Dr. Nancy Burleson Volunteers Medical Services Overseas

Nancy Burleson, MD, FACOG of AVH Surgical Associates recently returned from Central America where she has, for the past four years, travelled to provide medical services on a volunteer basis. Using her earned time off, she treats victims of child trafficking – those caught in slavery and prostitution. She also provides medical care to indigent people in areas where no medical care is available.

In Nicaragua, Dr. Burleson provides free medical care to poor individuals in rural communities. She performs surgeries, obstetrical care, gynecological care, including cervical cancer screenings, and generalized medicine. She has currently worked in Nicaragua six times with 3 future return trips planned in 2012. 

As a part of Global Health Organization, she travels upwards of 2-3 times per year to areas where there is no running water, electricity, and where any existing water can not be consumed due to the probability of illness. Her days typically begin at 6:00AM and end at 10:00PM. Her next trip is scheduled in January, 2012. Dr. Burleson speaks Spanish to assist her with her medical care of indigent patients.

Dr. Burleson has a future trip planned to Afghanistan in May, 2012 to care for refugees of the war-torn country. She is considering future trips to India and Cambodia as there is a great need for female OB/GYNs in those areas, both of which are plagued by a human trafficking problem. She has also been invited to go to parts of Africa, India, and the Middle East to teach doctors in those countries basic surgical skills, including cesarean sections to decrease maternal deaths..

Dr. Burleson welcomes patients at the AVH Professional Center in Berlin and at Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook.

For more information about her volunteer work or human trafficking, please contact Dr. Burleson at (603) 752-2300. She will be presenting a Health Education Lecture on Human Trafficking in the AVH Lecture Room on Monday, February 13, 2012.