GlobeMed has transformed itself over the past decade, paralleling the tremendous changes and developments in the field of global health during the same time. GlobeMed's approach of working in partnership with communities to support quality and sustainable projects while inspiring and training a generation of leaders for global health has taken shape through the lessons we have learned through the years.
In 1999, a group of students at Northwestern University, led by John Broach, Jr., formed Medical Supplies Mission with a mission that focused on providing developing regions and disaster zones with medical supplies from hospitals and medical supply companies in the United States. MSM formally incorporated in 2002 as a 501-(c) 3 not for profit organization called The Global Medical Relief Program and expanded its initial scope. Global Medical Relief Program sent medical supplies to over 20 NGOs and clinics overseas and grew its original network to several campuses across the US.
In 2006, several trends emerged that catalyzed Global Medical Relief Program to re-orient its direction and launch a new vision going forward. In the process, "GlobeMed" replaced "Global Medical Relief Program" as our popularly used name. Our members realized at the time that a strong model of grassroots community partnerships with health organizations had the potential to contribute more lasting and valuable improvements in health than our prior model of medical supply delivery. Leaders working in underserved communities possessed solutions to health challenges - a focus on supporting locally driven programs and initiatives could produce long-term positive results.
Furthermore, members recognized that our generation had tremendous energy and passion for global health, and that stronger education and training programs would enable students to better harness this energy. With proper training, not only could we implement better projects, but we could possess the personal and professional skills to shape an enduring commitment to global health and social justice through out our lives. Education and training of students has thus become a core focus of GlobeMed. Our first Annual Summit in March of 2007 was the beginning in a set of programs which trains students for leadership in global health.
By tying action with education and training, GlobeMed now not only improves the health of communities today, but we also catalyze a generational movement of young people who care deeply about global health and have the skills to make change happen. With this new GlobeMed Model, we expanded in 2006-2007 to sixteen campuses and are currently in the early phases of developing the capacities of each of these student-led teams.
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