09/24/2019
Since we have been receiving a lot of the same questions recently, we have generated 5 FAQ that should help you during this process:
1. Donation Goal
The donation goal that each brigadier must raise is basically the cost of the trip. The money will go towards lodging, food, transportation, translators, security and etc.
The donation goal does not include two things. The first one being the flights. However, once we have our group selected GMB will provide discounted flights so we can all travel as a group and be picked up from the airport together. The second thing that it does not cover is money to buy souvenirs. Even though much of our time will be spent helping others in remote villages, the lodging facilities and airport gift shops do have souvenirs that many students utilized last year.
2. Language Barrier
You do NOT need to know Spanish to attend this trip. Global Medical Brigades provides on-site translators that travel with us from the moment we arrive in Honduras to the moment we leave.
3. Fundraising
From October until May we will be hosting multiple fundraising events, reaching out to local business and charity drives that will help offset the cost as much as possible. I understand that the donation goal of this trip carries a hefty price tag. However, it is my goal not to let that be a limiting factor, I myself had to work two jobs to be able to attend the trip but do this day I do not regret it one bit. I hope that many of you do not have to be put in that position so that is why we already have many fundraisers set up. Additionally, friends and family will be allowed to donate to your brigade page without an additional cost and will also receive a tax deduction.
4. Pre-Health?
You do NOT have to be a pre-health student to attend this trip. We are looking for passionate individuals that want to help others. However, this is a great opportunity for those who want clinical and volunteering experience. We will be working in a clinical setting for 3 days where you shadow physicians, dentists, pharmacists, etc. The next following days are filled with numerous volunteering opportunities that are focused on public health, prevention and sanitization. Also, you get to network with other schools. While on our brigade last year we were able to meet students from Texan Christian University, Boston University, John Hopkins University, and Cornell University.
5. Applicant Process
As mentioned before there are many individuals interested in joining our organization. Due to the high demand, we will be prioritizing upperclassmen since they have limited chances to participate in such a brigade. NEVERTHELESS, if you are an underclassman do not feel discouraged. If your responses resonate with our organization we will consider your application as much as we would an upperclassman.v
09/20/2019
If you are interested in participating in our May 2020 Brigade to Honduras, learn more about the program in our presentation from this week's meeting!
Here is the link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19xlpkGSKdUSFDv85RIMeXncmWUukxkjV9QCQXUDgfI0/edit =id.g62b447680d_1_15
Here is the application to volunteer this upcoming brigade: https://forms.gle/XsDdznJpDaE2qN1fA
The application deadline is on September 29 at 11:59pm and acceptances will be given out on October 2nd!
Please feel free to email me at [email protected] for any questions or concerns.
Global Medical Brigades @ Arizona State University
GLOBAL MEDICAL BRIGADES Arizona State University
09/18/2019
Thank you to those who came to the meeting last night! We are excited to open the application for the Global Medical Brigade for May 15-23,2020 to Honduras! The deadline is on September 29th and Acceptances will be given out on October 2nd! Looking forward to hearing everyone’s responses!
Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScd3s1m2fXIcBItduM6gZZdGjVJSucAZw0Lho0qw7-qUzYTVg/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.1544433875=k&entry.356980285=k&entry.1153348302=Freshman&entry.154370987=Pre-Med&entry.661751856=f&entry.942177316=f&entry.422906490=f&entry.1040260021=Yes
09/16/2019
Tonight is the First General Meeting for this year’s Global Medical Brigade! It will be held at Memorial Union, Room 228 at 7pm - 8pm! We are excited to see all of you!
09/16/2019
Meet Christina Jos! She is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences and expects to graduate in 2021 with the hopes of becoming a Physician Assistant!
She initially joined Global Medical Brigades because gaining hands on medical experience while helping people from less fortunate countries where basic healthcare needs are not as accessible seemed like an opportunity she couldn't miss!
For the Medical Clinic days, the dental station was her favorite as she shadowed some incredible doctors who taught her a lot and put their trust in her to help them help the patients! Getting to know the families of the community on a more personal level and bond with their children made the public health days a lot of fun. Being able to provide functioning hygiene stations and running water to such loving families was extremely rewarding for Christina!
Overall, it gave her an insight to what working as a physician assistant would be like, humbled and inspired me to continue to go on more medical brigades and help more people around the world! In fact, she celebrated her 21st birthday during the brigade and Christina was grateful for that opportunity!
09/16/2019
Meet your president, Kamila Tychonowicz! She is majoring in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior) and Psychology and expects to graduate in May 2020! Kamila’s future career goal is to be a caring physician whether that be a neurologist, psychiatrist or emergency room physician!
She initially joined Global Medical Brigade because Kamila thinks it is important to remember about the lives that live outside of our borders. What drives Kamila’s passion is that her parents are immigrants from Poland and they always solidified in her that there are so many cultures out there and to never limit myself to just her own zip code!
As this year’s president, Kamila is in charge of coordinating and leading this year's brigade to Honduras. She decided to make a slight change in the campus organization. Just like people in Honduras, there are underserved populations here in Phoenix as well. Before attending the brigade in May, she wants all members to volunteer at communities. In addition, Kamila oversees all of the officer's responsibilities as well. However, she states she was blessed with such a wonderful team that are really proactive with all their responsibilities and she trusts them with all their choices!
