Floating Doctors

Floating Doctors The Floating Doctors is a 501-C3, non-profit organization delivering health care to the remote coastal communities of Central America.

Our Goals Include:

Providing free acute and preventative health care services and delivering donated medical supplies to isolated areas. Reducing child and maternal mortality through food safety/prenatal education, nutritional counseling and clean water solutions. Studying and documenting local systems of health care delivery and identifying what progress have been made, what challenges remain, a

nd what solutions exist to improve health care delivery worldwide. Using the latest communications technologies to bring specialist medical knowledge to the developing world, and to share our experiences with the global community and promote cooperation in resolving world health care issues.

In many of the remote Ngäbe-Buglé communities we serve, families face daily challenges in accessing consistent, nutritio...
06/01/2026

In many of the remote Ngäbe-Buglé communities we serve, families face daily challenges in accessing consistent, nutritious food, especially for young children and mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Through the Programa de Alimentación Temprana Materno Infantil (PATMI), implemented by the Ministry of Health of Panama ( ) as part of Plan Colmena, Vitacrema, a fortified cereal, is provided to support improved nutrition and help prevent chronic malnutrition among vulnerable populations.

This support reaches children from 6 to 59 months of age, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers in selected communities identified through official health criteria and services.

At Floating Doctors, we work to bridge the gap for communities with very limited access to healthcare and essential services, helping bring care closer to those who need it most.

We are grateful for MINSA’s partnership and commitment to improving the well-being of communities across Panama. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most. 💙

✨ ¡El corazón se nos llena de ritmo, color y orgullo! 🥁✨La escuela de Valle Escondido nos invitó a formar parte de una c...
05/30/2026

✨ ¡El corazón se nos llena de ritmo, color y orgullo! 🥁✨
La escuela de Valle Escondido nos invitó a formar parte de una celebración maravillosa por el Mes de la Etnia Negra. En cada rincón se respiraba identidad, tradición y la alegría contagiosa de los niños y profesores que mantienen viva nuestra herencia.
Para nuestro equipo de Floating Doctors, fue un verdadero honor participar como jurado en este gran evento. Más allá de brindar salud, nos mueve ser parte del tejido de nuestras comunidades y celebrar la diversidad que nos enriquece.
¡Gracias infinitas a Valle Escondido por abrirnos las puertas de su escuela y hacernos parte de este día inolvidable! 🩺🖤👋🏾

🛶 Journey to Ensenada Community: Bringing Hope Through a One Health Approach 💙This week, the Floating Doctors team trave...
05/29/2026

🛶 Journey to Ensenada Community: Bringing Hope Through a One Health Approach 💙

This week, the Floating Doctors team traveled to Ensenada, where medical, dental, veterinary, and sexual health services came together to support the community through a truly One Health approach.

Over 2 clinic days (+1 education day), our medical team cared for 193 patients, including 26 pregnancies, 24 Depo injections (10 first-time users), and 29 HIV tests , all negative. Reproductive health education remained a major focus, especially for young women and first-time patients seeking guidance and support.

🦷Our dental team treated 57 fluoride patients, completed 17 fillings, and performed 2 cleanings, reinforcing the importance of oral health in overall wellbeing.

🐶Alongside volunteers from the University of Tennessee, our veterinary team saw 80 animals and completed 5 surgeries for cats and dogs. Despite several team members becoming sick, the remaining volunteers stepped up to keep the clinic running smoothly.

🎬We were also joined by Maarten Van der Kuijl, the founder of .official and his documentary team, who are producing a short film about our sexual health work, helping highlight the importance of education, prevention, and accessible care in these communities.

🛶In environments where last-minute changes are constant, adaptability, teamwork, and compassion make all the difference. We’re deeply grateful to every volunteer, patient, and community member who made this week possible. Every clinic reminds us how powerful compassionate, accessible healthcare can be.

In 2026, humanitarian and veterinary fieldwork continues to remind us that real impact begins with compassion, purpose, ...
05/18/2026

In 2026, humanitarian and veterinary fieldwork continues to remind us that real impact begins with compassion, purpose, and human connection. 🌍✨

Today, we proudly highlight Eva Vrckovnik from Slovenia, our previous Lead Veterinary Provider at Floating Doctors, who shared in her own words what this experience meant to her:

“Working with Floating Doctors was a truly inspiring, eye opening, and rewarding experience. I met new friends who instantly became like family. The people in the communities were so welcoming and grateful, which made our work even more meaningful.

There is a high need for veterinary care in these communities, so I would highly recommend veterinarians, vet techs, vet nurses, and vet students to join the FD team on their mission to help animals, people, and the environment.

Special thanks to the team on base for being so positive and for taking care of us behind the scenes, I truly appreciate it!

