Short-term Medical Missions Research Articles

479 The Impact of Short-term Medical Missions on the Resilience of Healthcare Students and Professionals

479 The Impact of Short-term Medical Missions on the Resilience of Healthcare Students and Professionals

Medical students’ experience and learning outcomes of overseas community involvement project: a qualitative study

BackgroundMedical students in Singapore engage in short term medical missions, locally known as Overseas Community Involvement Projects (OCIPs). Little is known about the learning outcomes of an OCIP and how this complements their medical education back home. Understanding this can help the medical educators structure the OCIP to optimise its learning value.ObjectivesThis study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences and learning outcomes of the medical students who participated in the OCIP.MethodsThis was a qualitative study involving Singaporean students from one medical school travelling to Nepal. Data was collected from reflective journals, overall group reflections and two focus group discussions. The data was thematically analysed using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical (ACGME) core competencies for medical professionals.ResultsThe data could be classified under various themes within the six domains of the ACGME framework. The study revealed themes of: humanism, socioeconomic and cultural determinants of health under the domain of patient care, application of medical knowledge, investigating and evaluating the needs of a population and feedback to drive improvement under the domain of practice-based learning and improvement, use of non-verbal cues and communicating across language barriers under the domain of interpersonal and communication skills, healthcare systems and delivery, resourcefulness and adaptability, health equity and accessibility under the domain of systems-based practice, ethics, role-modelling, teamwork and leadership skills, interprofessional skills and resilience under the domain of professionalism. Understanding the students’ motivations, utilising reflections, and following the patients’ journey facilitated attainment of these outcomes.ConclusionsThis OCIP experience translated to learning outcomes aligned with the ACGME framework. There is great potential for the experiential learning from a well-structured OCIP to help with personal and professional development and global health education.

Exodus of Lebanese doctors in times of crisis: a qualitative study.

Since 2019, Lebanon is experiencing an unprecedented exodus of doctors, seriously threatening the national health system, which is expected to continue without quick and effective solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the factors that push Lebanese doctors to migrate and the factors that retain others in the country. Additionally, this study aims to propose solutions to preserve an adequate supply of medical care amidst the crisis. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted using pre-developed guides. Purposive and snowball sampling was adopted to recruit physicians who emigrated and physicians staying in Lebanon. Transcripts of interviews and focus groups were coded using Dedoose software and analyzed through a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Emigration was found to be the result of numerous interconnected factors. The main drivers for emigration were declining income, career problems, reduced quality of care, unhealthy work environment, and the deteriorated political and socio-economic contexts leading to instability and insecurity. As for the retention factors, they included affective attachment and sense of belonging to the professional environment and the country, followed by recognition and valorization at work. Several recommendations were developed to maintain quality of care delivery, including reforms of the health system, development of focused human resource retention strategies based on resource mapping evidence, negotiations with recruiting institutions to endorse the code ethics ending unethical practices draining countries' human resources, provision of financial incentives to doctors, and the recognition and valorization of physicians. Other rapid interventions were suggested, such as short-term medical missions to mitigate shortages in certain specialties, telemedicine, adaptation of recruitment processes to compensate for resources shortages in certain specialties, and adoption of task-shifting approaches to alleviate the workload on overburdened specialists. The findings of this study shed the light on the different factors influencing migration while framing them in the Lebanese context. These findings and recommendations should inform stakeholders and policy makers about the interventions needed to restore the quality of care. The feasibility and sustainability of most formulated recommendations depend on several factors, with political and socio-economic security and stability being the most crucial ones.

Impact of Seating and Mobility Services for Individuals With Disabilities in El Salvador.

