These ideas range from volunteer work to paid entrepreneurial ventures for physicians.

The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have highlighted both the dire need for immediate relief services, as well as the philanthropic urge that lives in the hearts of many doctors.

Organizations such as Doctors without Borders offer the chance to get involved on a regular basis once you are in the approved "pool" of candidates.

Or The International Rescue Committee.

Or World Vision International.

Your local religious institution or Red Cross chapter may also seek volunteers at the time of a disaster, as they did in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

To keep tabs on international disaster relief needs, look no further than the Center for International Disaster Information.

Medical travel (or medical tourism as it is also known) focuses on helping patients get non-emergent care in parts of the world other than their home countries. Roles for physicians include setting up contracts with international hospitals and providers, making arrangements for post-treatment care, international telehealth, or even becoming a Joint Commission International surveyor of international hospitals seeking accreditation.

Air rescue, air ambulances, medevac -- these terms describe services that are usually underwritten by insurance policies that cover emergency care needs while traveling or working in international communities.Originating with the Flying Doctors of Australia and the military, these services transport ill patients from remote areas to centers of care.

Some of these companies, such as Trinity Air Ambulance International and AirMD, are physician-owned and operated entrepreneurial ventures.

Mission Finder offers a directory of several faith-based medical and dental mission opportunities.

Medical students and residents in search of intriguing rotations may want to take advantage of an organization such as Child Family Health International that arranges for you to work as a team member in one of their many globally-based programs.

For the alert physician with a flexible schedule who would love to combine travel and work, there are positions posted such as this wilderness medicine job list, this Alaska field physician position, this cruise ship job site, and this field physician position in Antarctica  (links may be gone by the time you read this)

Physicians craving the adventure of a paid international position would do well to check out sites such as International Medical Corps that offer both voluntary and paid positions (here is their list of positions).

Or AMI Healthcare.

Or Global Medical Staffing.

Or Global Corporate Careers.

Plus the many others that show up on a Google search for "international work for physicians"!

The ultimate concierge doctor is one who serves as the private physician to a small handful of (or perhaps even just one) top executives or hugely wealthy individuals. Or the President of the United States! The goal is to be the medical expert that accompanies such a person, along with the family or team, on his or her global travels.

These positions are invariably not posted on job boards, but acquired instead through one's own practice or excellent networking in influential circles.