Global Medical Volunteering in Latin America

Global Medical Training (GMT) at UCLA is committed to delivering essential healthcare services and sustainable initiatives in rural Latin American communities. Our mission involves bridging the healthcare gap by organizing free clinics, house visits, and pharmacy support, building enduring connections with local physicians, patients, and translators. Trained in weekly meetings, participating students learn clinical and prescription techniques from the experienced director board. Clinics typically operate from 8-9 AM until all patients are attended to. Working with translators, GMT volunteers conduct comprehensive patient assessments in small groups to determine preliminary diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatment plans. Local GMT physicians, well-acquainted with the community, review and refine these interventions.

Previous GMT trips have treated approximately 2400 patients per year across the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru, with excess medication distributed to local and international pharmacies. In these small communities facing obstacles in accessing medical care due to cost and distance, our program delivers crucial access to free healthcare, medication, and preventative equipment like hats and sunglasses. Additionally, GMT champions sustainability through initiatives such as installing long-lasting water filters for clean drinking water in rural areas.

Unfortunately, the expenses associated with registration, travel, accommodations, and transportation abroad impose a significant financial burden on volunteers. This poses a challenge for students who are already constrained by tight budgets, as it hinders their ability to participate in multiple trips. This issue not only restricts the number of volunteers available for these trips but also limits our financial capacity to implement more sustainable, impactful changes, such as providing water filters or increasing food/waterborne disease awareness. The funds raised through the GoFundMe will be directly allocated to supporting volunteers facing financial difficulties and to ensuring an ample supply of medication, thus guaranteeing that no patient leaves our clinic dissatisfied. GMT at UCLA will continue to uphold its standards in delivering the best aid to those in need, all the while expanding the boundaries of short-term measures to foster the creation of a healthier, enduring community.