Hands-On International Medical Experience for Faculty and Students
“Improving Children's Health and Well- Being Since 2004”
The Global Medical Academy provides high school students and faculty with the unique opportunity to gain hands-on international clinical experience while helping to bring essential medical services to the families that need it most.
On 7-10 day programs, students gain 30+ hours of hands-on experience in patient intake, triage, patient consultation (shadowing doctors), and support in the pharmacy while volunteering in rural clinics. The program also includes fun and engaging cultural and enrichment activities each day that allow the students to immerse in the local country.
Global Brigades will meet the students at the airport and organize all food, lodging, transportation, and logistics during their stay. Faculty travel for free and support students on their learning journey.
Global Brigades invites you to join a Summer Academy or organize your own Custom Date Academy for your students.
Organize Your Own Medical Academy
Create your perfect Medical Academy!
For faculty or student groups (minimum 12 students), Global Brigades can work with you to build a custom Medical Academy of 7-10 days. Each program is designed to meet your goals and objectives, including customization itineraries and optional enrichment activity add-ons. These programs can choose custom dates, any time of the year.
Our amazing international team will work with you to build and implement the Medical Academy that fits your needs and provides you and your student group with the experience of a lifetime. Two faculty travel at NO COST with 12+ students.
Join a Summer Medical Academy!
Every summer, we invite faculty and students to join an 8-day Summer Medical Acadent alongside a cohort of other high school students and faculty from across the country. These programs are open to individual students and chapters of 3+ students with one free faculty.
Belize, Panama, Greece
2027
Session 1: June 6 – 13
Session 2: June 13 – 20
Session 3: June 20 – 27
Session 4: June 27 – July 4
Session 5: July 4 – 11
Session 6: July 11 – 18
Session 7: July 18 – 25
Where We Work
Program Learning Outcomes
By the end of Global Medical Academy, students will have strengthened their ability to:
- Conduct intake and triage, including taking blood pressure, weight and height
- Support operations in a mobile clinic, including pharmacy and shadowing doctor consultations
- Discuss hygiene, nutrition, oral health, and wellness topics
- Participate in community health education activities.
- Navigate cross-cultural healthcare environments with confidence and cultural sensitivity.
Students don’t just observe in the clinic — they get hands on practice in a real-world setting, helping bring essential medicine to patients while creating meaningful connections across cultures.
Global Medical Academy also includes:
Cultural Learning
In each partner country, students and faculty will be immersed in the local culture and will be introduced to some of the region’s most beautiful traditions. For example, in Belize, students will learn from locals how to cook cassava pudding or practice “Cayetano” inspired artwork.
Enrichment Activities
All of our program countries offer optional add-on enrichment activities. In Panama, the options include an overnight trip to Soberania National Park excursion, a day trip to Monkey Island, or a Boat Tour of the Panama Canal.
Local Tourism
In addition to the optional enrichment activities, all groups will spend at least an afternoon or two enjoying local tourist sites as part of their trip.
This might include a guided visit to Maya ruins, a trip to a local beach, or a walk through the jungle.
Testimonials
“I will always lead high school programs with Global Brigades as it provides my students and I with an opportunity to do meaningful volunteer work that allows us to make genuine contact with the target community. It also allows for students to experience a country and its culture in an off the beaten path way. I love everything about their mission and the programs that they run and can’t wait for the next one!”
“This is our second program and I’m already planning trips three and four. Watching the growth and heart for service in my students is one of the most rewarding experiences. Every student went home with a more grateful attitude, sincere understanding of their daily blessings, and a true want to help others in need. I’ll be taking students on trips with Global Brigades for years to come.”
“Global Brigades is a program that all your students will remember for the rest of their lives. We keep going back to a new country, a new experience of the heart.”
“This was an invaluable experience for our students to not only learn about another culture but to realize the impact they can have on local communities.”