Volunteering as a Physician

Daily practice provides physicians with the opportunity to help others, but volunteering allows them to help people that might not otherwise be fortunate enough to receive regular medical care. Because practicing medicine is strenuous and time-consuming, it might seem that taking time to volunteer will make life more hectic, but many physicians find just the opposite to be true; the rewards of volunteering remind them why they chose to practice medicine in the first place. Volunteering can be enjoyable and even help prevent vocational burnout.

There are countless opportunities for physicians to volunteer their professional talents—from weekend aid in their own town to performing surgery overseas. Due to the large number of organizations dedicated to physician volunteering, you may find it easiest to browse websites that offer lists of organizations rather than search individually.

The American College of Physicians categorizes their list of volunteer sites into four groups: Domestic Volunteerism, Overseas Volunteerism, Disaster Response, and Caring for the Underinsured and Uninsured. The American Medical Association has a list of 32 health, relief, and human rights organizations that seek volunteers. Diversion Magazine has brief summaries and contact information for nearly 100 organizations.

If you volunteer, there are some insurance and legal issues to consider. In terms of malpractice liability, your insurance carrier should cover volunteer activities, but you must notify your insurer before you start. It would also be a good idea to check state licensing and liability laws for volunteer physicians, since they vary by state.

Financially, volunteering does offer a few tax breaks. A physician cannot deduct the value of his or her volunteer time or services, but can deduct expenses incurred that relate to those volunteer services, such as dues or fees paid to an organization of the cost of supplies or equipment.

Whether you are an accomplished volunteer or your last volunteer experience was when you were trying to bolster a medical school application, the opportunities are plentiful. You can volunteer your professional services for years at a time or for a just an hour or two. No matter how you volunteer, the results can be valuable and rewarding both personally and professionally.