FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you tell me more about what I would be doing if I volunteered for a medical brigade?
Medical Brigade volunteers travel to Central America or Africa to participate in a one-week medical clinic in remote communities that lack basic healthcare. Global Medical Brigades allows volunteers to perform and participate in the various activities of the mobile medical clinic. This includes helping triage and take vital signs, shadowing licensed doctors and professionals in consultations, working in the pharmacy to fill the medicines that the doctors prescribed, and facilitating health education workshops. Volunteers with all levels of experience and skills are welcome and encouraged to participate in our Medical Brigades.
Will I be able to actually work directly with patients? I want more patient contact.
If you want more patient contact as an undergraduate, Medical Brigades provides a unique opportunity for you to work closely with patients in communities. Students will be able to shadow licensed medical professionals as they give full consultations, observe doctors as they prescribe medications for patients, and assist pharmacists in filling prescriptions.
Healthcare professionals , if accredited throug the brigade, may be permitted to work directly with patients. Click here to learn more about the roles of healtcare professionals on brigades.
I want to do more than just watch a doctor. Will I actually be able to participate in the examination and discuss potential diagnosis with the doctor?
Specific volunteer experiences vary between brigades. Many of our doctors have been trained to create an inclusive and collaborative environment with the students. We encourage all our doctors to make the Medical Brigades an educational experience for the students, while still providing efficient and effective care for our patients.
For patient safety, no volunteers will be allowed to do procedures that they are not licensed to do in their home countries.
How is Global Brigades different from other medical volunteering programs I’ve heard about?
Global Brigades is unique in many ways. First, Global Brigades acts as an empowering movement by offering a Holistic Model for sustainable development and healthcare in the communities we serve. Unlike other organizations, we not only support our volunteers but also have an on-the-ground team that works with the communities to improve community health year-round. Global Brigades combats health discrepancies in our communities not only through medical clinics, but also through public health and water infrastructure projects. We also send Medical/Dental Brigades to our partner communities every 3-6 months in order to provide sustainable medical care.
I am a medical student or medical resident. Can I participate as a healthcare professional?
This varies from country to country. Contact your Chapter Advisor or [email protected] for more information.
Where do the funds I raise go?
Your in-country costs are split between several areas such as food, lodging, transportation, year-round programming, and staffing. The complete breakdown can be seen here.
Is this safe?
The safety of the student volunteers is Global Brigades’ number one priority and is the single most important consideration when entering a community or choosing a project. Each country that Global Brigades serves in has implemented safety protocols and policies to decrease any risk of danger and to ensure that any emergency can be properly handled in a prompt and professional manner. For more information on safety precautions, emergency procedures and insurance information, please visit Safety and Insurance on the Volunteer Resource Site.
Medical Brigade volunteers travel to Central America or Africa to participate in a one-week medical clinic in remote communities that lack basic healthcare. Global Medical Brigades allows volunteers to perform and participate in the various activities of the mobile medical clinic. This includes helping triage and take vital signs, shadowing licensed doctors and professionals in consultations, working in the pharmacy to fill the medicines that the doctors prescribed, and facilitating health education workshops. Volunteers with all levels of experience and skills are welcome and encouraged to participate in our Medical Brigades.
Will I be able to actually work directly with patients? I want more patient contact.
If you want more patient contact as an undergraduate, Medical Brigades provides a unique opportunity for you to work closely with patients in communities. Students will be able to shadow licensed medical professionals as they give full consultations, observe doctors as they prescribe medications for patients, and assist pharmacists in filling prescriptions.
Healthcare professionals , if accredited throug the brigade, may be permitted to work directly with patients. Click here to learn more about the roles of healtcare professionals on brigades.
I want to do more than just watch a doctor. Will I actually be able to participate in the examination and discuss potential diagnosis with the doctor?
Specific volunteer experiences vary between brigades. Many of our doctors have been trained to create an inclusive and collaborative environment with the students. We encourage all our doctors to make the Medical Brigades an educational experience for the students, while still providing efficient and effective care for our patients.
For patient safety, no volunteers will be allowed to do procedures that they are not licensed to do in their home countries.
How is Global Brigades different from other medical volunteering programs I’ve heard about?
Global Brigades is unique in many ways. First, Global Brigades acts as an empowering movement by offering a Holistic Model for sustainable development and healthcare in the communities we serve. Unlike other organizations, we not only support our volunteers but also have an on-the-ground team that works with the communities to improve community health year-round. Global Brigades combats health discrepancies in our communities not only through medical clinics, but also through public health and water infrastructure projects. We also send Medical/Dental Brigades to our partner communities every 3-6 months in order to provide sustainable medical care.
I am a medical student or medical resident. Can I participate as a healthcare professional?
This varies from country to country. Contact your Chapter Advisor or [email protected] for more information.
Where do the funds I raise go?
Your in-country costs are split between several areas such as food, lodging, transportation, year-round programming, and staffing. The complete breakdown can be seen here.
Is this safe?
The safety of the student volunteers is Global Brigades’ number one priority and is the single most important consideration when entering a community or choosing a project. Each country that Global Brigades serves in has implemented safety protocols and policies to decrease any risk of danger and to ensure that any emergency can be properly handled in a prompt and professional manner. For more information on safety precautions, emergency procedures and insurance information, please visit Safety and Insurance on the Volunteer Resource Site.