Global Medical Brigades is the world’s largest student-led movement for global health and sustainable development. Through Medical, Dental, Public Health, Water, Business, and Engineering Brigades, students and professionals work in partnership with rural communities to improve access to healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and economic opportunities. Since its founding, Global Brigades has mobilized more than 94,000 volunteers, empowered over 1 million community members, and partnered with 829 communities across Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, and Belize.

Global Brigades is more than a volunteer trip, it’s a movement. What sets us apart is our Holistic Model, which combines medical care with public health, water, and economic projects to address the root causes of health inequities.

Unlike many short-term programs, we have full-time in-country teams who partner with communities year-round. Medical and Dental Brigades return to the same communities every 3–6 months, ensuring continuity of care until local systems are strong enough to meet long-term needs.

Participation isn’t free, but you don’t “pay” to join either. Instead, volunteers fundraise a set Donation Goal that directly supports Global Brigades’ Holistic Model. Once that goal is met, you’re eligible to join a Brigade and see your impact in action on the ground.

Your Donation Goal covers:

• Ground transportation, food, lodging, airfare if purchase through us, and emergency insurance
• Program costs, like medical equipment, local doctors, pharmacists, translators, and support staff

This way, every dollar raised goes beyond your Brigade, it strengthens sustainable health systems in partner communities.

Learn more on our Financials page

Yes. Your safety is our top priority. Before entering any community or project, we carefully evaluate conditions and follow strict safety protocols. Each country where we work has established procedures to reduce risk and ensure that, in the event of an emergency, our teams can respond quickly and professionally.

Every volunteer is also covered by emergency medical insurance, and we work closely with local leaders and staff to make sure you feel supported and secure throughout your Brigade.

Learn more about Safety and Security procedures.

Starting a Global Medical Brigades Chapter means becoming a leader on your campus and helping your peers make a real global impact. As a Chapter President, you’ll:

• Build your leadership team by forming an executive board of passionate students
• Recruit and fundraise with your board to grow your Chapter and support your Brigade
• Plan your Brigade by selecting a country and dates for your trip
• Prepare your team with pre-departure training—learn medical terms in Spanish, practice using electronic medical records, and study healthcare in your destination country
• Sustain your Chapter by hosting meetings and activities throughout the school year, keeping members engaged even after your trip
• Chapter Leaders also have the opportunity to earn a full Brigade scholarship for their role.

And don’t worry, you won’t do this alone. Every new Chapter gets paired with a Success Advisor and a Program Advisor who will guide and support you every step of the way.

Not necessarily. If your campus already has a Global Brigades Chapter, you can join their upcoming Brigade.

If your school doesn’t have a Chapter, you have two options:

• Start a Chapter at your university with support from our staff (a great way to build leadership skills and leave a legacy on campus).
• Join another university’s Chapter that has an upcoming Brigade, so you can still participate without leading a Chapter.

We’ve found that starting a Chapter gives students the most rewarding leadership experience, but either path allows you to be part of a Brigade and make a global impact.

It’s easy! Just visit our University map to search for your campus.

• If your school already has a Chapter, we’ll connect you to their leaders and upcoming Brigade plans.
• If your school doesn’t have a Chapter—or if it’s currently inactive—you have the chance to start one yourself and build a lasting legacy on your campus while mobilizing students for global health.

Actually, it’s the opposite! If your school doesn’t already have a Chapter, the best way to get involved is to start one yourself. Leading a Chapter gives you the full Brigade experience from planning, recruiting, fundraising, and traveling with your team, all while making a lasting impact on your campus and abroad.

Ready to lead? Just go to the contact form below and select the option “I want to be a Medical Brigades leader.”

On its own, no single 7-day Medical Brigade is sustainable. But each Brigade is part of our Holistic Model, a long-term approach that combines short-term volunteer efforts with year-round work led by our in-country teams.

Our teams partner with communities every day to strengthen three core areas:

• Healthcare (regular Medical & Dental Brigades + local health initiatives)
• WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects)
• Economic Development (supporting financial literacy, small businesses, and local systems)

We don’t implement projects for communities, we implement them with communities. Together, we work toward six goals of what we call an
Empowered Community:

1. Regular, affordable access to a doctor and prescription medication
2. Daily access to a trained Community Health Worker
3. Continuous access to a clean water system with a Water Council in place
4. Over 90% of households using latrines, eco-stoves, and water filters
5. Access to affordable credit through a Community Bank
6. Ongoing technical capacity for income creation and diversification

All of this is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring Brigades contribute to lasting, measurable impact.

As a student volunteer, you’ll be immersed in every part of the clinic experience.
You will:

• Shadow licensed medical professionals during full patient consultations
• Observe doctors as they diagnose and prescribe treatments
• Support pharmacists in preparing and distributing medications

While students don’t provide direct medical care, these roles give you valuable exposure to global health in action.

For licensed healthcare professionals, there may be opportunities to work directly with patients alongside our local teams.

Yes! One of the most valuable parts of a Medical Brigade is the chance to learn directly from licensed healthcare professionals. Many of our doctors are trained to create an inclusive, collaborative environment for students, answering questions, explaining diagnoses, and sharing their reasoning as they care for patients.

Every Brigade is a little different, but we always encourage our doctors to make the clinic a meaningful educational experience while still prioritizing efficient, effective care for patients.

For patient safety, volunteers are not permitted to perform procedures or give medical advice unless licensed to do so in their home country.

All funds raised go directly to Global Brigades, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) and are non-refundable, since they support our programs and partner communities. If you can’t attend your scheduled Brigade after meeting your Donation Goal, you have options:

• Find a replacement volunteer to take your place so your commitment to the community is still fulfilled.
• Postpone your participation for up to one year, as long as you cancel at least 14 days before your scheduled arrival.

For more details, please see our cancellation and refund policies.