It was a very heartwarming and educational experience!
Attended and participated in Global Brigade Greece workshops, Farsi and Greek language lessons, and a refugee talk where we created an informative and fun skit/presentation on the effects of drug usage.
It was such an amazing, insightful, eye-opening experience!
Worked in the pediatric department by assisting the pediatrician during the examination of children by recording their percentile chart weight, and taking their height using a stadiometer.
Shadowed the pediatrician as she gave Polio, Meningitis, Boostrix vaccines, and was educated on infant botulism, vaccination sites, craniosynostosis, plagiocephaly, TB testing, and intussusception.
Saw thyroid enlargement and healed scabies.
Worked in ophthalmology by assisting the optometrist with eye exams.
Shadowed the optometrist as she gave eye examinations using the autorefractor, slit lamp, and fluorescein eye stein .
Saw diagnoses of dry eyes, myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia.
Worked with the inventory and obtained the prescription of glasses using a lensometer..
The Global Brigades was a significant experience, allowing us to see new perspectives in a new country and contribute to communities around the world. The organization offers a holistic model for sustainable development, which includes various programs that aim to empower communities to meet their health and economic goals.
Participating in Global Medical Brigades Greece was one of the most transformative experiences of my undergraduate journey. Traveling alongside other pre-med students, I had the opportunity to engage directly with healthcare delivery in underserved migrant and refugee communities. We worked with local physicians, nurses, and translators to assist in clinical intake, basic screenings, and patient education — experiences that deepened my understanding of both medicine and humanity.
What stood out most to me was the emphasis on continuity of care and the interdisciplinary teamwork that made our brigade effective. Even as a student volunteer, I saw how much thoughtful collaboration and cultural sensitivity matter in earning patient trust. Listening to mothers describe their children’s symptoms through translators reminded me how vital empathy and communication are in global health — lessons that transcend borders and languages.
This experience strengthened my commitment to pursue medicine as a means of service and equity. It reminded me that healthcare extends beyond diagnosis and treatment; it’s also about meeting people where they are, respecting their dignity, and bridging social and cultural barriers to care. The brigade not only reinforced my academic interests in biology and public health but also affirmed my goal of becoming a physician who advocates for accessible care both locally and abroad.
It was less hands on than i thought but it was a fun learned things about Greece and how everything works
