February 2026


Dear friends,

With Valentine’s Day this month, it is a good time to consider love and the many forms it takes. It lives in the dedication of volunteers who share their time and expertise. It shows up in the friendships forged between mentors and trainees across continents. And it grows through the deep connections that develop when people come together with a shared commitment to improving health equity. This month, I want to share several HVO blog stories that remind us just how powerful those connections can be. From long-standing volunteer relationships that have blossomed into lifelong friendships, to moments of transformative learning, these stories capture the heart of what makes HVO special. They are not just about skills transferred or programs delivered; they are about trust built, compassion shared, and communities strengthened.

 

In a world that can sometimes feel divided, HVO’s work stands as a testament to what’s possible when people engage in thoughtful collaboration. The friendships and partnerships formed through our programs are a quiet but profound force for good, reminding us that human connection is at the center of meaningful change.

 

Thank you for being part of this global community. Whether you volunteer, donate, advocate, or simply follow our stories, you are helping to nurture the kind of love that heals, teaches, and endures.

Sincerely,

April

April Pinner, MSPH, RD

Executive Director

The HVO Blog

Friendship, Trust, and

Lifesaving Care


Partnership brings progress at Calmette Hospital. Read More

Celebrating Two Decades of Saving Newborn Lives in Uganda


Partnership turned friendship saves newborn lives in Uganda. Read More

Volunteering with HVO for the First Time: Teaching Nurses in Vietnam


Volunteers turned friends share their experience in Vietnam. Read More

Volunteer

Connections


Two volunteers share how they connected at different times in their lives. Read More

Golden Apple Nominations

The HVO Golden Apple Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to HVO’s mission, organization, and project sites. Anyone who knows of an HVO contributor’s work is welcome to nominate them for the recognition.

Feinberg Fellowship Open - Anesthesia

Applications for HVO's Feinberg Fellowship for Long-Term Volunteers in anesthesia are open!


The Feinberg Fellowship funds airfare, housing, and a small living stipend to a volunteer who can spend six to twelve months working at the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Sierra Leone. Volunteers must be either a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Physician Anesthesiologist (MD/DO).

 

More information is available here: https://hvousa.org/volunteer/apply-for-a-fellowship/feinberg-fellowship/. Interested volunteers should contact Program Director Lisa Vu at l.vu@hvousa.org.

 

Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence: https://www.pih.org/article/sierra-leone-maternal-care-being-reimagined-prioritize-dignity

Volunteer Opportunities

Anesthesia, Siem Reap, Cambodia is recruiting in-person volunteers for Angkor Hospital for Children. Expertise in anesthesia management, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and quality improvement is needed. Interested volunteers should contact Natalie Cary.

Internal Medicine, Kampala, Uganda is recruiting cardiologists to provide in-person training to medical students and residents. Volunteer assignments are 2-4 weeks in duration. Interested volunteers should contact Emily Dalton.

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