May 2026

Dear friends,

As we close out our month of celebrating World Health Day, World Health Worker Week, and our 2026 HVO Golden Apple awards, it is time to look forward to new celebrations. In this month’s newsletter, you will find a short film documenting the truly extraordinary work of HVO On-Site Coordinator Dr. Soniya Dulal, HVO Project Director Dr. Melanie Thomas, and their colleagues as they expand access and quality of oncology care in Nepal. I encourage you to watch and consider it as a model for what we can accomplish in all of our program areas. Below, you will also hear from Dr. Sweta Giri, head of the Emergency Department at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Bhutan, on the success of the collaboration between HVO and her department. Finally, we invite you to visit the HVO blog for a new story from Dr. Connie Evashwick on the power and reach of the HVO network.

Each of these stories celebrates what makes HVO unique: a commitment to sustainable change and collaborative partnership. Whether in Nepal, Bhutan, or beyond, our volunteers and partners are building stronger systems of care that are bigger than any one individual.

Sincerely,

April

April Pinner, MSPH, RD

Executive Director

Oncology Essentials in Nepal

“This workshop is more than just training. It is a pledge to elevate the standard of cancer care where it is most needed. It is about turning expertise into access so that a patient in a rural village or a bustling city clinic can receive timely, evidence-based care because a capable oncologist is within reach.” 


– Melanie Thomas, oncology, Nepal

Watch the video to learn how HVO partners and volunteers are transforming access to cancer care in Nepal. 

Partner Spotlight: Dr. Sweta Giri

I initially became involved with the HVO partnership during my early years as a medical officer and later as a resident in the Emergency Department. During that time, I closely interacted with visiting HVO emergency physicians, paramedics, and physician assistants who regularly worked alongside our team. These interactions exposed me to different approaches to emergency care, teaching, and systems improvement.


Through our collaboration with HVO, we have been able to strengthen several aspects of emergency care and education within our department. One of the key goals has been to enhance bedside teaching and mentorship for doctors, nurses, and paramedics working in the emergency department. HVO volunteers have also contributed significantly to simulation-based learning and case-based discussions. This has fostered a culture of continuous learning and critical thinking. The partnership has also supported the development of treatment protocols and standing orders, initiatives that are tailored to the realities of practicing emergency medicine in Bhutan.


One of the greatest successes of this partnership has been the development of the curriculum for Residency in Emergency Medicine. We had two HVO volunteers in 2018, Dr. Shankar Levine and Dr. Melanie Watts, who helped develop the first curriculum for the Emergency Medicine residency program. We graduated a total of eight residents based on that curriculum. The other big success is the development of standing orders for commonly encountered conditions in the Emergency Department, including alcohol withdrawal seizures, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and diabetic ketoacidosis. These standing orders have been shared with emergency departments across the country, creating a standard approach for treatment.   


Furthermore, the presence of experienced HVO volunteers has inspired many of our young doctors to pursue further training in emergency medicine. Many of our HVO volunteers remain connected with our team long after their visit ends. They have continued to offer advice, share resources, and collaborate on academic initiatives.

I foresee the continued strengthening of emergency medicine as a specialty in Bhutan. Through ongoing mentorship, education, and systems improvement, partnerships like this help build a resilient and skilled emergency care workforce. I also see research, quality improvement projects, and evidence-based practices improving within the emergency department with the collaboration with HVO. 


Looking ahead, I hope continued collaboration with HVO can further support structured training programs, simulation-based education, and leadership development for our emergency care providers. Partnerships like the one we have with HVO demonstrate the power of global collaboration in health care. For the emergency team in Bhutan, the presence of dedicated volunteers who are willing to share their expertise while learning from our context has been both inspiring and empowering. It is a reminder that improving health care is a collective effort that transcends borders.



Dr. Sweta Giri

Emergency Physician & Flight Doctor, BEAR 

Head of the Department 

Emergency Department

JDWNRH, Thimphu, Bhutan

The HVO Blog

HVO Volunteers Support and Guide Each Other


HVO volunteers make up a vast network that span specialties and countries. Our volunteers frequently rely on each other for advice, support, and fun. Visit our latest blog to read one story of how volunteers in Cambodia came together. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Dermatology, Uganda is recruiting volunteers to provide in-person and virtual teaching and consultation in pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, dermatopathology, and modern dermatotherapy. Interested volunteers should contact Natalie Cary. 

Dermatology, Vietnam is recruiting in-person volunteers with expertise in dermatopathology, dermatological research, and pediatric dermatology. Interested volunteers should contact Natalie Cary. 

Mental Health, Bhutan is recruiting in-person volunteers licensed in psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, clinical social work, pediatric occupational therapy, and speech language therapy. Volunteers must have more than five years of professional experience and be prepared to assist with training related to, but not limited to, community-based mental health care, substance abuse rehabilitation, hospital-based psychiatric care, child and family mental health, cultural psychology, and interdisciplinary clinical practice. Interested volunteers should contact Lauren Franklin.

Nursing Education, Bhutan is recruiting in-person volunteers to support nursing faculty in clinical instruction and research topics. Three month minimum placement, six month placement preferred. Interested volunteers should contact Emily Dalton.

Orthopaedics, Ghana is recruiting pediatric orthopaedic surgeons to assist the faculty at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with teaching and training orthopaedic, trauma, and plastic surgeons. Volunteers must be board eligible/certified with current license (active or retired) and sub-specialty training. Interested volunteers should contact Natalie Cary.

Palliative Care, Bhutan is recruiting physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse educators specializing in palliative care (pediatric and adult), as well as pharmacists with expertise in palliative and end-of-life care, to provide virtual education sessions to local palliative care teams. In-person placements are also available for a minimum of one month. Volunteers assist local teams with program development and mentorship. Interested volunteers should contact Lauren Franklin.