When I stepped off the plane in Panama in June 2022 for my first Global Medical Brigade,I was both nervous and excited. International travel had just reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Three years later, I’m now getting ready to lead my first Alumni Brigade, and I’ve found my calling in global health. Here's my story.
My First Brigade Changed Everything
What initially drew me to Global Brigades was simple: the opportunity to combine two passions, traveling and healthcare. But once I arrived in Panama, I discovered something much deeper than a volunteering trip.
GB truly lives up to its mission! It's not about coming in for one week and leaving, it's about building sustainable systems, educating communities, and working with them rather than for them.
The authenticity of the Global Brigades’ holistic model, combined with the passion of staff and volunteers, convinced me to stay involved and join the executive board back at the University of Maryland.
The People Who Shaped My Journey
Among countless memorable experiences, one person stands out from my first Brigade: Diego, our Brigade on the ground coordinator and doctor. With his great sense of humor and dedication to teaching, Diego took time to show volunteers everything from how he drew blood to performing consults on infants and using ultrasound with pregnant patients.
But it wasn't just the clinical learning that made an impact. When our team surprised one of our interpreters on his birthday with a cake following our clinic day, I realized something special. This moment set the tone for how GB truly becomes a family.
What I Wish I’d Known Before My First Brigade
Now, as someone who is an experienced Brigade leader, my focus is on honest, thorough preparation for new volunteers. I believe in sharing raw, honest feedback and practical tips—everything I wish I'd known on my first Brigade.
During my time on the UMD executive board, I helped organize comprehensive pre-Brigade preparation, including:
- Panels where past Brigaders shared experiences
- Hygiene bag prep workshops with patient education training
- Packing calls and donation check-ins
- Ethics training and cultural considerations
- Code of conduct sessions to avoid savior complex
My goal has always been to make volunteers feel prepared, comfortable, and confident before they go.
How Brigades Shaped My Path to Medicine
Medical Brigades has greatly influenced my career path. While I’ve always been interested in surgery, my Brigade experiences opened my eyes to the beauty of family and internal medicine, creating comprehensive treatment plans, treating whole families, and seeing patients as people first.
The impact was so significant that I decided to take a gap year before medical school to continue this work with an Alumni Brigade. As a future healthcare professional, Medical Brigades have shaped me into a more well-rounded pre-med student with a stronger understanding of holistic care, social determinants of health, and the critical importance of bilingualism in healthcare.
It's my goal to one day practice medicine fluently in both English and Spanish to provide equitable care.
Why I Keep Coming Back
What keeps me coming back, Brigade after Brigade, is simple. It’s the growth and impact. Every Brigade is different. There are always new patients, new lessons, new perspectives, and new personal growth. It never feels repetitive, and the impact is undeniable.
My transition from being on Brigades to leading an Alumni Brigade stems from a desire to broaden opportunities and expand impact, especially for graduates who might have missed out during their undergraduate years but still want to experience healthcare abroad.
Once you go on a Brigade, it's hard not to fall in love with it!
What is Next?
As Global Brigades celebrates its 20th anniversary, I’m excited about what the next two decades will bring. The organization's expansion to countries like Ghana and Belize has been particularly inspiring to me, and I see incredible potential for continued growth.
With every new program, from medical to dental, public health, water, business, and more, the holistic model only gets stronger!
As I prepare to enter medical school, I’m committed to staying involved with Global Brigades as a future physician. My journey from nervous first-time volunteer to confident Alumni Brigade Chapter leader exemplifies the transformative power of sustainable, community-centered global health work.
Interested in joining a Brigade? See if your campus has a Chapter and join an upcoming info session to learn more this fall!
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