In the News

James Madison University Global Medical Brigades 3rd Annual Shamrock 5k is a 5k with a deeper purpose. Global Medical Brigades is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that connects people in developing nations to healthcare through the establishment of clinics, facilities, and resources. Here at James Madison University, a chapter of this organization was created two years ago by Elizabeth Manning and Kayci Carrier, now our former President and current Vice President. Two years ago, with the help of the fundraising team and their efforts to start the tradition of a 5k fundraiser for the organization, they were able to send over 20 volunteers on a week-long brigade to Honduras to volunteer and serve in the community through medical care.

A University of Cincinnati College of Medicine faculty member is working to buck a trend by creating sustainable funding models for global oral health initiatives.

Priyanka Gudsoorkar hopes to help organizations consciously move away from what is referred to as “parachuting” and “voluntourism” trends and to instead create impactful global cooperation with sustained funding that also utilizes knowledge exchanges, skill transfers and meaningful volunteering.

Several University of Mary Washington students spent a few of the first days of 2025 in Central America helping individuals of Panama with essential health care services.

Katrina Zaki, a senior biomedical sciences major and vice president of UMW’s chapter of Global Medical Brigades (GMB), and several fellow Eagles collaborated with the international nonprofit to provide sustainable medical solutions and education in remote and underserved communities.

“I found my GMB experience humbling and am so grateful to be able to help individuals and be surrounded by others who care just as much as I do about health care,” said Zaki, who is also in UMW’s pre-physician assistant program. “The Panamanians are some of the most kindhearted people and I cannot wait to go on the next brigade.”

University of Mary Washington senior Katrina Zaki spent some of the first days of the year in Central America, thousands of miles from home, helping people she’d never met.

Zaki, a biomedical sciences major and vice president of UMW’s chapter of Global Medical Brigades (GMB), was part of a group of Mary Washington students who kicked off 2025 in collaboration with the international nonprofit to bring essential health care services, sustainable medical solutions and education to remote and underserved communities.

What do K-pop and the Global Medical Brigades have in common?

They are both organizations at Oklahoma State and were featured at the Student Involvement Fair on Wednesday.

The fair happens once a semester and showcases many different organizations and clubs on campus to students. For a couple of hours, the Student Union Ballroom overflows with tables, posters and students ready to share what sets them apart.

Ole Miss Global Brigades students Keerthin Karthikeyan (left) and Hunter Peoples (right) and about 20 other Ole Miss students left the Memphis Airport this morning for Belize City in Central America to serve a needy population during Christmas break. Keerthin is an honor student and Eagle Scout. Hunter Peoples is the chapter president. The Ed and Becky Meek Foundation is honored to provided support to Keerthin on this Global Brigades trip.

The people of Nyamebekyere and Brenyi can now enjoy access to clean drinking water, thanks to the installation of pipe-born water systems by Global Brigades.

Global Brigades (GB) is an international non-profit organization consisting of students from different universities around the world. The organization takes a holistic approach to meeting the health and economic needs of communities across South America, Ghana, and Greece. The Global Brigades University of Alberta Chapter (GB U of A) is one of several university chapters around the world.

In Paula Caligiuri’s international business class, a group of students used consulting and cultural skills to help a Honduran small business owner, demonstrating creativity, adaptability and real-world problem-solving

In a significant effort to improve the lives of people in deprived communities, GBO Ghana Limited by Guarantee (Global Brigades), a non-profit organization, has successfully implemented a series of projects in the Abura Asiebu Kwamankese District in the Central Region. Three communities, namely Ayeldu, Nyamebekyere, and Brenyi in the Kwamankese traditional area, have benefited from the aspect of their program, which aims to provide access to clean water, promote education, and support healthcare development.