Mark Your Calendar: Mission 2026 Travel Dates
ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 3, 2026
Operation Walk Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that our volunteer travel team will return to Anitgua, Guatemala, for Mission 2026
This will be the team’s 11th trip to Obras Sociales Hospital, and our 16th trip overall!
As always, we’re excited to return to the place where it all began and to provide even more patients with the life-changing gift of mobility. During Mission 2025, we provided free joint replacement surgery to 59 patients: completing 73 hip and knee replacements along with 3 revision surgeries. This October, we’re poised to make an even BIGGER impact!
Additionally, for the 5th time in Operation Walk Pittsburgh history, Dr. Mike Guthrie of Wexford Family Dentistry will offer Antigua residents a free dental clinic alongside our surgical services. Under the skilled leadership of Dr. Guthrie and his dedicated team—we plan to provide up to 180 no-cost dental procedures to patients in need, giving them an even bigger reason to smile.
As always, we could not make all of this incredible work possible without the support of our donors. If you’re interested in supporting the mission with a financial gift, please click the “Donate” button above. No matter the size of your contribution, 100% will directly support patient care during the mission.
If you’d like to learn more about joining our volunteer travel team, please read on and then click the button below. Travel team applications are now open and being accepted until February 6th.
Applying to the travel team for Mission 2026
Are you interested on joining the 2026 Operation Walk Pittsburgh travel team as a clinical or non-clinical volunteer? Slots are available for surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, Spanish interpreters, general hospital volunteers, and many other roles. As a travel team member, you’ll serve an important role in changing the lives of patients in need during Mission 2026.
To apply as a clinical volunteer, you must be currently licensed and employed in your chosen field. Specialization in orthopaedics is a plus. Non-clinical volunteers come from a variety of professional backgrounds, but healthcare experience and Spanish language skills are a plus. Interpreters must speak Spanish at a high-advanced / collegiate level, and bilingual interpreter applicants will receive priority.
All travel team members must agree to meet a fixed fundraising goal prior to travel. Fundraising goals are tiered based on average salaries for each clinical profession recruited to the team. Non-clinical volunteers meet a fixed $2500 fundraising goal in spite of their profession. Rather than pay the fundraising goal amount out-of-pocket, we encourage team members to engage in formal and informal fundraising activities in the months leading up to the trip. Our staff are available to assist with these activities and provide resources along the way, including a website where donors can contribute in support of a travel team member by name.
All funds raised by travel team members in this way support the purchase of critically needed surgical supplies and equipment for the trip. For questions about fundraising goals and deadlines, please reach out to nick@amd3.org.
Operation Walk Pittsburgh will arrange and cover the cost of flights, hotel, in-country transportation, and most meals for all travel team members. During the trip, team members are only financially responsible for incidental expenses and 2-3 dinners.
To apply to the travel team, please click below. All applicants should have a valid passport that does not expire before October 4th, 2026. They will also be required to submit a number of documents after completing the initial application, including state certification for clinical volunteers, passport information, BLS/CPR/ACLS certification, and other supporting documents and certifications. Non-clinical volunteers do not need to be certified in BLS, CPR, or ACLS to apply. If invited to join the travel team and you choose to accept the invitation, a non-refundable $250 deposit against your fundraising goal will be required to hold your position on the team.
Applicants will be notified of their application status in mid-February.
Planning for an OpWalk mission and making it all happen takes a tremendous amount of financial and in-kind support. As always, all donations made to Operation Walk Pittsburgh directly support patient care during the mission. We thank all of our donors and corporate sponsors for their support. To make a donation or explore corporate sponsorship opportunities, please email info@amd3.org or click the button below.
If you have a gently used walker or cane you’d like to donate to the mission, please reach out.
JOIN THE JOURNEY
As this year’s mission unfolds, our communications team will be sharing news and updates.
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