Joining and getting involved
What types of students get involved in GlobeMed?
GlobeMed teams are primarily based at the undergraduate-university level. Any student who has an interest in global health, global change, and social justice can make valuable contributions to GlobeMed. Students from all disciplines and backgrounds are part of GlobeMed. We will soon be launching a more coordinated strategy for students at the graduate level, such as medical students, to be involved in GlobeMed's work.
How can I get involved?
Check to see if a GlobeMed team exists on your campus! If so, contact them and get involved. If no GlobeMed exists on your campus, see our application process for starting a chapter. The process is challenging; launching a GlobeMed on your campus is an ambitious effort, but we encourage you to apply!
Does GlobeMed offer volunteer opportunities at project sites abroad?
Our student-led teams travel to partner health organizations, but these engagements are coordinated and directed by each team individually. We do not offer any central repository of "GlobeMed volunteer opportunities" at our partner sites. Check other websites, such as www.idealist.org, if you would like to find such opportunities.
GlobeMed's activities, projects, and programs
How do students make an impact in helping grassroots health organizations?
By working hard year-round with our partners, students make a valuable contribution to the partner health organization and the communities they serve. Furthermore, when students spend time "on-site" with the organization, they work on projects that are important and yet appropriate for student involvement (i.e. media creation, ethnographic studies, monitoring and evaluation, technology capacity-building, etc). Through an emphasis on responsible learning and community engagement, students make an immediate impact while also becoming better advocates and leaders for global health. GlobeMed recognizes that our support, driven by student-leadership, can be "small" in financial terms when compared to large-scale organizations (ex. foundations, international NGOs); however, because our projects are defined and inspired by local leaders, our work has been empowering and vital. Many other notable organizations, such as the Global Fund for Women, have also shown that 'smaller' scale financial support can have a tremendous impact over the long-term when working with grassroots organizations. Lastly, students have access to various professional resources on their campuses - working with doctors, businesses, and others, we mobilize human resources that can assist our partners to advance their work. With humility and ambition, we work diligently to make sure we can make a positive impact and advance health in the communities where our partners work.
Does GlobeMed focus only on "international" projects?
GlobeMed believes global health challenges are truly "global", which includes the United States. The GlobeMed team at University of Michigan, for example, has designed health education curriculum for a clinic in an under-served area of Detroit. While most of our financial resources are invested in projects internationally, we believe local engagement is vital towards addressing global health challenges. Unlike in the "international" health paradigm, we believe that health transcends national boundaries and crosses borders; as such, we take a "global" approach to addressing problems.
I am a leader in a grassroots health organization. How do I partner with GlobeMed?
If you are interested in working with GlobeMed, please check with our central staff to see if we have an open application period. If so, fill out the partnership and project proposal form to be considered as a potential GlobeMed partner.
Events
Does GlobeMed have an annual gathering?
Yes, GlobeMed's central staff, in coordination with students from across the country, organizes a yearly Annual Global Health Summit (www.globemed.org/summit) that brings together our members, supporters, and global health experts from around the world to engage in an energizing weekend of inspiration, sharing of best practices, and new friendships.
Does GlobeMed organize public events that I can attend?
Absolutely. Several of our programs at the Annual Summit are open to the general public, and our chapters across the country organize events throughout the academic year that are often open to anyone.
I'd like to hold an event or fundraiser for GlobeMed. Can GlobeMed provide me with guidance, information, and materials?
Yes, we would be happy to provide you with brochures and information regarding our organization. If you would like to invite a GlobeMed representative to your event and/or would like such information, please contact info@globemed.org for more information. We will respond in a prompt manner, dependent on the volume of emails we are receiving at the time. We thank you in advance for your patience.
Organizational structure and general information
What is the inspiration behind GlobeMed's logo?
Bringing people and ideas together is a driving force behind GlobeMed's work - whether its students working with communities or taking action while thinking critically. Our logo depicts that dynamic results are possible when working with this spirit as the heart of our energies.
Where does the organization's name come from?
GlobeMed was originally called Global Medical Relief Program. However, as we changed our mission to reflect a more long-term commitment to addressing global health challenges, we believed "relief" did not accurately capture the nature of our efforts. Additionally, Global Medical Relief Program had already been shortened by many members to "GlobeMed", thus the easy transition to this new name in 2007. While our original focus involved "medical" supplies, our approach is holistic in nature, and we believe addressing "health" requires a broad approach in conditions of poverty.
What is GlobeMed's relationship with Northwestern?
GlobeMed has an independent student-led chapter that operates on Northwestern's undergraduate campus in addition to an independent student-led chapter at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine that focuses more exclusively on education and training programs for medical students. Since GlobeMed was founded at Northwestern by Northwestern students, our headquarters are in Evanston and we maintain a strong relationship with the university as we continue to build our overall network to campuses across the world. GlobeMed is grateful for its partnership with Northwestern, through which it is able to leverage intellectual and knowledge resources to create education and training programs for students as well as better inform our project efforts in communities around the world.
Is GlobeMed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization? Is my donation tax-deductible?
GlobeMed is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated in Illinois. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. No GlobeMed Chapters share the tax-exempt status of the national organization.
If you have any questions, please contact info@globemed.org!
