High School Students' Perspectives: The Value of Volunteering on International Short-Term Medical Missions

Authors

  • Sofia Negron Montverde Academy
  • Sara Echavarria
  • Walter Eksteen Montverde Academy
  • Dr. Javier Miller Colombo-American Medical Foundation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i3.7399

Keywords:

High School Students, Community Service, Short-term Medical Mission, Volunteering, Pre-Med, Volunteer Impact, Clinical Training, Health Disparities, Remote Access, Rural Medicine, Underserved Population

Abstract

Community service experiences allow you to define interests, develop career skills and interests, and enrich the student learning process with networking & mentorship experiences, meanwhile providing instant gratification while serving others. Nevertheless, finding the right opportunity as a high school student is a challenging task.  More literature is needed to focus on the experiences of high school students in short-term medical missions and the benefits these experiences offer. This report describes the opportunities for high school students and the benefits of participating in a short-term medical mission from the student perspective.  The growth one earns in community service is invaluable; it enriches the volunteers' personal lives and shapes them into humble, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals. Ultimately, this study highlights the often-overlooked significance of volunteering, emphasizing the value of giving back and the profound impact of gaining experience in healthcare and understanding different socioeconomic contexts.

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Author Biography

Walter Eksteen, Montverde Academy

Dean of Students

References or Bibliography

Eley, D. (2003). Perceptions of and reflections on volunteering: The impact of community service on citizenship in students. *Voluntary Action: The Journal of the Institute for Volunteering Research*, 5(3), 27-46.

Sykes, K. J. (2014). Short-term medical service trips: A systematic review of the evidence. *American Journal of Public Health, 104*(7), e38-e48. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301983

Lough, B. (2013). International volunteering from the United States between 2004 and 2012. [Research Report].

Martiniuk, A. L. C., Manouchehrian, M., Negin, J. A., & Zwi, A. B. (2012). Brain gains: A literature review of medical missions to low and middle-income countries. *BMC Health Services Research, 12*(134). http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/134

Tracey, P., Rajaratnam, E., Varughese, J., et al. (2022). Guidelines for short-term medical missions: Perspectives from host countries. *Global Health, 18*(19). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-022-00815-7

Mayo Clinic Health System. (n.d.). 3 health benefits of volunteering. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-health-benefits-of-volunteering

Rogers, A. J. G. (2020). Medical student volunteerism and interest in working with underserved and vulnerable populations. *BMC Medical Education, 20*(133). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02048-x

Published

08-31-2024

How to Cite

Negron, S., Echavarria, S., Eksteen, W., & Miller, J. (2024). High School Students’ Perspectives: The Value of Volunteering on International Short-Term Medical Missions. Journal of Student Research, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i3.7399

Issue

Section

HS Review Projects