Doximity Foundation Funds 633 Trips as Grants Spike
- The Doximity Foundation funded 633 clinician trips across 59 countries so far this year, crossing $1m in travel grants last month to surpass the total funding volume for...
- Private funding requests have spiked as non-profits adjust to reductions in government assistance.
- Beyond patient care, global health travel offers physicians and advanced practice providers a temporary escape from administrative burdens.
The Doximity Foundation funded 633 clinician trips across 59 countries so far this year, crossing $1m in travel grants last month to surpass the total funding volume for all of 2025. Applications for travel grants increased sharply, driven largely by federal funding cuts that left global health organizations seeking alternative financial support.
Surging Demand for Private Travel Grants
Private funding requests have spiked as non-profits adjust to reductions in government assistance. According to non-profit partners cited by the Doximity Foundation, current and future funding cuts from the U.S. government are chief among the factors pushing organizations to seek alternative support. The dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the termination of $12.7b in funding awards led directly to staff layoffs and scaled-back programs across the non-governmental organization sector. In response to these gaps, 2026 already accounts for more than 35 percent of the trips funded in the entire lifetime of the Doximity Foundation. Since its inception, the Foundation has covered flights for 1,776 global health trips across 82 countries. Africa and Central America remain the biggest destinations for these missions, which also reach domestic populations such as Navajo Nation sites in New Mexico and Arizona.
Mitigating Physician Burnout Through Volunteerism
Beyond patient care, global health travel offers physicians and advanced practice providers a temporary escape from administrative burdens. A 2024 review found that clinical volunteering can prevent burnout by reconnecting medical professionals with their core sense of purpose. Participants step away from paperwork and hospital bureaucracy for a week or two to focus entirely on direct patient treatment.
We leave with tired bodies, full hearts, and a deep sense of gratitude,
said Kennett Tran, NP, describing a recent trip participant’s experience.
Logistical Support and Collaborative Networks
Airfare expenses represent a primary barrier for clinicians aiming to join international medical missions. Rising costs of living and travel, paired with tightened operational budgets, make independent funding difficult. The Doximity Foundation absorbs these travel expenses directly once a member’s application is approved, eliminating reimbursement delays and receipt paperwork. The Foundation coordinates its efforts alongside established humanitarian groups. Partner organizations include Operation International, ReSurge International, AMPATH Kenya, Health Volunteers Overseas, and OneWorld Health, which manage programs ranging from surgical capacity and training to building systems that continue providing support long after clinicians return home.
