APMSA Mission Trip

 The American Podiatric Medical Student Association (APMSA) is excited to announce the launch of its first annual mission trip in partnership with Vida Volunteer. APMSA is headed to Guatemala March 9-17, 2024.


This trip will provide podiatric medical students with the opportunity to provide much-needed foot and ankle care to underserved communities in Guatemala. Students will work alongside local physicians to provide a variety of services, including foot and ankle exams, diabetic foot exams, wound care, orthotics, and foot education. 

In addition to providing medical care, students will also have the opportunity to participate in community outreach activities, such as teaching health education regarding diabetes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle (diet or exercise), and importance of taking care of ones feet as the complications of manageable diseases may be devastating. 

Registration is open to ALL current students of podiatric medicine. 

In order to receive the official registration link with Vida Volunteer, you will first be directed to complete APMSA's registration form below. There is not currently a limit to the amount of students who may register. However, please note that depending on student interest, there may be multiple groups traveling to Guatemala.  

The following items are needed to complete the official registration with Vida Volunteer: 
- Passport Information 
-Education/Employment Information 
-Allergy/Dietary Information
-Emergency Contact Information 
-$200 Application Fee 

Registration CLOSED 

Important Dates: 
Registration Deadline: Extended to December 10, 2023! 
Deposit Deadline: December 10, 2023
Final balance deadline: January 9, 2024
Trip Dates: March 9 - March 17, 2024

Should you have any questions, please reach out to APMSA Mission Trip Student Coordinator, Danica Pratta, at [email protected] or directly to Vida Volunteer at [email protected].   

Trip Overview  
Saturday, March 9 - Sunday, March 17, 2024

Review the Proposed Itinerary 



 About Vida Volunteer 

Vida Volunteer strives to empower communities and promote health through high quality Service Learning Trips in Central America. We aim to improve the quality of life in underserved communities while offering students from around the world a hands-on, eye-opening, mind-enriching Service-Learning experience.

Their organization has welcomed over 12,000 students and thanks to their support and hard work, we have been able to assist more than 200,000 community members and over 80,000 animals since 2008.

Their approach? Focus on offering students a Service-Learning Experience that will allow them to gain further knowledge while serving others. Read more here. 


 Safety

  • Vida Volunteer is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are a legitimate organization that is subject to financial and legal scrutiny.
  • Vida Volunteer is a member of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). They have been vetted by the U.S. Department of State and are considered to be a safe organization to work with.
  • Vida Volunteer has a comprehensive safety policy. This policy outlines the steps that Vida Volunteer takes to ensure the safety of their volunteers.
  • Vida Volunteer partners with local organizations in Guatemala. These organizations have a deep understanding of the local cultures and can help to ensure that volunteers are safe and comfortable during their time in the country.
  • Vida Volunteer provides comprehensive orientation and training to all volunteers. This training covers topics such as safety, cultural sensitivity, and health and hygiene.
Visit Vida Volunteer for more information. 
FAQs

Why work with Vida Volunteer?

Vida Volunteer has hosted medical, dental, and veterinary student volunteers since 2008 throughout Central America. They have established community partnerships in the areas they work to enhance safety. While they are incredibly passionate about closing the gap in health and education in Central America, student health and safety is also at the forefront of their mission.

What to expect?

Students can expect a unique hands-on learning experience with local physicians in Guatemala. Many pathologies will be relevant to Podiatric medicine, with many unique cases that are exacerbated due to the lack of access to healthcare and medications.

Students will be able to make an impact in the lives of many patients who are living without access to medical care.

High rates of patients with diabetes and diabetic foot complications. It is estimated that 50% of individuals in Guatemala with diabetes are unaware of their condition. 25% of deaths of 35-64 year-olds are due to complications of diabetes in Guatemala.

What is included?

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off.
  • All ground transportation between sites.
  • Accommodations. 
  • 2 meals during clinic days and 1 meal during recreation days
  • In-country orientation.
  • Program Manual.
  • 24-hour staff assistance.
  • All medicine, equipment, supplies, and professionals needed to successfully perform on clinic days.
  • Evening group activities.
  • All recreation activities listed in the trip itinerary.
  • Border and customs fees, when applicable. 
  • Statement of Service Hours.
  • Certificate of Participation.  

Price 

  • The final price of this trip will be officially announced after all donations have been received, but will not exceed $2,080.
  • While students are required to work with Vida Volunteer to arrange their travel, flight costs are not included in the total trip price mentioned and students should plan accordingly. 
  • Any donations received by APMSA will be equally applied to each student's trip cost and all students will be informed of the final amount due prior to the final balance deadline in January 2024. 
  • Students will be eligible for “Vida Week” Scholarships, which provides 50% off of the application fee.
  • Students may apply for an APMSA travel grant and are also encouraged to fundraise independently to help offset costs.
  • Vida Volunteer provides various resources to assist in fundraising efforts. Check out their fundraising guide here. 

Interested in supporting APMSA's Mission Trip?  

APMSA gratefully acknowledges the support from the following organizations and individuals to date for APMSA's mission trip:


Dr. Luke Cicchinelli - PICA
Dr. Charles Lombardi - COTH 
Ryan Woods

Any donations made are tax-deductible contributions to Vida Volunteer, a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit (EIN: 39-2077094).