Guadalajara Mexico 2026
Service Learning Trip
Prolotherapy January 3-10
Veins January 3-10
Weekend excursion (optional) January 10-11
Honduras 2026
Service Learning Trip
Prolotherapy March 6-14
Veins March 13-21
ENT March 7-14
Service-Learning Trips
Travel with Purpose. Learn Through Service
Since 1969, HHPF has trained physicians, healthcare teams, and volunteers from over 30 countries—united in a mission to heal, teach, and serve.
What Are HHPF Medical Service-Learning Trips?
HHPF Medical Service-Learning Trips offer participants—including both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers—a unique opportunity to engage directly in patient care while serving communities with limited access to healthcare.
Hands-On Healing. Real-World Learning. Participants work alongside highly experienced licensed healthcare providers, gaining valuable insight into specific medical procedures, global health and humanitarian outreach.
Whether you're pursuing a career in healthcare or simply passionate about making a difference, HHPF service-learning trips provide a powerful platform for growth, learning, and impact.
What You’ll Do
Participants may serve in various capacities—as instructors sharing their expertise, as learners gaining hands-on experience, or as essential support team members ensuring smooth clinical operations. Under professional supervision, you’ll contribute to high-impact care in communities with limited access to medical services.
Depending on your background and assignment, you may assist with or observe
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Participate in procedures that treat superficial vein conditions and improve patient mobility.
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Assist with comprehensive ear, nose, and throat assessments and observe a range of procedures—from minor outpatient interventions to complex surgical cases—performed by ENT specialists.
Each participant's level of involvement is based on their skills, experience, and comfort level. Non-medical volunteers often support logistics, patient intake, translation, and care coordination—essential to the clinic's overall success.
Why Join an HHPF Medical
Service-Learning Trip?
Joining an HHPF Medical Service-Learning Trip is more than volunteering—it’s a chance to grow, serve with purpose, and make a lasting impact. Whether instructing, honing clinical skills, or providing compassionate care, your efforts directly benefit communities with limited medical access.
You’ll work alongside a diverse team in a rich learning environment and collaborate closely with local healthcare providers through dedicated training, helping build sustainable care long after the trip ends.
PROLOTHERAPY
Targeted prolotherapy service-learning trips designed to meet the needs of both advanced and new learners. Two trip opportunities
Guadalajara, Mexico
7 days, first full week in January, advanced prolotherapists only
Who Should Apply
MD, DO, ND: Experienced healthcare practitioners who have attended at least two HHPF Honduras brigades or have comparable experience (determined by faculty.) This program is intended for participants ready to expand their skills through advanced instruction, clinical leadership, and collaborative learning.
Prerequisites
Applicants must submit documentation or references confirming prior 0
+3experience in prolotherapy and/or participation in at least two HHPF brigades. Final eligibility is determined by the clinical team*.
Honduras
New and Continuing Learners Prolotherapy Trip - 9 days, 8 nights in early March annually : Locations: La Ceiba, Honduras; Tela, Honduras
Who Should Apply
Healthcare professionals and students who are new or relatively new to prolotherapy, including those with limited hands-on experience. This trip is designed for practitioners looking to build a strong foundation in prolotherapy. Attendance in Honduras is required before applying to the GDL Advanced Learners Trip, unless equivalent experience is demonstrated.
Trip Focus:
- Introduction to the principles and science of prolotherapy
- Step-by-step instruction in basic injection techniques
- Supervised injection in live clinical settings with real patients
- Observation of complex procedures performed by experienced providers
- Daily teaching sessions, case reviews, and debriefs
- Clinical skills development, patient communication, and documentation
- Participation in collaborative, team-based care
- Exposure to global health practice and ethical, culturally sensitive service delivery
​Learning Environment:
Participants will be mentored by experienced clinicians committed to education. You'll receive individualized feedback and guidance to help you grow in both confidence and competence.
*Successful completion of this trip (or equivalent experience approved by the clinical team) is required prior to participation in the GDL Advanced Learners Trip.
ENT Service-Learning Trips
HHPF’s ENT missions combine high-impact clinical service with focused teaching and training. Led by dedicated, experienced otolaryngologists, these trips deliver essential diagnostic and surgical care to underserved communities while providing rich educational opportunities for surgeons and surgical support professionals.
Location:
Vicente D'Antoni Hospital, La Ceiba, Honduras
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Trip Focus:
- Comprehensive ENT evaluations addressing ear, nose, and throat conditions
- Minor to complex ENT surgical procedures performed by attending surgeons
- Hearing testing and hearing aid fittings to restore communication and improve quality of life
- Structured hands-on training and mentorship for surgeons, OR technicians, and other surgical support staff
- Building local capacity through education and collaboration with in-country providers
Who should apply?
Anesthesiologists: Lead anesthesia care as experienced providers, supporting surgeries and patient safety
Surgical learners: Surgeons, OR technicians, and surgical assistants participate actively under supervision, with roles tailored to experience
Non-medical volunteers: Assist with patient flow, education, and logistical support
Hearing Testing and
Hearing Aid Fittings
Location:
Conducted during ENT missions at Vicente D'Antoni Hospital in La Ceiba, Honduras.
