Leading a STM Medical Team

Early Pre-Trip Tasks

Trip Dates

A decision about the actual dates of the trip should be made as early as possible. It is made in consultation with the national host or ministry partner after consideration of the trip objectives and the time "on the ground" required to attain those objectives. The leader must allow time for acclimatization upon arrival, travel to and from the nearest major airport to the ministry site, and a debriefing time at the end of the trip. The work schedule (daily and overall) must protect the team from "burn-out." The length of the trip will affect the potential pool of volunteers (the shorter the trip, the more people who are generally able to go).

Occasionally air travel to or from a remote city follows an irregular schedule and can exert severe limitations on the trip dates. Early consultation with a travel consultant such as Connie Gregory (with whom we have worked many times) at Fellowship Travel, can bring to light such limitations. Cost can also vary by date of travel and the earlier this is discovered, the better.

Team recruitment without exact dates of travel is difficult, as people must arrange their work or personal schedules well in advance.

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