A group of medical students from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) recently returned from a medical brigade in Guatemala, where the future physicians ran a free clinic over the course of a week. 

Organized by Global Brigades, an international non-profit organization and the largest student-led movement for global health, 16 ICOM students had the opportunity to provide free medical care and hygiene education in a rural Mayan community. Dental and pharmaceutical services were also offered at the clinic by other volunteers. 

Courtney Hill, an incoming third-year student at ICOM and President of the College’s Global Brigades chapter alongside Lukas Kaugars, OMS-III, says the experience was incredible.

“Our experience in Guatemala was eye-opening to the challenges that patients face across the globe,” Student Doctor Hill said. “We were fortunate enough to be the first medical brigade to provide care to the community in which we worked, where we got to serve nearly a quarter of the entire community in just three days. This experience helped me gain a perspective on how we can improve healthcare access not only locally, but globally as well.” 

Student Doctor Hill also serves as the Global Health Liaison for the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP).

ICOM’s Global Brigades chapter is one of 466 chapters worldwide.