Outcomes research on the impact of seating and mobility services delivered using a short-term medical mission (STMM) model is limited. To evaluate the impact of seating and mobility services on the occupational performance of individuals with disabilities in El Salvador. One-group retrospective pretest-posttest. Clinical (El Salvador). Individuals with disabilities in El Salvador. Survey and the standardized Wheelchair Outcome Measure (WhOM) for those who received a wheelchair as their mobility device. Participants rated satisfaction with performance of preferred in-home and out-of-home occupations on the WhOM before and after receiving seating and mobility services. For most survey questions assessing the impact on activities of daily living, more than 86% of the respondents selected agree or strongly agree. Nearly half of the respondents reported that questions regarding work and education were not applicable. Participants' WhOM scores (n = 86) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in performance satisfaction for both in-home (p < .001; d > 1) and out-of-home (p < .001; d > 1) occupations after they received services, with a huge effect size (d > 2). The findings suggest that seating and mobility services provided by rehabilitation professionals in El Salvador improved occupational performance for people with disabilities. Compared with STMMs that solely provide equipment, the findings emphasize the importance of professional service provision with education and training as best practice. What This Article Adds: Seating and mobility services delivered through a STMM model may improve occupational performance for individuals with disabilities. However, STMMs should be carefully planned in collaboration with in-country partners, provide customized seating systems, and include education and training from licensed rehabilitation professionals.

Impact of Seating &amp; Mobility Services for Individuals With Disabilities in El Salvador

Abstract Date Presented 04/20/2023 Recipients (N = 86) of seating and mobility services in El Salvador, provided by OTs using a short-term medical mission (STMM) model, reported a statistically significant (p &amp;lt; .001; d &amp;gt; 1) performance improvement in in-home and out-of-home occupations with a large effect size. In comparison with prior research related to the provision of seating and mobility services in low- and middle-income countries, the findings emphasize the importance of education and training. Primary Author and Speaker: Isaac Short Additional Authors and Speakers: Heather Y. Z. St. Peters Contributing Authors: Jonah Eckert, Natalie Grady, Holly Weber, Erin Mohr

Impact and Sustainability of Foreign Medical Aid: A Qualitative Study with Honduran Healthcare Providers.

There is growing concern about the sustainability and long-term impact of short-term medical missions (STMMs)-an increasingly common form of foreign medical aid-given that brief engagements do little to address the underlying poverty and fragmented healthcare system that plagues many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In the absence of formal evaluations, unintended but serious consequences for patients and local communities may arise, including a lack of continuity of patient care, poor alignment with community needs, and cultural and language barriers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Honduran healthcare providers (n = 88) in 2015 to explore local providers' perceptions of the impact and sustainability of foreign medical aid on patient needs, community health, and the country's healthcare system. Respondents represented a random sample of Honduran healthcare providers (physicians, dentists, nurses) who worked for either a government-run rural clinic or non-governmental organization (NGO) in Honduras. Honduran healthcare providers largely framed foreign medical teams as being assets that help to advance community health through the provision of medical personnel and supplies. Nonetheless, most respondents identified strategies to improve implementation of STMMs and reduce negative impacts. Many respondents emphasized a need for culturally- and linguistically-tailored medical care and health education interventions. Participants also recommended strengthening local partnerships to mitigate the risk of dependence, including on-going training and support of community health workers to promote sustainable change. Guidelines informed by local Honduran expertise are needed to increase accountability for more robust training of foreign physicians in the provision of context-appropriate care. These findings provide valuable local perspectives from Honduran healthcare providers to improve the development and implementation of STMMs, informing strategies that can complement and strengthen healthcare systems in LMICs.

Analyzing complications and implementing solutions in a pediatric inguinal hernia cooperation program in Equatorial Guinea: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundFew studies have evaluated the efficacy of short-term medical missions. This study was aimed to evaluate complication rates and determine the effects of protocol changes in a pediatric inguinal hernia campaign in Equatorial Guinea and analyze post-operative follow-up capacity.MethodsIn this prospective observational cohort study, we evaluated two patient cohorts (group A, 2017–2018; group B, 2019) treated during campaigns in Equatorial Guinea for congenital inguinal pathology (hernia, hydrocele, and cryptorchidism). Patients aged < 18 years treated in referral campaigns were included. Complications occurring up to 6 months post-operatively were evaluated. Two stages were defined: Stage 1, wherein, complication rate in group A was compared to that in a control group from a tertiary hospital in Spain (with a case–control ratio of 1:2, paired according to age, sex and diagnosis); stage 2, wherein, complication rates between groups A and B were compared. Group B received a single dose of prophylactic amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Follow-up capacity was assessed through follow-up appointments.ResultsIn stage 1, complication and surgical site infection (SSI) rates were 21.3% and 7.4% in group A (n = 94), and 5.8% (p < 0.001) and 0.5% (p = 0.012) in the control group, respectively. Group A had 20.2% loss-to-follow-up. In group B (n = 62), 6-month postoperative follow-up could not be assessed owing to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so only early complications were considered in stage 2, were complication and surgical site infection rates were 18.1% and 7.4% in group A and 11.3% (p = 0.350) and 1.6% (p = 0.150) in group B.ConclusionOur results showed higher than expected complication rates. Pre-operative prophylactic antibiotic could not show to reduce SSI. Further studies are needed to reduce complication rates in these campaigns. Patient loss-to-follow-up ratio warrants considering new strategies.

