-2.png)
ECU Dental Brigades was named the 2025–2026 Outstanding Student Organization of the Year at East Carolina University, the highest honor a student organization can receive on campus. It's a recognition that reflects not just what this group accomplished, but how they did it: with purpose, heart, and an unwavering commitment to serving others.
A Movement of Impact Built by Students, for Students.
ECU Dental Brigades isn't your average pre-dental club; the Dental Chapter redefined what meaningful engagement looks like for aspiring healthcare professionals at East Carolina University.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, the organization raised an extraordinary $72,554 in fundraising. Not through a single gala or a university grant, but through the collective hustle, creativity, and commitment of students who believe deeply in the mission.
149 Patients. 18 Students. One Rural Community in Panama.
For their 2025 Brigade ECU brought 18 volunteers to rural, underserved communities in Panama, places where access to basic dental care is not a given, but a rare gift.
Over the course of the Brigade, ECU’s chapter provided dental care to 149 patients.
Students rotated through every layer of care:
- Triage — assessing and prioritizing patients for treatment
- Charla (Educational Workshops) — leading oral health education sessions with community members
- Dental Station — shadowing licensed dentists with cleanings, extractions, and fillings
- Pharmacy & Data Informatics — dispensing medications, recording patient information, and maintaining continuity of care
"What impacted me most was the gratitude and resilience of the patients we served. This experience deepened my understanding of global health disparities and reinforced my commitment to service-driven healthcare." — Daniel Walker, Current SGA Student Body President
And the word started to travel fast afterwards, especially when something is transformational. The club's GroupMe grew from 37 to 113 members.
"Dental Brigades has been one of the most impactful organizations I've been a part of on campus. I can't think of any other student organization that provides the same combination of hands-on clinical exposure, meaningful service, and professional development opportunities." — Andrew Ormond, Pre-PA Student
Where Brigades Meet the Classroom
One of the boldest moves ECU Dental Brigades made this year was bridging the gap between volunteering and academics.
In partnership with the ECU Department of Biology, the organization helped establish BIOL 4991: Biology Internship, a tiered academic course that transforms the Brigade experience into college credit.
Of the 25 students who went to Panama in 2026, 15 are earning academic credit. And they're not just logging hours, they're building real competencies:
- Understanding Panamanian culture, oral health risk factors, and barriers to care
- Learning dental Spanish terminology and culturally competent patient interaction
- Studying the structure of mobile clinics and clinical workflow
- Engaging in critical reflection on ethics, sustainability, and global health equity
The course is structured in tiers — 1, 2, and 3 credits — with each level demanding deeper leadership, scholarship, and applied impact. Three-credit students are expected to design, implement, and evaluate their own focused health projects during the Brigade.
"My experience with Dental Brigades in Panama was one of the most meaningful aspects of my undergraduate education... it prompted me to think more critically about the value of service and leadership, and about the duty of healthcare professionals to reach underserved communities." — Aaron Mulkey, Pre-Dental Student & Incoming ECU School of Dental Medicine Student
What This Means for Students
Your undergraduate years can be more than preparation.
You don't have to wait until dental school to make a difference. You don't have to wait to lead. You don't have to wait to understand what it truly means to serve.
"Dental Brigades is an experience I will truly never forget... It brought together pre-dental, pre-med, and pre-PA students, uniting us in a shared mission to deliver transformative care to individuals in need." — Mallorie Moore, Pre-Dental Student
Earning the title of Outstanding Student Organization of the Year isn't the finish line for ECU Dental Brigades. It's fuel. For 2026, ECU brought 25 volunteers to Panama on another successful Brigade as they continue to create impact.
Want to make an impact on a Medical Brigade? Get involved!
