Dr. Joe’s Notes – June 2023 | Volunteering – A Potential Cure for Burnout

“I can’t believe how innovative and dedicated these young neurosurgeons are despite having little to no access to the equipment and supplies they need to perform these surgeries.”

“I came here to teach them how to perform these procedures, but they taught me what it truly means to be a doctor by giving the best care they can with little to no resources.”

These were some of the comments made by a team of American neurovascular physicians I accompanied to Paraguay over the past 2 weeks. They volunteered their time to teach and operate alongside their Paraguayan colleagues. Neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, and interventional radiologists took time away from their busy practices to teach and work for free.

Their motivation was to share their expertise with physicians in a low to middle income country and improve the quality of care available to their patients. What they didn’t realize was that they would come away inspired and transformed by the experience.

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Joe Sherman, MD is a pediatrician, professional development coach, and consultant to individuals and healthcare organizations in the areas of cross-cultural medicine, leadership, and provider well-being. His mission is to help health professionals rediscover the joy of practicing medicine. Reach him at joe@joeshermanmd.com