Opportunity provided by
Sights On Health organizes annual one-week medical missions to Riobamba, Ecuador, each May, pairing high-volume cataract surgery at Hospital FIBUSPAM with mobile "medicine caravan" clinics in nearby Andean communities. Since its founding in 2012, the organization has maintained consistent annual missions to the region, establishing deep, lasting partnerships with indigenous Puruhá communities in Chimborazo Province. Sights On Health collaborates with PACH (Partners for Andean Community Health), SEE International, and local Ecuadorian medical staff to deliver sight-restoring surgery and essential healthcare to one of South America's most underserved regions, where geographic isolation and extreme poverty create profound barriers to accessing subspecialty medical care.
Two coordinated teams work simultaneously throughout the mission week:
Surgical Eye Team (Hospital FIBUSPAM Hub): Performs cataract surgical blocks with pre-operative assessment and post-operative follow-up. The surgical team includes ophthalmic surgeons, anesthesiologists or CRNAs, OR nurses and surgical technicians with ophthalmic experience, ophthalmic technicians, sterilization personnel, and ophthalmology residents serving as trainees and observers.
Medicine Team (Mobile Village Clinics): Delivers adult and pediatric outpatient care in remote highland communities through coordinated mobile clinics traveling to villages in surrounding areas. The medical team includes family medicine and pediatric physicians, optometrists, pharmacists, registered nurses, and supervised residents and medical students. These remote locations represent patients' only access to medical care; many residents have never received clinical evaluation before mission arrival.
Surgical Eye Track (Hospital FIBUSPAM):
Medicine Team Track (Mobile Village Clinics):
Universal Roles (Both Teams):
Surgical Services: Cataract surgery using phacoemulsification technique with intraocular lens implantation; pre-operative assessment and patient selection; intraoperative anesthesia and surgical support; post-operative monitoring and follow-up care; coordination for complex post-operative management.
Medical Services: Adult medicine consultations including triage, diagnosis, and treatment; pediatric health assessments and care; screening and management of chronic diseases; treatment of acute illnesses; vision screening and eyeglass distribution; pharmacy support; health education workshops.
Documentation & Transparency: Daily mission logs documenting patient volumes and surgical outcomes; photographic and video documentation of surgical procedures and clinical care; post-mission summaries and video recaps detailing results and statistics; publicly shared reports demonstrating impact and accountability.
Team Travel & Transport: Volunteers coordinate group travel to Quito, Ecuador, with Sights On Health assisting in securing group booking coordination. Shared transportation provides access from Quito to Riobamba through the Andes mountains. Daily transportation provides access to Hospital FIBUSPAM (surgical hub) and rural clinic sites.
Lodging & Meals: Accommodations in Riobamba with private room options available. All lodging includes essential amenities. All meals provided daily featuring traditional Ecuadorian cuisine with Western options available; dietary accommodations honored upon advance notice.
Cost & Fundraising: Volunteers cover international airfare and personal travel insurance. Mission participation fee covers lodging, meals, ground transportation, medical liability insurance, and operational costs. Sights On Health fundraises through donations and grants to underwrite surgical supplies, medications, and additional operational expenses. Financial scholarships are not available; however, team members collectively fundraise to offset individual costs.
Language & Communication: Spanish used with patients; professional interpreters assigned to facilitate clinical encounters and patient education. English serves as the standard for team coordination and OR communication. Medical Spanish training is helpful but not required.
Professional Credentials: Licensed clinical professionals must maintain current medical licenses and active credentials. Surgical team nurses and technicians require ophthalmic operating room experience. Ophthalmology residents must maintain current enrollment in residency programs. Medical students must work exclusively under licensed physician supervision in observation-only roles.
Health & Safety Protocols: All volunteers must obtain travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage. Required vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis. Altitude sickness prevention consultation is recommended (Riobamba elevation: 9,055 feet). Professional background checks may be requested.
Clinical Scope & Supervision: Students and residents practice exclusively under licensed clinicians' direct supervision within clearly defined scope of practice. All volunteers adhere to host hospital protocols and comply with Ecuadorian healthcare regulations. Clinical work follows evidence-based practice standards. Regular team coordination and debriefs maintain quality assurance.
Application Process
Volunteer calls are announced annually specifying roles needed and application procedures. Applicants submit online applications including credentials, curriculum vitae, and references. Selection notifications follow review by mission leadership. Selected applicants receive pre-departure briefing materials covering cultural orientation, mission protocols, and altitude preparation. In-country arrival briefing occurs upon team assembly. Daily team huddles coordinate activities. Post-mission debriefing concludes the volunteer experience.
Surgical Services: Cataract surgical blocks using two operating rooms. Pre-operative assessment through comprehensive eye examinations. Post-operative follow-up care provided.
Medical Services: Outpatient care delivered through mobile clinics in remote villages. Adult and pediatric consultations provided. Vision screening conducted. Eyeglass distribution completed.
Community Partnerships: Missions collaborate with indigenous Puruhá community leaders, FIBUSPAM medical staff, and local health authorities. Post-mission care supported through ongoing relationships with local Ecuadorian medical professionals.
Cataract Surgical & Medical Mission, Riobamba, Ecuador
This opportunity is located in Riobamba, Ecuador.
English for team operations; Spanish in clinics; translators included on both medicine and surgical teams per roster.
Team hotel lodging in Riobamba; daily transfers to clinic/OR; reliable urban utilities; bandwidth variable.
Group meals coordinated; hotel breakfasts; field lunches during caravans; dietary needs organized in advance.
Volunteers practice within scope under Ecuadorian regulations and FIBUSPAM protocols; surgical patients pre‑selected; students/residents supervised; defined rosters for surgical and medicine teams per call‑for‑volunteers.