IMR Frequently Asked Questions

As a medical relief organization, our volunteers are primarily healthcare professionals, including physicians, residents, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, and medical students. Depending on the nature of each mission, we prioritize specialties that are best suited to its specific needs.

We are occasionally able to welcome volunteers of other nationalities; however, for ease of coordination, it is preferable that you travel from within the United States or Canada. Volunteers must have valid U.S. or Canadian residency documentation. Please note that we are unable to assist with any country-specific travel requirements imposed by the host nation based on your country of origin and some logistics may not be possible for those residing in other countries.

On verification of your credentials an IMR staff member will reach out to notify whether you have been selected for the mission, within about 2 weeks of your registration. The volunteer team is finalized and the mission is confirmed approximately 2 months prior to the scheduled dates. Any subsequent changes to the status of the mission are notified to the team immediately.

Children may accompany if they are at minimum a currently enrolled high school junior or senior; high school sophomores or younger are not permitted. All participating students will be classified as non-medical participants.

A non-medical participant is any individual accompanying the team who does not hold an active license to practice medicine. Additionally, selection for these individuals is subject to team size/vacancy and other factors.
Non-medical participants are not permitted to provide patient care in any capacity during clinic. They may observe patient care provided by licensed team members (with patient consent) and may assist the team and local administrative staff with support tasks as needed, under the direction of the team leader.

Most of our missions are one week-long.

Arranging travel for the trip is the individual responsibility of volunteers. The donated funds go toward providing medical care to patients in need; hence we are unable to subsidize the cost of airfare. However, residents and medical students may like to do personal fundraising among friends and families and get monetary support for this purpose. This is a great way to include family and friends and allow them to contribute in a tangible manner.
Certain universities and colleges may offer grants to students doing community service projects. Medical students are encouraged to find out whether your college or university has any such programs.

Volunteers are responsible for the airfare to and from the mission location, as well as any visa fees. IMANA takes care of all the other expenses and coordinates mission logistics, per our arrangement, like boarding, lodging, and local transportation.

It is the volunteer’s responsibility to arrange all flights, domestic and overseas. Since team members travel from different cities, IMANA avoids specifying the flight plans. However, we provide general guidance as to the arrival time frame at the destination to facilitate coordination with hosts organization. We also provide information on the advisable connections and routes but let you make your own choices.

We refer all volunteers to the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel for the most up to date vaccination recommendations. Please note that these are recommendations only and not mandatory requirements. If there is any such need we shall advise you before the trip.

It depends on the nature of the mission; average size can range from 6-12 members.

Work hours are typically 9AM to 5PM but may be adjusted slightly to match local requirements.
Our medical teams typically see 150-200 patients in a day, the number is usually higher in disaster relief scenario though.

Medications and supplies are mostly purchased locally in the country where the mission takes place. When necessary, we procure medications and supplies in the US and distribute them among team members to carry with them. IMANA reimburses any baggage costs incurred for transporting these items.

Once the team is finalized, the volunteer members are provided with a guidebook for the trip which lists all the preparation requirements and checklists for items to carry along.

IMANA announces mission dates after coordinating with local partners in the destination country. Once finalized, we open registration through our volunteer page about 5-6 months prior to the scheduled mission dates. After receiving sufficient applications, we select and finalize a team based on the specific needs of the mission.
Selected volunteers are provided with guidebooks and preparatory materials and are also briefed on key aspects of the mission.

While it is helpful to know the local language, there is no requirement to possess foreign language skills to be able to participate in our medical relief missions. We arrange translators wherever there is such a need.

Upon arrival, you will be received at the airport by a member of our local host team or a designated representative. Before departure, we provide detailed information regarding airport pickup, accommodation, and transportation, along with emergency contact numbers, which we strongly recommend you carry with you during your trip.

For disaster relief missions, arrangements are often made on short notice due to the urgency of the situation and may therefore be basic. However, as we always partner with a local organization, operations generally run smoothly. Volunteers should be prepared to remain flexible and adapt to changing conditions on the ground.

When you arrive, one of our local host staff members or representatives will receive you at the airport. They will display the mission sign or your name. We also provide you with emergency contact numbers before departure, which we recommend that you carry with you while abroad. Before you leave for your trip, we will provide you with detailed information on your pickup, as well as housing and transportation.

In disaster relief trips, time is of the essence; hence the arrangements are made at short notice and could be basic and simple. Since we always collaborate with a local organization for such missions, there are never any major issues. Volunteers proceeding on disaster relief missions have to be ready to improvise and juggle as per the existing conditions.

Accommodation varies depending on the mission location. In most cases, volunteers stay in suitable hotels at the destination. However, some mission locations or disaster zones may have more basic lodging, such as at the clinic site or in tents.

As it is difficult to find replacement volunteers close to a mission date, we strongly encourage you to confirm your availability and secure time off from work before registering. Selected team members are given a deadline to book their flights; if this is not met, the spot may be offered to standby volunteers, if available.
Late cancellations are strongly discouraged except in cases of extreme emergency. IMANA is unable to reimburse any expenses already incurred by volunteers who cancel for personal reasons.

Volunteer safety is one of our top priorities. While the safety of international travel cannot be guaranteed, we go to extensive lengths to ensure volunteer security at deployment locations. Our mission sites are chosen with all relevant factors in mind, including political situation in the destination country.
At our mission sites, we arrange transportation and housing to maximize safety. We work with the collaborating organization’s staff to ensure that you receive in-country orientation upon arrival. We constantly review our safety protocols to ensure that we are doing our best to keep you safe.
We work to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable experience and that you're able to focus on the mission work.

IMANA encourages volunteers to raise monetary donations to support mission activities. However, we ask that you do not bring medicines or medical supplies. These are procured according to a predetermined formulary for each mission and in compliance with local regulations. Some countries restrict the import of medications, while others enforce strict rules regarding expiration dates. Even minor discrepancies can jeopardize our efforts, so it is best to leave all procurement to IMANA.
As our focus is on medical care, we also discourage bringing humanitarian items such as blankets or clothing. While well-intentioned, these can divert attention and resources from delivering healthcare. If friends or family wish to contribute, we encourage them to make financial donations instead, as missions rely heavily on donors’ generosity.
Volunteers may bring their own personal medications but should ensure that these are not expired.

Depending on the destination, volunteers may choose to visit local points of interest after completing their mission, either individually or with fellow team members. We strongly recommend scheduling any personal travel after the mission to avoid potential disruptions, such as delays or difficulties arriving on time.

Connectivity varies by destination and location. For example, clinic locations in Jordan generally have reliable cellphone and internet access, while locations in more remote or rural areas in Yemen may have very limited cell & internet service. In such settings, we remain in contact with our local hosts and can relay urgent messages if needed. The hotels where we accommodate our teams have reliable Wi-Fi, so you are not totally out of touch during your stay.
As most missions last about a week, we recommend preparing your family in advance for limited or no regular communication during that time.