Participating in a MedWish Medical Brigade is a wonderful way to give time, talent, and compassion to those in need.
Since our inception, MedWish has conducted Brigades in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, and Kenya.
About the Program
As a complement to our International Humanitarian Aid Program, MedWish organizes and executes medical mission trips in partnership with healthcare providers in countries in need. Through our Brigades Program, volunteers facilitate free clinics to provide quality medical treatment and improve access to care for local residents in impoverished communities.
Medical professionals and nonmedical participants are welcome on MedWish Medical Brigades. Both will have the opportunity to serve in the different aspects of the project.
Upcoming 2023 brigades
Honduras
June 14th - June 19th
Dominican Republic
July 4th - July 9th
Eligibility
Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are welcome. While we welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, we do reserve a number of places for professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, and ophthalmology. We recommend that Brigade participants are at least 12 years old or older at the time of the Brigade; however, if a family would like to bring a child younger than 12, please contact us to further discuss.
Any participant that is under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or authorized guardian.
Registration for our 2023 trips is now closed.
If you are interested in joining either brigade team as a late registrant or if you are interested in supporting our teams as they prepare to travel this summer, please reach out to brigades@medwish.org to discuss next steps and ways you can still be involved!
TRIP ORIENTATION
Once registered, participants will be provided with a participant information packet that must be completed and returned to MedWish International by May 15, 2023. This packet may be returned via fax, email, or mail to MedWish.
Dominican Republic Brigade Participants: This will also include paperwork required by Mission Possible. Information needed for airline reservations will be required upon registration by March 9, 2023
There will be a team orientation meeting in May 2023 prior to departure. At these meetings, participants will have the opportunity to meet one another, learn more about the upcoming Brigade, and talk with the MedWish team about what to expect and how to best prepare. The date and location of these meetings will be announced in early 2023.
supply pickup
MedWish International will be providing the medical supplies needed for the mobile clinics run during the Brigade. Each participant is expected to transport one suitcase full of supplies with them. Participants will need to come to the MedWish warehouse prior to departure to pick up their bag of supplies. The specific pickup times will be announced at orientation.
Payment Details
These MedWish Medical Brigades are $2,500 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is due by Thursday, March 9, 2023, to reserve your place on either trip. Reservations are taken on a first come first serve basis. A percentage of spots will be held for medical participants, so secure your spot TODAY!
The remaining amount of the total trip cost will be due in increments leading up to trip departure as shown below:
Trip Payment #2 - $750- Due by April 15, 2023
Trip Payment #3 - $750 – Due by May 15, 2023
PLEASE NOTE: The deadlines listed above apply for both trips.
Health & Safety Information
IMMUNIZATIONS AND TRAVELERS HEALTH
You may need country-specific pharmaceuticals and/or immunizations when traveling. To learn more, please visit the CDC’s website. For health-related concerns, please speak with your primary care provider or a local travel clinic. Click below for more details.
MedWish will not purchase traveler’s health insurance for Brigade participants. It is the responsibility of each participant to obtain traveler’s health insurance if desired.
COVID-19
MedWish recommends that brigade participants are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. We encourage all participants to speak with their primary care provider or consult their healthcare team prior to traveling to discuss a healthcare plan and receive vaccinations that best promote their health and safety. MedWish does not require Covid testing prior to travel but does ask that if an individual develops symptoms of Covid-19, they notify our team immediately and follow the recommended precautions and quarantine as outlined by the CDC. Click below for current CDC guidelines.
MedWish has worked with our partner organizations in both Honduras and the Dominican Republic to ensure that quarantine accommodations are available in the event that a brigade participant tests positive for Covid-19 during the brigade. If an extended stay or quarantine is required, MedWish will review the travel and financial logistics on a case-by-case basis and may require that additional, incidental costs are covered by the brigade participant.
PASSPORT & Travel advisory
A valid passport is required for entrance into Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after our date of return.
There is a travel advisory in effect from the US State Department for travel to and from Honduras. Please visit their website for further information, or click below for more details.
Honduras
June 14th - June 19th
About
Honduras is a coastal nation in Central America, slightly larger than the state of Tennessee. It is tropical, predominantly mountainous, and borders Nicaragua and El Salvador. Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and is home to over 1 million people. The official language is Spanish and Amerindian dialects are also spoken within some populations. The average life expectancy is 71.3 years. The majority of the population works in the service sector, 39.8%, with 20.9% working in industry, and 39.2% in the agricultural sector.
To learn more about Honduras, please CLICK HERE
Our Partner Organization
Sociedad Amigos de Los Niños (SAN) was founded in 1966 by Sister Maria Rosa Leggol. Since that time, her work and legacy has served over 80,000 Honduran orphans. These children are provided a loving environment to call home as well as an education and skills training. Nuevo Paraiso is one of the locations of the organization’s operations.
dominican republic
July 4th - July 9th
About
The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean and is about twice the size of New Jersey. It is located on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. Spanish is the official language. The country’s total population is just over 10.2 million, with 30.5% estimated to live below the poverty line. The average life expectancy is 71.3 years. The majority of the population works in the service sector, 64.7%, with 20.8% working in industry, and 14.4% in the agricultural sector.
To learn more about the Dominican Republic, please CLICK HERE
Our Partner Organization
Mission Possible is a network of individuals and churches in Northeast Ohio that sends groups to the Dominican Republic to improve the quality of life for some of the poorest individuals in the world. Throughout the past 15 years, over 700 unique individuals have participated in dozens of mission trips with Mission Possible. The goal of Mission Possible is to both address the needs of the poorest of the poor and raise up the next generation of individuals who will work to create a better world community.
questions? contact brigades@medwish.org or 216.692.1685 x33.