Volunteers on Medical and Dental Brigades work closely together with licensed
medical and dental professionals to provide quality health initiatives to a
community that otherwise has limited access to health care. Volunteers spend
three days in a community in order to optimize the amount of time patients are
able to spend with the physicians and dentists. Each patient receives a physician
consultation, public health talk, and prescribed medicines as well as have
access to PAP smears, prostate exams and restorative dental care as necessary.
Children, in addition, receive teeth cleaning, a fluoride treatment, and vitamins
necessary for proper growth and development. Volunteers have the opportunity
to take patient vitals, obtain patient history and current symptoms, shadow and
assist licensed physicians and dentists, participate in preventative education, and
fill prescriptions under a licensed pharmacist. Volunteers will become familiar
with the prevalent health issues in their community and learn about how to
prevent and treat those illnesses. These brigades provide each volunteer with the
opportunity to make a tangible impact on a specific community while gaining real
life experience in the field of international medicine and dentistry.