People to People Ambassador Programs, a subsidiary of Ambassadors Group, Inc., a leader in global educational travel experiences, announces its Citizen Ambassador Programs fall travel season with unique opportunities for healthcare professionals to meet and share ideas with international colleagues.

Various groups of trained healthcare professionals comprised of surgeons, nurses, speech pathologists, mental health experts, cardiovascular specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists, dermatologists, physical therapists, nutritionists and dentists will travel to eight global destinations in 2008-09 to engage in cultural exchanges with colleagues to better understand specific practices and procedures being used to address numerous medical challenges, and help improve medical care in developing countries.

“Our medical exchanges provide an opportunity for professionals to explore issues in their field and witness patient care in a variety of settings,” said Dawn Davis, executive director of Citizen Ambassador Programs. “During their educational exchange, groups of healthcare professionals will collaborate with global counterparts, establish new friendships and experience the heart and soul of a country that will forever shape and impact their career.”

The medical programs for physicians that Citizen Ambassador Programs develops are planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through joint sponsorship of the American College of Medical Quality (ACMQ) and Ambassador Programs. This means that the majority of the time,

Ambassador Programs travel may be used for the necessary continuing medical education credit. The ACMQ is accredited by the ACCME to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. The ACMQ designates educational activity for approximately 10.0 – 20.0 hours in Category I credit toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Nurses travelling with Citizen Ambassador Programs are generally awarded 10.0 to 20.0 contact hours through a joint sponsorship with the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Comprised of intimate groups ranging from 15-40 professionals led by accomplished U.S. medical professionals, People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs travels healthcare professionals to locations such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, South Africa, Russia, Egypt and Rwanda to learn and share innovative ideas and techniques that will enhance medical practices and procedures in each specific country and the United States alike.

Upcoming 2008-09 programs include:
— Women’s Health and Midwifery – China
— Healthcare and Medical Quality – China
— Emergency and Trauma Nursing – China
— Nephrology Nursing – China
— Nurse Anesthetists – Vietnam and Cambodia
— Physician Executives – India
— Speech Pathology and Audiology – China
— Medical-Surgical Nursing – China
— Primary Care and Mental Health – China
— Physician Assistants – China
— Psychology – South Africa
— Urology – China
— Canadian Health Care and Nursing – China
— Dental Public Health – China
— Gastroenterology – China
— Surgery – Vietnam and Cambodia
— Dermatology – South Africa
— Occupational/Physical Therapy and Rehab – Russia
— Speech-Language Pathology – Russia
— Nutritional Health and Wellness China
— Emergency Medicine – China
— Family Medicine – Egypt
— Psychology – China
— Cardiovascular Health – Vietnam and Cambodia
— Canadian Physiotherapists – Rwanda
— Professional Nursing – Vietnam and Cambodia
— Occupational and Environmental Medicine – China
— Obstetrics and Gynecology – Egypt
— Mental Health – South Africa
— Orthodontics – Russia
— Colon and Rectal Surgery – China and Tibet
— Breastfeeding and Lactation Support – South Africa
— Mental Health – South Africa
— Interdisciplinary Palliative Care – South Africa
— Pediatric Nursing – India
— Nursing and Healthcare – China
— Psychiatry – Russia
— Hermatology and Oncology – South Africa

“People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs are unique with real, valuable learning experiences, instead of just medical tourism,” said Dr. John Sciarra, professor and chairman emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School. “The opportunity to see firsthand how things are done in other countries, looking at the same problems in different cultures with different resources, sometimes using very low-tech solutions, is a very valuable experience and one from which we can all learn and grow.”

Dr. Sciarra has led professional exchanges to China, Tibet, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Russia, and will be leading a group of professionals specializing in obstetrics and gynecology to Egypt in February, 2009. The delegation will focus on reproductive health issues in urban and rural areas, family planning, alternative and traditional medicine, sexually transmitted diseases and indigenous techniques and practices in obstetrics.

Healthcare professionals interested in learning more about People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs can visit http://www.peopletopeople.com or call 877-787-2000.

About People to People Ambassador Programs

People to People Ambassador Programs is the most recognized and respected educational travel provider and has provided more than 400,000 citizens of the world the opportunity to promote peace through understanding. The Ambassador Programs include Citizen, Student, Sports and Leadership to promote international and domestic programs for professionals, students, athletes, and the leaders of tomorrow. Participation in a People to People Ambassador Program contributes directly to personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships. Our hands on, unique, educational travel programs provide access to people and places beyond compare, and combine unique cultural experiences with personal interaction to create global impact.

The Ambassador Programs serve as the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), the nonprofit, Kansas City-based organization founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. PTPI and Ambassadors Group are united in their mission of bridging cultural and political borders through education and exchange.

About Ambassadors Group

Ambassadors Group, Inc. (NYSE: EPAX) is a socially conscious, education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group is the parent company of the Ambassador Programs as well as Book Rags, an educational research website, and oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school.