The Global Medical Initiative’s mission it to assess, address, and alleviate inequities in health care delivery world-wide.

Assess

On GMI’s annual Service and Survey Trips, students engage in varieties of clinical experiences, learn firsthand the challenges of health care delivery, and gather regional demographic data using a Needs Assessment Survey. By analyzing the survey, we outline our fund-raising goals, focus on target issues, and begin the operations of the year.

 

Address

All of GMI’s events and fund-raisers are themed around specific topics or causes, and are designed to raise awareness about-while raising funds for-health care issues. Furthermore, GMI coordinates volunteer opportunities in the local CWRU community. By volunteering at MedWish International to sort medical supplies, students learn about the tremendous need for basic supplies around the world-basic supplies that are considered disposable in the US. By volunteering at Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, students gain valuable experience with patient and family interaction-an experience they take with them when working in clinical settings abroad.

Alleviate

Finally, at the end of each Spring Term, GMI uses the sum of its funds and works with MedWish International to send a tailored shipment of medical supplies to the region we visited at the start of the year. These supplies include the most basic items like gauze, bandage, and personal protection items (gloves, mask, surgical gowns, etc.) to more high-tech items like chest-tubes, catheter assemblies, and larger equipment. The shipments are broken down in increments of pallets, which each contain approx. 30 boxes carrying btw. 30-40lbs of supplies. Thus, 1 pallet contains 900-1200lbs of medical supplies. Last year, GMI raised enough money to ship 6 pallets!