Advancing Care Abroad Through Shared Experiences
Embarking on experiences abroad can profoundly impact nurse leaders, offering a myriad of benefits that enrich both personal and professional growth. These encounters foster increased cultural awareness, competency, and a broader perspective, essential traits for navigating our diverse world.
In advancing our mission to empower and support nurses caring for women, newborns, and their families, AWHONN is excited to launch the Perinatal Education XChange (APEX) Program. These immersive programs provide unique opportunities to engage with diverse cultures and foster a deepened appreciation and sensitivity to cross-cultural care, enhancing the quality of overall care provided to patients.
Through this initiative, we aim to connect nurses with communities worldwide, cultivating a stronger connection to global citizenship and making a meaningful impact on an international scale.
“I enjoyed every aspect of the trip! Engaging with the beautiful Belize community & providing care. Learning more about the culture, community & health landscape from Dr. Pakeman. Meeting & working with amazing nurses, who are now my amazing friends. (We bonded so well). The food. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in AWHONN Global Health Perinatal Educational Exchange.”
About Our Partners
- International Service Learning (ISL) is a non-governmental organization that has been offering volunteers experiential learning opportunities in health care, education, ecology, and community development since 1994 while offering sustainable aid in developing communities.
APEX Travel Scholarships
Thanks to the generous support of Every Woman, Every Baby, we’re able to offer two $1,000 scholarships to increase the accessibility of our trips to everyone. To be eligible, you must be an active member in good standing. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025. Apply now.
Upcoming 2026 Trips
Destination: Belize
Dates: March 17-23, 2026
Cost: $2,195.00 US
About:
Volunteers will participate in public health surveying and clinical activities, including interviewing patients, taking vitals, basic triage, and assisting with the examination, diagnosis, and treatment process. Nursing continuing education credits are available for this program. Space is limited to 12 participants.
Deadline
- September 16, 2025 – Informational session. Register through this link to receive the login information and session materials.
- December 1, 2025 – Last day to register. Follow the registration link here to create your MyISL account and register for the program. Returning program participants: Follow the registration link and log into your account using the same email address and password that you used for the previous program. If you need assistance or a new password, contact Deb Reetz at ISL at deb@islonline.org.
- January 17, 2026 – Program payment due. Cancellations occurring 30-60 days prior to departure will receive a 50% refund or program credit. Cancellations after the 30 days-before-departure date are non-refundable.
- TBD January-March 2026 – Series of pre-trip meetings with all participating members
- March 17, 2026 – Arrive in Belize in the afternoon
- March 23, 2026 – Depart from Belize after 12pm local time
Destination: Dominican Republic
Dates: April 11-17, 2026
Cost: $2,295.00 US
About:
Volunteers will learn about the local healthcare system, visit a nursing school, participate in clinical activities (home visits and field clinic) with a local physician, and participate in cultural activities. Nursing continuing education credits are available for this program. Space is limited to 12 participants.
Important Dates for Dominican Republic Program
- October 2, 2025 – Informational session. Register through this link to receive the login information and session materials.
- December 1, 2025 – Last day to register. Follow the registration link here to create your MyISL account and register for the program. Returning participants, email apex@awhonn.org to be added to this program. If you need assistance or a new password, contact Deb Reetz at ISL at deb@islonline.org.
- February 11, 2026 – Program payment due. Cancellations occurring 30-60 days prior to departure will receive a 50% refund or program credit. Cancellations after the 30 days-before-departure date are non-refundable.
- TBD January-April 2026 – Series of pre-trip meetings with all participating members
- April 11, 2026 – Arrive in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in the afternoon
- April 17, 2026 – Depart from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic after 12pm local time
Have Questions?
Find answers in our Frequently Asked Questions or reach out with any inquiries about APEX programs today.