And a big hug to Nova 🤗❤️🐶”

At Floating Doctors, we believe in the One Health vision, where the wellbeing of people, animals, and the environment are deeply connected. 💙🌿

Thank you, Eva, for your leadership, compassion, and incredible dedication to our communities and mission. 🐾

Listening, healing, and learning together 💙A successful week of single-day clinics with Floating Doctors in Shark Hole, ...
05/15/2026

Listening, healing, and learning together 💙

A successful week of single-day clinics with Floating Doctors in Shark Hole, Valle Escondido, and Cerro Brujo, bringing medical, dental, and veterinary care to families in need.

Across each community, we were reminded that healthcare is not only about treatment, but about presence, trust, and time shared. We supported chronic patients, pregnant women, children, and new patients through clinic services, and completed 5 home visits for those unable to reach us.

Our dental and veterinary teams worked alongside medical staff through a One Health approach 🦷🐾, caring for people, animals, and the environments they share.

We also welcomed new volunteers and team members who arrived with open hearts, ready to listen, learn, and serve wherever needed.

Through long-standing relationships in the Ngäbe Buglé region, Floating Doctors continues to grow as more than a medical service, built on trust, respect, and shared commitment.

Thank you to our volunteers, staff, and community leaders. Your dedication and humanity make this work possible every week.

Fun fact about this week’s vet team 🌍🐾We have providers from all over the world!🇨🇭 Dr. Saskia from Switzerland🇪🇸 Dr. Son...
05/14/2026

Fun fact about this week’s vet team 🌍🐾
We have providers from all over the world!
🇨🇭 Dr. Saskia from Switzerland
🇪🇸 Dr. Sonia from Spain
🇺🇸 Dr. Lara from the USA
🇬🇧 Newly graduated Dr. Claire from the UK!

✨ Bringing global expertise together to support animal and community health in the Ngäbe-Buglé communities of Panama.

Our Founder & CEO, Ben LaBrot, recently shared this important perspective on the urgent need to expand access to Hepatit...
05/13/2026

Our Founder & CEO, Ben LaBrot, recently shared this important perspective on the urgent need to expand access to Hepatitis C diagnostics and treatment in remote and underserved communities worldwide:

Why are we still making it so hard to say “Yes” to a cure?

In my work with Floating Doctors and as a Medical Affairs lead at Roche, I see the same recurring tragedy: we have a cure for Hepatitis C (HCV) that works in over 95% of cases, yet millions of people remain untreated because our diagnostic “front door” is locked.

Traditional testing is designed for the convenience of modern hospitals, not the reality of the human beings who need help the most. If you live in a remote village in Panama or a high-density community in Rwanda, being told you need a “confirmatory plasma draw” might as well be a death sentence. The cold-chain logistics and specialized handling required for plasma are massive barriers to care.

A new multicenter study published in PLOS Global Public Health shows that we can—and must—do better.

The evidence for decentralization:
• Over 95% sensitivity for HCV RNA detection using simplified collection methods like Plasma Separation Cards (PSC) and Dried Blood Spots (DBS).
• Samples remained stable at ambient temperatures, proving they can survive the journey from a community clinic to a molecular lab without a refrigerator in sight.

This data directly supported updated WHO recommendations for simplified HCV diagnostics and strengthens efforts to make high-quality testing accessible to remote, rural, and underserved communities that currently remain untested—and therefore untreated and uncounted.

If we want to reach the WHO 2030 elimination targets, we have to stop expecting patients to fit into rigid diagnostic systems. We need to make the technology fit their lives.

-Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/gTR4NE2t


-Photo by Neil Parkin

05/13/2026

After months of preparation, this initiative returns for its second consecutive year. Ophthalmic Surgery Week brings together specialized teams to provide sight-restoring procedures for underserved communities. 👁️💙

Focused on cataract and pterygium surgeries, the program delivers comprehensive care from evaluation to treatment and follow-up, helping bring improved vision and quality of life to patients across the region.

A huge thank you to the Floating Doctors team, the Ministry of Health of Panama (MINSA) , Hospital of Bocas del Toro, .missions , , .pa , , Hotel Vista Mar, , Policía Nacional de Panamá in Bocas del Toro, and all the incredible partners and volunteers who made this mission possible through collaboration, dedication, and shared purpose.

Special thanks as well to and for helping share and cover this mission, bringing visibility to the impact of the project and the communities served. 📸💙

We hope to continue growing this project together in the years ahead, bringing hope, healing, and brighter futures to even more communities across Panama. 💙🌍✨

05/12/2026

Join our team! 🌴✨
Ready to make a real impact while living an unforgettable adventure in Panama? Join the Floating Doctors Fellowship Program and become part of a passionate team providing healthcare, education, and support to remote communities with limited access to care.
We’re currently recruiting for roles including Clinic Coordinator, Alternate Provider, Lead Dental Provider, and more opportunities listed on our website!
Explore open positions at floatingdoctors.com/fellowships
Questions? Send us a message — we’d love to hear from you!

Celebrating Mother’s DayHonoring the women who hold communities together with love, strength, and resilience. Thank you ...
05/10/2026

Celebrating Mother’s Day
Honoring the women who hold communities together with love, strength, and resilience. Thank you for all that you do. 💙

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20445 Paradise Lane
Topanga, CA
90290

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