Improving access to medical services is a key focus of medical volunteering and is typically done by physicians and other key stakeholders who lend their knowledge and expertise to people, communities and regions in need. When carried out with intent and purpose by organisations such as the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), it can lead to remarkable health outcomes in the target regions.
Dr Wael Berro, an experienced primary care physician who has volunteered with SAMS, knows that medical volunteering is vital because of what it allows medical professionals to accomplish. Being exposed to real-life situations greatly expands these professionals’ capacity to apply what they learn and pick up valuable experience for the future. It also ensures that they understand that the practice of medicine has social responsibility at its core.
Helping Communities in Need
As a global medical relief organisation, SAMS works on the front lines in Syria and other neighbouring countries to provide medical care and treatment to those in need. Since its inception, the organisation has provided medical services to more than 22 million people, had more than 13 million patient encounters, undertaken 105 medical missions and had 15,659 medical workers provide these services. SAMS’ impact has been greatly appreciated in countries such as Greece, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, especially in the refugee camps located in these regions.
In 2018, the organisation concluded its largest medical mission to Jordan, where a team of 90 volunteers and 47 doctors provided over 5,000 health services to target populations in Syria and Jordan. The medical mission was noteworthy not only for the reach it provided but also because there were volunteers of several specialties included in it. Gynaecological physicians, for example, were appreciated because they made it possible for patients to have an opportunity to meet with physicians capable of providing the needed care.
A similar impact was witnessed in early 2023 when SAMS undertook a multi-specialty medical mission to Jordan. In this mission, 52 volunteers helped reach more than 4,000 beneficiaries over six days, with multiple surgeries and specialty procedures conducted in that time. Collectively, the medical volunteers helped to provide treatment and quality healthcare, while also leveraging the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience as peers.
Global Reach
In April 2016, SAMS launched the SAMS Global Response (SGR) platform that tackles key urgent needs for vulnerable populations using advocacy, innovation and specialized medical care. This platform is valuable for expanding the organisation’s reach, as it provides an avenue for volunteers and well-wishers to support the cause.