Global Health Initiatives

On a Mission to Improve Health Care

Our Global Health Initiatives (GHI) program is improving lives around the globe and furthering our mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. GHI provides high-quality health care in collaboration with local partners, who are the key to our success, as care is most effective when delivered in a sustainable, culturally aware manner.

GHI brings together passionate adventurers, medical professionals and those determined to make a difference. These teams work together for one week to provide health care education and medical services to those in need. With 10 health care mission trips a year, we can change countless lives — and your help can make a big difference.

Upcoming GHI Missions

Peru: August 4 to 13, 2023

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Avista, will take place August 4 through 13. It will focus on surgery, community health clinics and clinical continuing medical education (CME). This is a family-friendly trip.

Nepal: September 6 to 17, 2023

This trip is sponsored by all five Colorado AdventHealth hospital locations, and projects will include physician CME for gynecology and nursing CME.

Peru: November 3 to 12, 2023

Our AdventHealth Castle Rock hospital will sponsor the fall 2023 Peru GHI trip, and projects will include surgery, community health clinics and clinical CME.

Rwanda: January 17 to 28, 2024

This trip will take place January 17 through 28. This trip will focus on building dedication and ortho surgery.

Peru: February 9 to 17, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Littleton, will take place February 9 through 17. It will focus on surgery and community health.

Nepal: March TBD, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Littleton, will take place in March, exact dates TBD. It will focus on training.

Peru: April 7 to 14, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Littleton, will take place April 7 through 14. It will focus on leadership training.

Peru: April 12 to 20, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Avista, will take place April 12 through 20. It will focus on surgery and community health.

Peru: June 7 to 15, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Castle Rock, will take place June 7 through 15. It will focus on surgery, community health and community service and insights.

Rwanda: July 7 to 18, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Castle Rock, will take place July 7 through 18. It will focus on surgery.

Peru: July 26 to August 3, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Porter, will take place July 26 through August 3. It will focus on surgery, community health and community service.

Peru: September 27 to October 5, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Parker, will take place September 27 through October 5. It will focus on surgery and community health.

Nepal: October 31 to November 10, 2024

This trip, sponsored by AdventHealth Parker, will take place October 31 through November 10. It will focus on surgery and training.

Peru: November 8 to 16, 2024

This trip will take place November 8 through 16 and will focus on surgery and community health.

Volunteer for a Medical Mission

Applicants must submit a deposit to guarantee a spot and attend an orientation meeting with the entire team before departure.

Email Us to Apply

Frequently Asked GHI Trip Questions

When it comes to taking a medical mission trip, there’s a lot to know and a lot to learn. But we have answers to all your questions, from travel logistics to cost breakdown.

  • Can I purchase my plane ticket separately?

    When it comes to taking a medical mission trip, there’s a lot to know and a lot to learn. But we have answers to all your questions, from travel logistics to cost breakdown.

  • Can I use miles for my flight?

    In some cases, volunteers can use their own personal miles to obtain plane tickets. However, the same itinerary as the group is required, as is approval from the GHI administration.

  • Can medical students serve in clinical roles?

    No, if you are in medical or nursing school, you cannot provide direct medical care. However, you may be able to schedule limited observations with the practicing physicians and nurses at the team leader’s discretion. Non-clinical positions are open for volunteers in undergraduate or graduate programs, but no clinical work can be done without a license.

  • Is there financial assistance?

    Limited financial assistance may be available on an occasional basis for AdventHealth team members. Please ask the GHI team for more information.

  • Can children participate in a GHI trip?

    Children aged 12 and older are encouraged to participate in GHI family trips, provided a parent is also participating. Community service projects are organized during family trips and provide non-clinical opportunities for kids to interact with another culture.

    If you are a volunteer between the ages of 18 and 22 and are traveling without a parent, we will require some extra information and an interview before we can approve your application.

  • Can I start my trip before the mission week or extend my trip afterward?

    You are welcome to extend your trip, but you must use our travel agent for your flights. You will be invoiced for any difference in airfare. We strongly recommend that volunteers initiate their travel as one large group. This will help maximize the team's safety and efficiency with navigating customs and the transportation of supplies and materials.

  • As an AdventHealth team member, do I have to take paid time off (PTO) to volunteer for a GHI mission trip?

    Yes, currently AdventHealth team members must use PTO to serve on GHI mission trips.

  • How much do the trips cost?

    The costs of the trips are as follows:

    • Peru (fall and winter): $2,850
    • Peru (summer): $3,050
    • Rwanda: $3,300
    • Nepal: $3,200
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  • Peru only: Can I visit Cusco after the mission week but not Ceiba Tops?

    The Cusco excursion that GHI organizes always includes the weekend at Ceiba Tops prior to traveling to Cusco, and participants will be invoiced for both the Ceiba Tops and Cusco excursions. Individual travel to Cusco, Machu Picchu or other sites can be organized privately and in coordination with the GHI travel coordinator.

Donate to Support Our GHI Work

A donation to our Global Health Initiatives medical programs will help us save lives and expand and sustain our services. Every dollar raised supports our efforts to deliver health care and wellness around the globe to those who need it most.

Here’s how your donation can help:

  • $20 provides vitamins for 10 children for two months
  • $25 helps purchase medicine and surgical supplies
  • $30 provides materials for six clean birth kits
  • $50 screens five women in the villages or allows our teams to hire a translator for a day to work with our physicians, nurse practitioners and education volunteers in the river clinics
  • $75 provides transport for patients in the Community Health Clinics who are too ill to be treated onsite and must be transported to Iquitos
  • $100 covers transport for one woman and a family member to and from the hospital for surgery or purchases one kit to teach the lifesaving Helping Babies Breathe program to local maternal and child health care workers
  • $150 purchases training materials for a two-day education course on women’s reproductive health
  • $750 covers all the expenses for one woman to receive a life changing uterine prolapse surgery in Nepal
  • $5,000 provides funding for one corrective clubfoot surgery and follow-up care for a child in Rwanda
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