After going on the brigade, she learned that happiness is not measured by the amount of items you surround yourself with but with individuals such as family and friends. While she was in Honduras, she met people that lived in poverty stricken conditions but thanked God everyday for their lives, health and family. From them, she has also learned to treat everyone with love, respect and an open heart because every interaction we have with other individuals leaves a lasting mutual impact.
In the end, Kamila looks forward to making new lasting memories with the brigaders as well as the GMB staff! She cannot wait to get back out to the communities and help a new group of people gain medical care and public health knowledge. Kamila is also excited to meet the people of our own communities in the Phoenix area!
09/09/2019
Meet Ethan Nguyen! He is majoring in Biology and expects to graduate in 2020 with the hopes of becoming a Sports Medicine Doctor!
Ethan wanted to join Global Medical Brigade because he wanted the opportunity to learn hands on skills when it came to medicine and wanted to visit Honduras to learn more about the local culture!
For the medical clinic days, his memorable part was hanging out with all the kids and running around with them. He recalls the children having so much energy and never wanting to stop playing.
For the public health days, he treasures the care that his peers and the Honduran family had when he fell asleep due to being exhausted during the building process, but no one bothered to disturb him!
Overall, this brigade developed his knowledge of other cultures. Ethan claims that diversity can be difficult at times and talking with the people from the local communities allowed him to learn more from them. This experience has allowed him to get exposure to what it was like to provide medical aid to a local community! Ethan eventually wants to do the same with his own career in the future!
09/06/2019
Meet this year’s Vice President, Oscar Villarreal! He is majoring in Biology (Neurobiology, physiology and behavior) with a minor in Spanish and Business!
As the Vice President, he will be working side by side with the President when making decisions for the club, interacting with Global Brigades’ staff, interacting with club members as well as keeping track of their attendance as well as extracurricular activities!
After going to the 9-day brigade, it made Oscar realize how fortunate he is, it changed the way he looks at life, and it made him appreciate little things in a way that words cannot describe. It was a humbling but yet rewarding experience that enabled him to appreciate life.
Oscar looks forward to meeting new members that can help us grow as a club at ASU! He also looks forward to fundraising many resources, getting plenty of community service hours and sharing his experience to his peers to ultimately have a very successful brigade next year!
09/05/2019
Meet Leslie Portillo! She is double-majoring in Biochemistry and Anthropology and expects to graduate in 2021 with the hopes of becoming a Pediatrician!!
She initially joined ASU’s Global Medical Brigade because her father is from El Salvador (Honduras's neighbor!) and she has witnessed first hand the living situation that many individuals live in. Therefore, Leslie wanted to give my time to helping countries similar to where my mother and father grew up.
For the Medical Clinic days, her favorite experience was working the triage station and getting to know the locals of Choluteca. Leslie also enjoyed translating for Kyle and learning the different medical diagnosis!
For the Public Health days, her most memorable experience was working with the son of the family and helping him build his family a bathroom from the ground up. Also, seeing the family's smile as they gave them their bag of goodies was something she’ll never forget. Leslie never felt so appreciated for my time than I did over those three days.
Overall, the brigade made Leslie realize how crucial it is to be aware of the circumstances many other individuals are living in. It is one thing to read/hear about it but it is another to actually witness it first hand. Leslie states she would rather live a short existence spending it doing something meaningful and helping others. Lastly, Global Medical Brigade cemented her career choice as it helped her realize that she wants to continue helping others and she hopes to do that through medicine.
09/04/2019
Meet Raj Jain! He is majoring in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behaviorism) and will be graduating in May of 2021 with the aspiration to become a cardiothoracic surgeon!
Raj joined GMB because he found the idea of helping treat patients and building hygiene stations in various villages very compelling! For the medical portion of the trip, his memorable part was checking the blood pressure of the patients while simultaneously assisting a doctor treat their patients. The relief and joy patients felt once they were treated fortified his decision of pursuing a career in medicine!
For the public health days, Raj found pleasure in seeing how a few college students and masons were able to build something that would be very useful for members in the village.
Through the 9 day brigade, Raj realized how much he takes for granted and how lucky he is to have easy accessibility to pristine medical facilities anytime. He applied this mentality into his own daily life by helping serve food in homeless shelters and starting to participate in marine conservation programs!
In the end, Global Medical Brigade has definitely heightened his passion in the medical field and provided him with insurmountable joy and the realization to become a physician in the future!
09/03/2019
Meet your GB Campus Chairperson, Brandon Bourquin! He is majoring in Biological Sciences and will be graduating this Spring 2020 with the future goal of being an Anesthesiologist.
He joined Global Medical Brigade because he wanted to make a positive impact in impoverished communities while gaining clinical experience! As the Campus Chairperson, Brandon is responsible for uniting all GB chapters on campus and representing the group’s best interests in the voting process!
After participating in the Honduras Brigade this summer, he states that it was a transformative experience. Brandon claims that the work was extremely rewarding and humbling. He returned with a refreshed perspective on life and felt determined to continue making an impact!
Brandon looks forward to the fundraising and donation gathering because he anticipates that we will be able to raise more than last year!
You can contact Brandon through email, [email protected]
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