People get into the medical professions for various reasons. For some, it’s because it’s a lucrative career path; but for others, it’s because they get a chance to help others. A lot of doctors and other medical professionals do their share and pay it forward by doing pro bono work or by volunteering for various foundations and charitable institutions; however, only a few go the extra mile and volunteer for organizations that help those who most need medical assistance and care despite the harsh conditions and the danger they may encounter.

In 1971, a group of doctors and journalists founded Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or what we call Doctors Without Borders to provide impartial and independent medical assistance to countries that need it the most. Currently operating and providing medical aid in approximately 60 countries, MSF goes above and beyond practicing medical ethics. They leave the comforts of home and risk their lives to go where their services are most needed to provide help to people no matter what race, religion or political ideology they believe in. As part of their volunteer work, the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals involved, put themselves in harm’s way almost every day. Many of them have been kidnapped and killed in hostile or war-torn countries, forcing the organization to pull out of some countries for safety reasons. Aside from putting their lives on the line, the volunteers of MSF witness cruel acts of injustice, as well as the ugly truth about how poverty or catastrophes affect entire nations. This is why all volunteers have to go through a stringent training process and only a select few pass. The work the MSF has done in the past 40 years has indeed been remarkable to say the least. This is why in 1999, the Doctors Without Borders organization was awarded the coveted Nobel Peace Prize.