How much does it cost?

We knew you’d ask.  Round-trip airfare is approximately $2,500-2,800, and this will be by far the main expense.  Additional costs include room and board at your worksite (approx. $100/week), immunizations and medications, and any additional costs incurred for travel outside of PTP activities.  For a three-week stay in Tanzania, it would be wise to budget around $3,200.  Students staying in Dar es Salaam should plan on spending more.  Like many developing countries, Tanzania can be a relatively inexpensive country to live in, however much of their economy is supported by the tourism industry making prices for foreigners significantly higher.

Is funding available for students?

At this time unfortunately there is no funding available for students selected to participate in PTP projects.  Many medical schools offer scholarships and grants for extracurricular opportunities such as this, and PTP staff will gladly supply a glowing letter of recommendation for any scholarship to which the selected student applies.  In addition, we will provide you with a list of additional outside organizations that offer funding for projects such as this.

What if I can’t go during the summer?

Email us.  We may have programs running during your availability, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.  Please plan to submit your application at least three months prior to your earliest availability.

I’m a pre-med/undergraduate student.  Can I apply?

We are not actively recruiting non-medical students at this time.  That said, if you have had significant experience in a medical setting and/or substantial experience in the developing world, we would be happy to receive your application.

What documentation/vaccinations do I need to go to Tanzania?

All travelers to Tanzania are required to have:

1. •A valid passport
   

2. •Visa ($50) - available at the airport upon arrival
   

3. •Short-term residence permit ($130) - necessary for anyone doing volunteer work in Tanzania, available through PTP
   

An updated list of vaccinations recommended by the Center for Disease Control can be found here.  Antimalarial prophylaxis should be considered a necessity; please note Tanzania is a chloroquine-resistant area.  In addition, PTP requires all volunteers to carry international traveler’s health insurance.

Do I need to be able to speak Swahili?

Need to?  No, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.  As a former British colony and popular tourist destination, most adults in the urban areas and schoolchildren throughout the country speak English.  However, once in the villages and even in Haydom, you may find Swahili being mixed in with any number of tribal languages, especially Kiraq and Datoga, and much less English.  Thankfully, most Tanzanians are happy to teach their multiple languages, and PTP will help facilitate translators if necessary for select projects.

Is Tanzania safe?

The short answer is yes.  Aside from the inherent risks of travel in any developing country, Tanzania is a remarkably stable and welcoming country where much of the urban economy is dependent on making foreign tourists comfortable.  Nevertheless, we recommend taking a look at the US State Department’s information for travelers to Tanzania.

What if I can’t stay in Tanzania for three weeks?

This is a firm requirement for inclusion.  As a long-term ongoing project, we would like to do everything possible to discourage the notion of “medical tourism.”  Three weeks is the minimum requirement to allow for meaningful contribution to the communities you’ll be serving, and honestly, you may want to stay a lot longer than that.

Can I go on a safari/to Zanzibar/climb Kilimanjaro while I’m in Tanzania?

Absolutely!  Tanzania is the home of many amazing places, including Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater, and the beaches of Zanzibar.  We recommend, however, that you schedule your personal travel plans prior to or at the conclusion of your project with PTP.

I miss my mom.

Don’t worry; it happens to the best of us.  Limited internet access is available at all sites for a nominal fee and mobile phones are available for purchase as well (hint: SMS/text messaging is unbelievably cheap between the US and Tanzania).

The purpose of the Physician Training Partnership medical student program is to:

1. •strengthen the skills of Tanzanian medical professionals through collaboration and teaching
   

2. •expose students to the practice of specialty care in resource-poor settings
   

3. •foster an understanding of medical care as a global endeavor

Students applying for a program in 2008 will be assigned to one of two PTP training sites: either Haydom, Tanzania or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  At both locations, participants will be expected to perform both research and clinical duties appropriate to his/her level of knowledge.  Research will focus largely on quality and safety assessments of neurosurgical care, as audits to ensure appropriate and ethical care are an important aspect of PTP’s organizational values. 

Clinical duties may include pre-operative assessment and care of neurosurgical patients, assistance with procedures, and post-operative management of neurosurgical patients. 

Teaching duties may include:

1. •Delivering educational lectures to nurses and medical professionals.
   

2. •Assisting attendings and residents with teaching while evaluating and treating new patients or patients already admitted to the hospital.
   

3. •Assistance with instruction of the basic tenets of reading plain films and CT scans of the skull, brain, and spine.
   

4. •Assistance with training of all scrub technicians, nurses, assistant medical officers, clinical officers and MD’s in operative techniques.
   

5. •Teaching scrub technicians, nurses, assistant medical officers, clinical officers and MDs how to conduct a research study and evaluate results.
   

The underlying expectation of both research and clinical performance is that these skills will be taught to in-country staff to allow independent continuation of the project after the departure of the student volunteer.

If applicable, student volunteers will also be expected to compose an abstract or paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, outlining their research project and its results.  Students will be encouraged to present their research at a national medical conference of their choice.

Students may also be asked to secure medical equipment donations for PTP training sites.  In addition to transporting and delivering the equipment, students may be expected to teach the in-country staff how the equipment is used.  For example, student volunteers from Summer 2007 secured the donation of a ventilator, trained in its use and operation, and then taught Tanzanian anesthetists to use the machine.  You will be notified if transport of medical equipment will be part of your project.

The application date for this year’s summer programs has passed.  Please look for applications and deadlines for our 2009 summer programs in December, 2008.