Resilience of the medical mission model: assessment of the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on short-term medical missions to Latin America and the Caribbean

Background COVID-19-related travel restrictions profoundly impacted short-term medical missions (STMMs) abroad. This study describes the effect of the pandemic as perceived by STMM organisations serving Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Methods Information was updated for 359 primary care STMM organisations previously active in 2015, which were contained within an existing online database. Organisations were contacted to complete an online survey that gathered quantitative and qualitative descriptions of pandemic-related adaptations and program changes. Results 22.5% (73/324) of previously active organisations had no website activity since 2020 or earlier, no longer existed, or had unclear website activity. Eighty-seven organisations responded to the survey. Ninety-six percent indicated that they would definitely (72/86, 84%) or probably (10/86, 12%) return to sending STMMs in the next five years, and most (46/83, 55%) of these intended to send an STMM within the next six months. Seventy-two respondents (93%) reported new adaptations, including direct funding for local healthcare professionals, sending equipment to host communities, focusing on training and teaching, and incorporating virtual care and electronic medical records. Conclusions The results demonstrate resilience, flexibility and optimism among STMM organisations and an intent to return to pre-pandemic programming rapidly.

Healthcare professionals’ experiences with education in short term medical missions: an inductive thematic analysis

BackgroundShort-term medical mission (STMM) providers supplement healthcare delivery and education in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Despite numerous providers working in this space, the views of volunteers who contribute their time and skills to these programs are rarely sought.MethodA qualitative study of 24 volunteers for Pangea Global Health Education (Pangea) was undertaken using semi-structured interviews to better understand their perspectives on program design and delivery, personal and professional outcomes of their volunteer experiences and the resulting implications for STMM program design. An inductive thematic analysis of their responses was completed. Social constructionist theory was utilised to contextualise themes and implications for program design.ResultsParticipants highlighted the importance of co-creation with local learners and staff, the necessity to understand clinical context and the importance of relating to culture in the advancement of patient care. They reported personal growth, including a better understanding of others, and identifying commonalities between people. Professionally, participants reported learning from their colleagues, including new medical content, as well as refining their teaching practices. They also reported learning from those they taught and respecting the resourcefulness of medical and nursing staff working in LMIC.ConclusionSTMM providers may benefit from co-creation with their learners in the development of health professional education programs. A deep understanding of local context and culture provides for a richer learning environment and enables sustainable long-term program delivery. Utilising a social constructionist framework enables a better understanding of cultural barriers, which inhibit group learning, including the tendency to maintain hierarchical divides; addressing these will allow for optimised patient care.

Global Health Partnerships and the Brocher Declaration: Principles for Ethical Short-Term Engagements in Global Health.

Short- term experiences in global health (STEGH), also known as short-term medical missions continue to be a popular mode of engagement in global health activities for students, healthcare providers, and religious groups, driven primarily by organizations from high-income countries. While STEGH have the potential to be beneficial, a large proportion of these do not sustainably benefit the communities they intend to serve, may undermine local health systems, operate without appropriate licenses, go beyond their intended purposes, and may cause harm to patients. With heightened calls to “decolonize” global health, and to achieve ethical, sustainable, and practical engagements, there is a need to establish strong guiding principles for global health engagements. The Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships (AGHP), a multi-sectoral coalition, was established to reflect on and address the concerns relating to STEGH. Towards this end, AGHP created the Brocher Declaration to lay out six main principles that should guide ethical and appropriate STEGH practices. A variety of organizations have accepted the Declaration and are using it to provide guidance for effective implementation of appropriate global health efforts. The Declaration joins broader efforts to promote equity in global health and a critical reevaluation of volunteer-centric, charity-based missions. The current state of the world’s health demands a new model of collaboration – one that sparks deep discussions of shared innovation and builds ethical partnerships to address pressing issues in global health.

