The Siena College Global Medical Volunteers program provides opportunities and financial assistance for Siena College undergraduate students preparing for careers as dentists or medical doctors to travel, learn, and serve in communities in need.
From the Endowment
Global Medical Volunteers Program provides Siena’s pre-med students with the opportunity to participate in service trips in disadvantaged regions around the world. The experience helps students develop medical skills and sets them apart from the competition when applying to medical schools and residency programs. We are grateful to Guy C. ‘54 and Dorothea S. Alonge, John A. McMahon ‘71 and Audrey C. Thompson for their leadership gifts that have encouraged others to contribute as well.
Mission
The mission of the Global Medical Volunteers Program is to provide participants with experiences that allow them to explore and reflect on what it means “to lead a compassionate, reflective, and productive life of service and leadership” in the context of global health. This is accomplished by living, learning, and serving in a community of significant need as a Global Medical Volunteer.
Vision
Our vision is to send Siena-educated, mature, bright, and compassionate health care leaders into the world.
Eligibility
Eligibility for participation in Global Medical Volunteers program:
- Sophomore or junior status
- Grade point average of 3.25 or higher
- Completion of general biology, general chemistry, and at least one college level mathematics course.
- Some domestic or international travel experience
- Completion of at least 1 Franciscan core
- Evidence of career goals in medicine or dentistry.
- For some programs, willingness to learn basic Spanish.
Selection Process
Students will apply using Handshake by February 21, 2024. Student essays, evidence of service orientation, references, and evidence of career goals will be reviewed and two students will be selected for the summer of 2025. Notification of selection will be made by February 28, 2024.
Requirements after selection
In order to achieve the mission of the Global Medical Volunteers program, students will travel, learn, and serve in a community that is disadvantaged in some way. These communities may be domestic or abroad. After completing the experience, students are expected to share a short report that includes reflections, lessons learned, and how this experience may positively impact their future career.
Request to Share your Knowledge
We ask that you consider volunteering to share your experiences with other students after you return.
Global Medical Volunteer Service Areas
The Global Medical Volunteers program will be working with Child Family Health International to arrange your program. CFHI is a reputable organization that employs staff in service areas to coordinate their programs. We have had good experiences with CFHI. The following sites are approved for GMV participants based on the alignment of goals of these programs and GMV goals:
The GMV program will include a four-week CFHI program that starts in either June or July, 2024.
Program Costs
Siena’s GMV program will cover the cost of CFHI tuition (lodging and program related meals) and round trip airfare for participants. Students will be responsible for meals not covered by the program. Students will be responsible for any travel expenses incurred for leaving the program early without a valid reason.
Application
You will need to prepare a response to the following prompt:
"Please provide a personal statement that includes why you would like to participate in the Global Medical Volunteer program. Include any service, volunteer, or clinical care information that would make you a particularly good candidate. Include a statement about your knowledge of cultural humility and respect for diversity (Your statement may be 1000 words or less.)"
Applications will be available via Handshake. Join the Pre-health Listserv to keep track of the deadlines!