Program Overview

Shaping Healthier Communities

Adopt A Doctor is a New England-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization seeking to reverse the brain drain that is drawing experienced physicians away from the poorest countries in the world.

What Does This Mean?

Many of the world's poorest countries are finding it difficult to attract and retain experienced physicians because salaries are so low. In Malawi, for example, a doctor earns on average just $70 USD per month and thus practices medicine in the country for an average of only 3 years. Physicians are leaving developing nations such as Malawi in droves to seek more reasonable pay and better resources in other parts of the world.

This is a serious crisis because of the dismal health conditions in these countries. Every day, 35,000 children under five die in the developing world. The great majority of these deaths are from three diseases: pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles, all of which can be prevented or cured by adequate medical care. In total, 14 million people die annually from easily treatable infectious diseases-a quarter of all deaths worldwide. Over 90% of these victims live in developing countries.

Our Program

Adopt A Doctor aspires to solve this problem of high turnover rates and unavailability of experienced physicians by providing financial aid and other critical resources to physicians already working in these poor countries so that they can stay and continue their work.

It is our mission to encourage these doctors to stay where they are needed the most. We significantly increase doctor's salaries, contingent upon their agreement to stay in one of our target countries for at least 7 years. We also plan to offer a worldwide network through which doctors can request resources (supplies, equipment, educational materials) directly from donors.

Our four target countries are Liberia, Malawi, Mali and Sierra Leone.

All funding for these physicians comes from individuals and local community organizations. We solicit committments from individuals to "adopt a doctor" by contributing $100 each year for a period of 7 years, and we also accept single-payment donations.

We Are Shaping Healthier Communities

We are empowering doctors to practice where their services are needed the most. While other international health organizations send visiting medical teams for brief stints around the world, we are enabling doctors to offer constant and continuous care for their own communities for an extended period of time. It is our mission to drastically improve the quality and availability of health care in our 4 target countries through our efforts.

We are shaping and strengthening healthier communities locally as well. By fundraising through a grassroots community-based effort, we educate local residents about international health care issues, promote civic involvement, and build community as people unite to support this important cause.

We distribute informational materials throughout communities to educate about the desperate health conditions in our target countries. We also hope to introduce educational components into school curricula across New England to create awareness among students of international health concerns.

Adopt A Doctor will coordinate annual delegations of local donors to visit our target countries, and we will arrange for doctors in our program to visit the communities that are supporting them.

Projections

Over the next 4 years, our goal is to provide support for 20 doctors worldwide--about 5 in each of our 4 target countries.

Our Impact Beyond Health

By focusing our efforts on the poorest countries, we will not only save thousands of lives annually. We will also be helping these countries emerge from destitution. Widespread disease can destabilize economies and entire governmental systems. The stability of the entire global community rests on an international effort to fight disease and on the health of the world's poorest, most vulnerable people. The disease burden in the poorest countries constitutes a fundamental barrier to their economic advance. Millions of impoverished people die tragic deaths each year from infectious diseases that are preventable and treatable simply because they lack access to doctors, and these deaths have significant economic and social costs. Our program will reduce these costs and help to shape healthier economies and societies.

When we succeed in saving lives, countries with high fertility rates and rapid population growth will move towards lower fertility rates and slower population growth as households gain confidence that their children will survive to adulthood. Population pressures will ease, as will the strain on fragile ecosystems. International investors will be able to invest in labor forces no longer beleaguered by disease. The world's poorest people will live longer, have many more days of good health, and as a result, will earn more. The economic benefits from this greater individual productivity will be monumental and will serve to help lift these countries out of poverty.

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Program Overview Frequently Asked Questions Our Team President's Story Chairman's Message Liberia Malawi Mali Sierra Leone Join our Campaign Donate Volunteer Fundraise Join our mailing list now! Go »	Program Overview Shaping Healthier Communities Adopt A Doctor is a New England-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization seeking to reverse the brain drain that is drawing experienced physicians away from the poorest countries in the world. What Does This Mean? Many of the world's poorest countries are finding it difficult to attract and retain experienced physicians because salaries are so low. In Malawi, for example, a doctor earns on average just $70 USD per month and thus practices medicine in the country for an average of only 3 years. Physicians are leaving developing nations such as Malawi in droves to seek more reasonable pay and better resources in other parts of the world. This is a serious crisis because of the dismal health conditions in these countries. Every day, 35,000 children under five die in the developing world. The great majority of these deaths are from three diseases: pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles, all of which can be prevented or cured by adequate medical care. In total, 14 million people die annually from easily treatable infectious diseases-a quarter of all deaths worldwide. Over 90% of these victims live in developing countries. Our Program Adopt A Doctor aspires to solve this problem of high turnover rates and unavailability of experienced physicians by providing financial aid and other critical resources to physicians already working in these poor countries so that they can stay and continue their work. It is our mission to encourage these doctors to stay where they are needed the most. We significantly increase doctor's salaries, contingent upon their agreement to stay in one of our target countries for at least 7 years. We also plan to offer a worldwide network through which doctors can request resources (supplies, equipment, educational materials) directly from donors. Our four target countries are Liberia, Malawi, Mali and Sierra Leone. All funding for these physicians comes from individuals and local community organizations. We solicit committments from individuals to "adopt a doctor" by contributing $100 each year for a period of 7 years, and we also accept single-payment donations. We Are Shaping Healthier Communities We are empowering doctors to practice where their services are needed the most. While other international health organizations send visiting medical teams for brief stints around the world, we are enabling doctors to offer constant and continuous care for their own communities for an extended period of time. It is our mission to drastically improve the quality and availability of health care in our 4 target countries through our efforts. We are shaping and strengthening healthier communities locally as well. By fundraising through a grassroots community-based effort, we educate local residents about international health care issues, promote civic involvement, and build community as people unite to support this important cause. We distribute informational materials throughout communities to educate about the desperate health conditions in our target countries. We also hope to introduce educational components into school curricula across New England to create awareness among students of international health concerns. Adopt A Doctor will coordinate annual delegations of local donors to visit our target countries, and we will arrange for doctors in our program to visit the communities that are supporting them. Projections Over the next 4 years, our goal is to provide support for 20 doctors worldwide--about 5 in each of our 4 target countries. Our Impact Beyond Health By focusing our efforts on the poorest countries, we will not only save thousands of lives annually. We will also be helping these countries emerge from destitution. Widespread disease can destabilize economies and entire governmental systems. The stability of the entire global community rests on an international effort to fight disease and on the health of the world's poorest, most vulnerable people. The disease burden in the poorest countries constitutes a fundamental barrier to their economic advance. Millions of impoverished people die tragic deaths each year from infectious diseases that are preventable and treatable simply because they lack access to doctors, and these deaths have significant economic and social costs. Our program will reduce these costs and help to shape healthier economies and societies. When we succeed in saving lives, countries with high fertility rates and rapid population growth will move towards lower fertility rates and slower population growth as households gain confidence that their children will survive to adulthood. Population pressures will ease, as will the strain on fragile ecosystems. International investors will be able to invest in labor forces no longer beleaguered by disease. The world's poorest people will live longer, have many more days of good health, and as a result, will earn more. The economic benefits from this greater individual productivity will be monumental and will serve to help lift these countries out of poverty. Print this page Email this page Home Top

150 Chestnut Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903 • (401) 421-0606 Adopt A Doctor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible.