with an HTCNE team in the past).  To become a team member you must submit your Curriculum Vitae (Resume) and a copy of your current license to practice your profession.  Additionally, we would appreciate any other pertinent information concerning your professional expertise that will help us in assessing your application.  Volunteers are selected based upon team needs. 

 Each mission focuses on a specialty such as cleft lip and palate surgery, burn scar revisions and other plastic surgery cases, as well as orthopedic, hand surgery, ophthalmology, urology and cardiac surgery.  The duration of each mission varies, depending on team composition, location and other factors. Generally, each mission lasts for approximately seven to fourteen days.  The teams are comprised of approximately three to four operating surgeons, three to four anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, one pediatrician, nursing and allied personnel, and one administrator. 

 Teams are responsible for securing medical supplies and/ or equipment.  Contacts with local suppliers provide assistance in securing supplies, i.e. sutures, gowns, and gloves.

Each mission is under the direction of an experienced Team Leader. Assistance is provided by the Medical Teams Abroad department at HTCNE’s main office in New Milford, Connecticut. Assistance you can expect includes, but is not limited to,

·        Some travel arrangements or recommendation of travel agents,

·        Detailed bookkeeping of team expenses and fundraising activity,

·        Collection of C.V.s,  medical licenses and diplomas are required to obtain mission approval from the HTCNE Medical Advisory Committee   

·         Correspondence with appropriate ministries of health

·        Work Permits as applicable

·        Visas (if required)

·        Translation (if needed)

·        Other services as required by team

You will receive help in the administration department of the Northeast office under the direction of Missy Law and her associates, Phyllis Amdurer and Georgann McCarroll.  The Team, with their years of experience can resolve most issues or questions. You can contact them at mlaw@htcne.org  or 860-355-1828

Once the team leader has selected you as a team member, you will need to complete the forms on your team's website.        

There is a two-step online registration form available, however, you will need to fax/scan & email a copy of the credit card authorization form, signed release of liability form, medical history form, C.V. (resume), current medical license and diploma. Passport copy will need to be scanned and emailed or sent via regular mail

Team members will NOT be permitted to travel unless all documents are received by the MTAP department. Team Members are encouraged to submit this information as soon as confirmation of a mission is in place as work permits and other approvals can be delayed weeks or months (in some instances). You cooperation is appreciated.

Expenses per mission vary, but each team member is responsible for evacuation insurance fees, Travel Visa Application fees, airfare, lodging, meals and transportation.  Not all missions carry identical expenses and vary widely per mission. Most teams either fundraise individually or collectively, choose to pay entirely out-of-pocket or employ a combination of both methods. Our office can provide you with a list of ideas, marketing material and administrative support should you require. 

Healing the Children coordinates its missions with various organizations, foundations or individuals, considered partners that have signed an agreement with us. These partners provide the infrastructure necessary to permit our teams to provide the services and they coordinate the internal logistics of our medical trips programs. 

To Register for a team, you must go to your team's web page