Teaching Faith Community Nursing on Short-Term Medical Missions in Nigeria.

The purpose of this study was to empower interprofessional Nigerian healthcare volunteers with knowledge and skills to promote community health. The U.S. researcher engaged in community-based participatory research in the context of a long-term partnership of annual short-term medical missions. Using a pre/posttest study design, three Nigerian nurses and the researcher co-taught Foundations of Faith Community Nursing in a 3-day class to 76 participants. The t-test analysis and informal evaluation of participants' performance at a mobile clinic demonstrated strong evidence of learning, suggesting that the teaching was an effective method to empower members of the Nigerian interprofessional team with the knowledge and skill to provide effective culturally congruent community healthcare.

Guidelines for short-term medical missions: perspectives from host countries

BackgroundIn the past decade, there has been increasing guideline development for short-term medical missions (STMMs) traveling from high-income to low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of supporting health care services. The ethics of STMMs is criticized in the literature and there is frequently a lack of host country collaboration. This typically results in guidelines which are developed through the lens of the sending (high-income) countries’ staff and organizations. The aim of this paper is to evaluate an existing best practice guideline document from the perspective of host country participants with knowledge of STMMs from Honduras, Malawi, and the Philippines.MethodsThe guideline used for the evaluation consisted of nine best practice elements that were discerned based on literature and the experience of those working within the field. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a cross-sectional study with participants (n = 118) from the host countries. Thematic analysis was conducted by two researchers and the results were assessed by working group members to confirm interpretations of the data.ResultsOverall, participants expressed a strong interest in having more structured guidance surrounding STMM practices. There was a positive response to and general acceptance of the proposed STMM guidelines, although participants found the 24-page document onerous to use; a companion checklist was developed. The key themes that emerged from the interviews included collaboration and coordination, care for hard-to-reach communities, capacity building, critical products and essential medical supplies, and opportunity and feasibility.ConclusionsHost input suggests that the guidelines provide structured regulation and coordination of the medical mission process and have the potential to improve the way STMMs are carried out. The guidelines have also proven to be a useful tool for the actual implementation of STMMs and can be a tool to strengthen links and trust between mission teams and local health staff. However, local contexts vary considerably, and guidelines must be adapted for local use. It is recommended that STMM teams work in conjunction with host partners to ensure they meet local needs, increase capacity development of local health workers, and provide continuity of care for patients into the local system.

Quō vādis? Short-term medical missions in a globalized world and the role of pharmacy

Short-term medical missions (STMMs) have evolved in the past few decades to provide non-emergent care including routine and follow-up primary care for acute and chronic conditions, along with treatment of neglected tropical diseases. Many STMMs operate outside the local health care infrastructure and may have limited local partnerships. STMM outcomes in improving local population health are often inferred but not well documented. Concerns such as ethical conduct, provider bias, and lack of adequate training and preparation continue to be raised. When disruptions occur (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic), STMMs need to develop and prepare for challenges such as the inability to travel and provide care. Pharmacists as health professionals play a unique role when volunteering in STMMs. However, pharmacists’ roles in STMMs need further development along with a framework to guide STMM work. Often driven by a few dynamic individuals, STMMs need to be aware of local geo-socio-political issues and develop local partnerships toward a meaningful legacy of building sustaining, long-lasting systems that will continue to serve others beyond the life of the STMMs and their founders.

Key Points on Short Term Medical Mission International organization on Orofacial cleft

