Disaster Response Volunteer Opportunities
We develop high-impact relief and rehabilitation programs for people displaced by conflict and natural disaster. Together with our volunteers, we:
- Provide health care to disaster-affected populations and implement emergency preparedness programs.
- Build capacity of local partners and medical personnel through community-based interventions.
- Ship essential medicines and supplies to hospitals and clinics.
- Provide psycho-social training and care to traumatized people.
Pre-hospital professionals (EMTs, Paramedics, etc.)
We truly thank the EMS community for your generous support of our Disaster Response programs. At this time, we are unable to accept additional applications from EMS professionals.
Disaster response application process
Prospective disaster response volunteers, such as yourself, are asked to go through a screening process in order to become a part of our Disaster Response Ready Roster. The process can take as little as a couple weeks or as much as several months depending upon how quickly we get your forms.
In the event of a disaster, we strictly pull names from those who are already on our roster. We do not accept any volunteers who are not on the roster.
During a disaster, we get volunteers on planes as quickly as possible. If you apply during a disaster, we can start the screening process with you, but you will likely have to wait until the next disaster to be on a disaster response team.
To be on the roster, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have current certification or licensure as a:
- Doctor (MD, DO) comfortable serving as an internist or generalist
- Physician Assistant, Certified (PA-C)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP, ANP, FNP, PNP)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Paramedic
- Have ample, previous medical experience in developing-nations.
- Be physically fit, enough to engage in hiking, lifting and enduring extreme temperatures.
- Be able to work and live without amenities.
- Be able to work long hours in unpredictable and often rough conditions.
- Be flexible and able to work as part of a team.
- Have current immunizations, including Hepatitis A & B and yellow fever.
- Be able to be gone for three or four weeks at a time.
Highest priority is given to those who have:
- The ability to leave at short notice.
- Prior experience with Medical Teams International.
- Previous disaster response experience.
- ER, trauma, family and general practice or pediatrics experience.
- ICU or CCU experience.
Please note that it is important that our disaster response volunteers have ample previous field experience in developing nations. This experience is necessary for ensuring the quality and efficiency of our response to disaster.
If you feel confident that you meet the above criteria and are interested in placement on our Disaster Response Ready Roster, you are invited to apply by submitting the items listed below. If you are new to volunteering in developing nations and would like to gain experience, see International Volunteer Opportunities.
1. Download the Disaster Response Volunteer Application Packet or download the forms individually from the list below.
2. Complete all of the forms in the packet. You may complete the forms and save them on your computer for emailing later or you can print the forms and complete them by hand for faxing or mailing.
3. Make copies of each of the following documents:
- Your medical license/certification.
- Your current passport (photo and signature pages).
- Your passport size ID photo (for our records and your MTI field badge).
- Your current CV or resume.
4. Have two reference letters written by professional colleagues. You may use the Reference Form [PDF].
5. Send your forms to us via email, fax or mail to:
Medical Teams International
Attn: Michaela Evans
P.O. Box 10
Portland, OR 97207
Fax: 503.624.1001
Email: mevans@medicalteams.org
Next steps
After you submit all of the materials listed above, your application will be processed. If your skills and qualifications are a good fit for our Disaster Response Program, an informal phone interview will be scheduled with one of our veteran disaster response volunteers whose medical background and qualifications are comparable to your own.
Once you’ve been recommended to the Disaster Response Ready Roster by the interviewer, we will run a background check which will be the final step in determining acceptance.
Please keep in mind that if you do not qualify for disaster response volunteer teams at this time, you may qualify for non-disaster international volunteer opportunities.
Thank you very much for your interest in volunteering for disaster response teams at Medical Teams International! We greatly appreciate your desire to serve those in need. We look forward to hearing from you!
Keeping your file updated
As a part of our Disaster Response Ready Roster, it’s vital that we keep your file current. Please keep us updated if your email, phone number or other contact information changes.
Also, please make sure we always have your current passport and license. It is important for us to have these documents one month before your medical certification or license expires and one year before your passport expires (six-month travel requirement).
It is important that we have your current information, so that we are not trying to obtain it when a disaster strikes. It also allows you to stay updated on the disasters to which Medical Teams International is responding.
If your information is not current in our files, it will affect whether or not you are placed on a disaster response volunteer team.
If you are no longer interested in being on our Disaster Response Ready Roster, please email Michaela Evans at mevans@medicalteams.org.
Thank you for serving with Medical Teams International!
Receive disaster alerts and reports
To be alerted of disasters and to receive reports of our work around the world, please sign up for our email publications.