AMA Journal of Ethics

Low-resource areas are heterogeneous and changing, so establishing an evidence base for decision making about technology use is an important priority.

Single-procedure interventions with minimal follow-up and clear quality-of-life gain are well suited for surgical mission trips. But not all risks and benefits are easily assessed.

The Volunteer Physicians for Vietnam Program (1966-1973) influenced both physicians-in-training and the environments in which they were immersed.

Physicians play important roles in community development when they seek to increase patients’ overall well-being through community engagement.

Practices changed when hospitals became places of recovery rather than death.

The AMA Council on Medical Service matched physicians seeking practice locations with neighborhoods in need.

Farmworkers can become ill due to toxic exposure in their work environments. Recommending specific restrictions, educating patients on protection strategies, and partnering with agribusiness owners and allied health workers can drive development of alternatives to agricultural practices with health risks.