Background: Children suffering from congenital facial malformations in underdeveloped countries are the main objective of the STMMIs with the aim of easing their lives. Clarós Foundation (CF) has carried out 115 missions worldwide with the aim, among others, of treating patients with this type of orofacial cleft malformation. We think that the experience we have acquired in this field can be transmitted to new NGOs institutions that want or wish to continue in this line. The optimization of the use of means and human resources, both from the NGO and the local health workers, will make it possible to achieve greater outcomes and results when applied in the development of Short Term Medical Mission International (STMMIs) missions. Material and Methods: We present the experience CF has acquired throughout the various STMMIs it has accomplished, during a period of 7 days each, specifying the details of its organization, patient selection, preparation of the surgery and its performance, in a well- organized manner to be fast, effective and safe in its results. During each of the 115 missions, the medical team has treated patients with this congenital pathology, in different proportions that go from 90% of the total cases to only 10% of the patients attended. The surgical techniques applied are those used in our medical center in Barcelona, which we may say, are the state-of-the-art surgical techniques used by the most advancedcenters. Results: A total of 1725 patientsunderwent surgery throughout 115 STMMIs, averageduration of 7 days each,115 STMMIs by 15 cases average. During this time 925 patients were operated for cleft lip and 800 patients for cleft palate. Male patients accounted for 58% and female for 42%. According to the age of the patients we found that the majority of cases were operated on babies 68.35% (1.179 neonatal period); 20.2% on children (300 cases) and (19.76%) adolescents (233 cases); and 1.10% adults in the 20-67 age range (13 cases). Of the total number of operated patients(1.725), there have been few immediate and late postoperative complications, but we estimate them at 11%. Conclusion: International cooperation between experienced NGOs and local medical teams turn out to be much more effective, less expensive and with better clinical results than those obtained without this collaboration. This organizational model can be very useful in order to know the details that these missions entail and apply them in your own activities.

Ghanaian views of short-term medical missions: The pros, the cons, and the possibilities for improvement

BackgroundVarious governments in Ghana have tried to improve healthcare in the country. Despite these efforts, meeting health care needs is a growing concern to government and their citizens. Short term medical missions from other countries are one of the responses to meet the challenges of healthcare delivery in Ghana. This research aimed to understand Ghanaian perceptions of short-term missions from the narratives of host country staff involved. The study from which this paper is developed used a qualitative design, which combined a case study approach and political economy analysis involving in-depth interviews with 28 participants.ResultFindings show short term medical mission programs in Ghana were largely undertaken in rural communities to address shortfalls in healthcare provision to these areas. The programs were often delivered free and were highly appreciated by communities and host institutions. While the contributions of STMM to health service provision have been noted, there were challenges associated with how they operated. The study found concerns over language and how volunteers effectively interacted with communities. Other identified challenges were the extent to which volunteers undermined local expertise, using fraudulent qualifications by some volunteers, and poor skills and lack of experience leading to wrong diagnoses sometimes. The study found a lack of awareness of rules requiring the registration of practitioners with national professional regulatory bodies, suggesting non enforcement of volunteers’ need for local certification.ConclusionShort Term Medical Missions appear to contribute to addressing some of the critical gaps in healthcare delivery. However, there is an urgent need to address the challenges of ineffective utilisation and lack of oversight of these programs to maximise their benefits.

A professional virtues–based ethical framework for medical missions

BACKGROUNDMore than 1.6 million physicians participate in medical missions each year. This effort is part of a long history of volunteerism and service to those in need in the form of medical missions to low-income countries. The Children's Health International Medical Project of Seattle has provided the following 7 guiding principles of sustainable short-term international medical missions: “mission, collaboration, education, service, teamwork, sustainability, and evaluation.” The role of professional virtues in grounding these principles and thus guiding medical missions is underappreciated.OBJECTIVETo provide a professional virtues–based ethical framework for medical missions, this article addressed the question, “How should physicians design and implement a medical mission in a professionally responsible way?” Reference is made to one of the authors’ experiences as a point of reference.STUDY DESIGNThe authors addressed the questions on how to design and implement a medical mission based on 5 professional virtues: compassion, integrity, humility, self-effacement, and self-sacrifice. A concise, historically based explanation of each virtue was provided, and the implications of the aforementioned principles for medical missions were identified.RESULTSCompassion motivates the mission and its team members, whereas integrity, humility, self-effacement, and self-sacrifice guide team members as they act on the professional virtue of compassion.CONCLUSIONThese 5 professional virtues can be used to provide a practical framework for the professionally responsible design and implementation of medical missions.

A Short-Term Medical Mission in Rural Nepal: Chief Complaints, Medications Dispensed, and Unmet Health Needs.

