FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why Global Medical Brigades? How is Global Brigades different from other medical service trips?
Global Medical Brigade provides students a chance to immerse themselves in volunteer experiences particularly customized to provide future health care experiences in engaging and connecting closely with families and communities with various backgrounds and adversities.
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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, until the community has the infrastructure to provide care to patients.
What will I get out of it?
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Hopefully a realization that you can change someone's life who doesn't have the same as you, for the better.
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What is the cost of a brigade?
The cost depends on the brigade you choose, however, the total will include housing, airfare, and food for the whole 6-7 days.
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Where do the funds I raise go?
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Volunteers fundraise to support Global Brigades’ Holistic Model. Once a volunteer meets a set Donation Goal, they are eligible to join us on-the-ground to see their fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Medical Brigade.
When a volunteer participates in a Medical Brigade, the volunteer’s ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding that the volunteer raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as medications, equipment, local doctors, pharmacists, translators, and support staff.
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Are scholarships are available?
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Yes! UH Global Medical Brigades will be awarding scholarships to our most active members. We also highly recommend applying to the UH Learning Abroad IEFS Scholarship for study abroad programs.
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So, what do you do exactly during a brigade?
Medical Brigade volunteers travel to five different countries, however, it depends on the chapter on which country they choose to participate in a one-week medical clinic in remote communities that lack basic healthcare. Global Medical Brigades allows volunteers to 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 under pharmacist supervision, and facilitating health education workshops. Volunteers with all levels of experience and skills are welcome and encouraged to participate in our Medical Brigades.
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Where can I go to learn more and prepare for my brigade?
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Global Brigades Volunteer Tools is a great resource to explore to prepare and learn about your brigade.
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Help! I don't have a US Passport, how can I get a passport or obtain a travel VISA?
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If you don’t have a passport or have one that is expiring soon, Learning Abroad offers free passport services to UH students through Passport for Coogs.
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If you don’t have a US Passport or are on VISA, let us know ASAP, we can assist you but you must take the initiative to start the process yourself. Contact us via email [ officers@gmbuofh.org ] or during carrel hours.
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After the brigade, will there be other schools that go to the same communities we did? Is GMB sustainable?
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Yes. Global Brigades (GB) sends a chapter to each community every 3-4 months for follow up and continued care. GB’s model of sustainability promotes continued care and is one of the few organizations that does not just provide medical care and never go back. GMB takes pride in the fact that they provide continuous care and even train community health workers to look after the community between brigades.
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Do I have to be a UH student to attend the brigade?
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While our chapter is aimed at UH students, any student is able to attend our brigade as long as they remain active within our chapter.
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Do I have to be a pre-health major to join?
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No! We have no major requirements and are always encouraging non pre-health majors to join us. Brigades are a learning experience for all majors truly eye-opening no matter what your career choice is.
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What is the membership fee?
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The membership fee is $60 per year. This helps to pay for medical supplies need on the brigade as well as day-to-day chapter expenses, such as food and drinks at meetings, and includes a complimentary T-shirt.
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What does GMB do throughout the year to prepare for brigades? How can I get involved?
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Throughout the year GMB hosts meetings, workshops, fundraising, and social events to help prepare brigaders for brigades. During our workshops we teach basic language spoken in each country, how to take triage/vital signs, and have optional certifications.
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