Honoring Global Medical Volunteers on World Humanitarian Day
On World Humanitarian Day, Project HOPE honors more than 1,000 doctors, nurses and other health professionals who power its humanitarian missions in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Air Force.
On World Humanitarian Day, Project HOPE honors more than 1,000 doctors, nurses and other health professionals who power its humanitarian missions in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Air Force. True humanitarians, these energetic and inspiring volunteers deliver medical care and health education to make life better for tens of thousands across the world.
One of these remarkable humanitarians is Dr. Lynn Bemiller from San Diego, CA. She is a six-time Project HOPE volunteer who just completed her role as HOPE Medical Director on Pacific Partnership 2013, a humanitarian mission serving five island nations in the South Pacific.
“It is hard to quantify the impact that Project HOPE’s volunteers have on these communities,” said Dr. Bemiller. “We see patients who may never have seen a physician or had a health examination. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help.”
Project HOPE, a global health education and humanitarian assistance organization, first partnered with the U.S. Navy on a humanitarian mission in 2005 in response to the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia. Following the success of this initial mission to Indonesia in early 2005, Project HOPE medical volunteers have participated in U.S. Navy humanitarian missions each year. Project HOPE volunteers began contributing to U.S. Air Force humanitarian missions in 2009.
Since 2005 Project HOPE has
- Participated in 31 humanitarian missions
- Supplied 1,245 volunteers
- Visited 108 countries
- Treated 824,569 patients
- Performed 10,854 surgeries
- Had 239,592 educational contacts
Melbourne, Australia-native Rose Wilson, RN, is another dedicated Project HOPE volunteer and humanitarian, who recently completed the three-month Pacific Partnership mission as a volunteer nurse. She had this advice for future volunteers: “Come with an open mind, and be ready to see the unexpected and do the unexpected. It’s an experience out of the realm of the ordinary.
“I’m extremely proud of our talented volunteers who work alongside the dedicated professionals of the U.S. Navy and Air Force on missions that have had such a positive impact on the lives of so many. Thank you to Lynn, Rose and all of our volunteers for being such outstanding humanitarians on this World Humanitarian Day 2013!” said John P. Howe III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE.