Alice already had experience with global health, having volunteered with a non-profit that helps children around the world in need of cleft palate surgeries. Walking through the plane, she saw that Orbis might be a way to further give back to the community. Alice chatted with the nurses working on the Flying Eye Hospital and, learning about her global experience, the head nurse suggested she send in her resume. Alice did just that. In May 2012, she boarded the plane as a volunteer faculty member on her first program, this one to Lanzhou, China.
That trip was the first of six for Alice, who is hopeful that she will return to Orbis in-person training when COVID ends. She had been scheduled to return to Mongolia with the Flying Eye Hospital team in 2020, but the in-person elements of the program were canceled due to the pandemic. The need continues, though, and Alice plans to be there to support the work of Orbis when face-to-face programs are possible once more.