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As part of our ENT service-learning trip, our team and local volunteers provide comprehensive hearing tests and hearing aid fittings to improve communication and quality of life for underserved patients. Thanks to the generous support of the Starkey Foundation, we are able to provide these devices free of charge.
We also partner with the local Las Palmeras bilingual school, training advanced high school students to assist with testing and fittings under supervision, while providing interpreting support. This collaboration expands access to care and gives students valuable hands-on experience.
Who should apply?
- Volunteers with the ENT program
- Anyone passionate about the gift of hearing
Vein Sclerotherapy & Wound Care
Chronic venous insufficiency and non-healing wounds are widespread and often untreated in the communities we serve. Through HHPF’s Vein Sclerotherapy & Wound Care program, participants gain hands-on clinical experience while delivering life-changing care under the guidance of experienced attending providers who serve as faculty.
Honduras – New & Continuing Service and Learning Trip
Clinic Locations: Tela, Olanchito, and La Ceiba, Honduras
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Who Should Apply
This track is designed for new or less experienced clinicians looking to develop a foundation in vein sclerotherapy and wound care. It is an excellent entry point for those preparing to join future advanced trips.
-Physicians, PAs, and NPs with adequate licensure are welcome to apply. Level of procedural involvement depends on prior training, experience, and personal learning goals.
-Registered Vascular Technologists (RVTs) are urgently needed for vein mapping, Doppler studies, and vascular assessments.
-Medical and nursing students, along with non-medical volunteers, may serve in support roles such as patient intake, documentation, education, and logistics.
-All participants work under the supervision of attending clinical faculty, ensuring a structured, educational, and impactful experience.
Trip Focus Includes:
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Introduction to sclerotherapy: protocols, indications, and technique
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Fundamentals of chronic wound care
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Patient intake, assessment, and dressing techniques
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Compression garment application and patient education
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Supervised injections and wound care under faculty guidance
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Daily debriefs, skills training, and foundational lectures
Guadalajara, Mexico
Advanced Learners Trip - first full week in January - By invitation only as this is a small facility and we work with many local physicians.
Trip Focus Includes:
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Advanced sclerotherapy techniques and case management
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Case discussions, outcomes tracking, and peer-to-peer learning
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In-country physician training and collaboration
Dialysis Access Procedures
​Specialized surgical teams perform arteriovenous (AV) fistula placements to provide critical dialysis access for patients with kidney failure. This life-enhancing procedure is offered exclusively in Honduras, addressing a significant healthcare need in underserved communities.A major goal of this program is to provide highly supervised, hands-on surgical training to residents and fellows from US teaching institutions, while simultaneously building local capacity by mentoring in-country healthcare providers to ensure sustainable dialysis care.
Location:
Olanchito and La Ceiba, Honduras
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Dates:
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Mid-March Mission: Conducted alongside the Vein Sclerotherapy & Wound Care teams, with participants supporting both surgical and vein care activities.
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Fall Mission: Dedicated exclusively to Dialysis Access procedures.
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Who should apply?
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Vascular Surgeons: Lead and perform AV fistula surgeries, provide mentorship and supervision for residents and fellows, and engage in local provider training
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US Residents and Fellows**: Participate in hands-on surgical procedures under direct supervision, gaining valuable global health experience.
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RVTs: Conduct preoperative vein mapping and intraoperative vascular imaging while mentoring local technicians
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Surgical Assistants & Nurses: Support surgical workflow and patient care, collaborating with in-country staff
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Volunteers: Assist with patient prep, coordination, and follow-up, contributing to overall mission success.
Resident & Fellow Surgical Training Program
HHPF’s Dialysis Access Missions offer a unique opportunity for surgical residents and fellows from US teaching institutions to gain highly supervised, hands-on experience in complex vascular procedures in a global health setting.
Program Goals:
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Provide residents and fellows with advanced surgical skills in arteriovenous (AV) fistula creation under the mentorship of experienced vascular surgeons.
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Foster clinical decision-making, procedural proficiency, and cultural competency in resource-limited environments.
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Enhance global health education by exposing trainees to diverse patient populations and interdisciplinary care teams.
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Support sustainable healthcare development by integrating training with local capacity-building efforts.
Training Structure:s
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Direct Supervision: Experienced attending vascular surgeons oversee all procedures, ensuring safe, effective learning.
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Progressive Responsibility: Trainees advance through levels of involvement based on skill and comfort, from observation to performing key surgical steps.
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Multidisciplinary Exposure: Collaborate with RVTs, surgical assistants, nurses, and volunteers to understand the full care continuum.
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Didactic & Case Review Sessions: Complement hands-on work with lectures, case discussions, and reflective debriefings.
Who Should Apply:
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Surgical residents and fellows from accredited US programs with an interest in vascular surgery and global health.
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Candidates committed to ethical, culturally sensitive care and eager to contribute to capacity building in underserved communities.
Benefits:
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Gain invaluable clinical experience in AV fistula creation and vascular access care.
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Develop skills in team-based global health delivery.
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Build lasting professional relationships and mentorship connections.
Make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes and local healthcare systems.