BackgroundAlthough Nepal is striving to expand primary health services for its citizens, many remote areas have limited access to basic health care. Short-term medical missions (STMMs) are one way of supplementing human resources for health in underserved areas. This article describes the chief complaints, medications dispensed, and unmet health needs during an STMM in rural Nepal.MethodsThis study is a retrospective analysis of data collected during an STMM that occurred in October 2017. Deidentified data from clinic intake forms were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, and formatted and cleaned. Demographics, chief complaints, medications, and unmet health needs were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsDuring a two-day health camp, 443 patients were seen. The most common chief complaint was dental (33.4%) followed by musculoskeletal (28.2%) and gastrointestinal (21.2%). Medications were dispensed to 94.8% of patients, primarily analgesics, antibiotics, and ophthalmologic preparations. Of the patients, 21% had unmet health needs, including specialty care and labs or imaging that were beyond the scope of the STMM. One patient was referred urgently to a hospital for treatment of dyspnea and markedly elevated blood pressure.ConclusionWhile STMMs cannot replace access to primary health services, they can provide insight into acute care needs in a system that has limited surveillance. This information describing an acute care patient population should inform future development work.

Mete Tèt Nou Ansanm (Putting our heads together): Global health capacity building within short-term medical missions

ABSTRACT Short-term medical missions (STMMs) have the potential to increase local health care capacity in low resource settings. Few studies have examined capacity building within STMMs from the perspective of both donor and host providers. A qualitative study using a transcendental method for research with human subjects examined the experiences of 21 North American ‘donor’ and Dominican ‘host’ health care providers who participated in STMMs in the Dominican Republic. Perry and Ojemeni’s levels of capacity building for human good provided the theoretical framework, proposing a three-level approach: (1) augmenting local health care delivery capacity (2) assisting local communities to develop their own capacities and (3) transforming barriers to capacity. Findings are grouped into five themes and their subthemes: (1) making a difference (2) education and knowledge transfer, (3) acknowledging barriers, (4) host empowerment and (5) personal and interpersonal development. An overarching paradigm of ‘Mete Tèt Nou Ansanm’, or ‘putting our heads together’, emerged from the data, reflecting a dynamic process in which donor and host participants evolved their collaborative partnerships. STMMs have the potential for addressing global health capacity at all three levels. Mission compatibility with the local health system, host empowerment and repeated interactions over time are noteworthy determinants for STMMs sustainability.

Legal framework governing Short-Term Medical Missions

The presence and influence of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the landscape of global health and development have dramatically increased over the past several decades. Increasingly, Medical Practitioners in industrialized countries have become interested in global health issues, an interest that often takes the form of Short-Term international Medical Missions (STMMs). His article will aim to help Medical Practitioners to have a synthetic overview of the legal framework governing medical volunteering in STMMs and give them some recommendations. The idea of this article started from the need to have an overview of the legal framework governing medical volunteering missions organized by the Claros’s Foundation named "Foundation Clarós" (hereinafter also "FC"). To better understand who this article is addressed to, it is interesting to bring to your attention the concrete case from which this article was born. The following is a brief outline of what FC is all about. FC is a private, non-profit organization (NGO) whose aim is to provide medical care and alleviate the suffering of people in health and medical precarious situations.

Exploring Child Life Role and Impact of Providing Psychosocial Care During Short-Term Medical Missions

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) have been engaged with other health profession-als to provide care within international short-term medical missions (STMMs). However, there is minimal research describing the care they provide, their professional roles, and the impact of their services on the beneficiaries, as well as the volunteer CCLSs. This exploratory, survey-based, descriptive study reports findings regarding roles and experiences of 55 CCLSs who volunteered to provide psychosocial care for children and families on STMMs. They reported providing play, normalization, psychological preparation for medical procedures, and emotional support, resulting in observable reduction in patient and parent anxiety. Nonpharmacological pain management and education for capacity building regarding psychosocial care were not routinely provided. Using Campinha Bacote’s cultural compe-tency framework and Knowles’ adult learning theory, we explored the reciprocal impact for CCLSs volunteering on STMMs. CCLSs reported improvement in their own cultural competency, professional skills, and child life competencies. Findings suggest providing psychosocial care on STMMs benefited patients, families, and the CCLSs. A brief commentary on children’s rights and ethical considerations for those in a child life role on STMMs is included. Practice and research implications are provided to enable greater understanding of the child life role in STMM contexts and to inform prospective CCLS volunteers of this opportunity, as well as to educate STMM organizations about the role of child life.