FAQs

1. General Questions

1.1. What do we do on the GMT trips and during the GMT Clinics?

The participants will travel to Central American countries and communities where there is a great need for medical attention. Upon arrival, students will receive specific orientation and training for the clinics and the trip. Our approach is student-centered teaching /learning and active student participation in the process of medical assessments and treatments. Learn by doing. We will frame this within the context of various healthcare systems. We will analyze the comparative fairness, goodness, outcomes, dollar value, and failings of various systems. Many issues will be discussed, e.g. the relationship between poverty, education, and Public Health to illness/well- being.

Students will be exposed to a medical environment where they will be allowed to observe AND actively participate in the medical assessments/treatments of patients who have scarce economic resources, poor access to health care, and have to live within various primitive types of Public Healthcare systems. Furthermore, country-wide dependable Public Healthcare Systems generally do not exist in the countries that we visit. We do this in various settings: urban and rural. This will include GMT medical and dental clinics, visits to hospitals and other health facilities, and patient’s homes. Students do not engage in any invasive medical procedures during the clinics. We employ local doctors, dentists, interpreters, and guides to teach, inform, and help supervise the trips. We utilize local community citizens to help in the clinics.

We will inform trip participants about the culture, history, politics, religious, comparative healthcare systems, and Public Health problems of the countries in which we travel. We teach them how to apply that information to their experiences during clinics. We will reflect upon and discuss the medical and cultural experiences and integrate this into action plans that will improve the well-being of these people; this constitutes providing healthcare in a culturally competent manner. Medical and other professionals will be responsible for closely supervising, teaching, and nurturing this process.

We strive for diversity. Our trips are most ideally suited for medical, pre-medical, pre-dental students, but welcome all trip-interested and service-oriented people. We also have and eagerly welcome public health, global health, physical therapy, sociology/social work, and medical anthropology students. We do not require applicants to possess any specific academic achievements, majors, experience, or backgrounds. Ability to speak Spanish is an asset, but not a requirement. We always provide qualified interpreters.

Most of our applicants have a strong focus on healthcare and a service attitude, but we have had many trippers with multiple other majors/areas of interest. There are no arbitrary age limitations, however, we expect applicants to be mature and responsible individuals. The trips are designed for students in college or professional school. Those with physical limitations are invited and do come with us, but it is best to discuss this with us when applying.

There is no previous medical knowledge required for the trip, however, it is very helpful to learn how to take vitals, such as blood pressure and pulse, beforehand. Additionally, Dr. Johnson sends out pre-trip information about a month before the trip begins. This includes medical guidelines, medical Spanish, relevant medical articles, etc..

Most chapters have their own pre-trip preparations. For example, many chapters host a series of workshops before the trip focusing on common diseases found in the country they are traveling to, medical Spanish, and how to take vitals. If you are an independent tripper, you can reach out to the chapter you are going with and ask for copies of their PowerPoints/handouts/etc. We are all one big GMT family, and everyone is more than willing to share their knowledge.

Students at various colleges and universities have reached out over the years and asked to start a GMT student organization at their school. This is now GMT’s operating model. GMT student organizations at different schools get to create and form a chapter of their own, with many of their own guidelines. Some chapters simply recruit and organize students to go on a GMT trip, while other chapters have entire organizations that participate in fundraising, educating and local volunteering. 

First, you have to attend a trip. We feel this is extremely important in order to be able to articulate the trip experience to others, as well as carry the passion and determination to start a chapter. Next, you need to ask your school for the requirements to become a student organization. Some schools require a faculty adviser, while others have different options for becoming a student organization. After you have this figured out, please reach out to dante.dominguez@gmtonline.org

We, the Central Office, do not elect the trip leaders. The individual chapters elect the trip leaders, and all have different ways of doing so. The idea of trip leaders actually originated from the university chapters, but we are in full support of this. Dr. Johnson describes the role of trip leaders in this DOCUMENT.

 

2. Trip Registration and Payment Questions

2.1 How do i register for a trip?

-On our website, under the “Trips” menu, click “Trip Registration.”

-Find the trip you would like to attend and register.*

-DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR FLIGHTS UNTIL YOUR TRIP HAS BEEN CONFIRMED**

*You do not have to pay when registering, however, please be aware of payment deadlines.

**Some schools have now instituted a $207.00 deposit deadline in order to get trips confirmed faster, so flights can be booked sooner and cheaper. 

The answer is YES!

If your school does not have a GMT chapter, please email dante.dominguez@gmtonline.org before registering. Some trips are restricted to the school requesting them due to large membership and limited spots, however, many trips are open to all. 

Some trips listed already include (medical + dental), but others do not have anything next to them. This is because we are required to have a minimum of 3 dental students registered in order to host a dental clinic. The trip originating Student Chapter can request an exemption to this by writing to the Central Office explaining the reason for this request.

On our website, under the “Trips” tab, click “Make a Payment.” There will be instructions on how to proceed. You do not need your registration number and do not need to log in. Please fill out all fields.

Please click HERE for a detailed breakdown of fees.

E-check and credit card. Please be advised that there is a processing fee associated with credit card payments. 

We are no longer offering DPPs. This is because we now accept credit cards. By using a credit card, you now have control over your own “payment plan.” 

If you have extenuating circumstances, please email dante.dominguez@gmtonline.org with an explanation and your proposed solution. You must do this BEFORE the payment deadline.

We are excited to announce that we have a new system for discounts. Click here to see eligible discounts. In addition, you can find the official “GMT Trip Discounts” guidelines and policy by clicking here. 

We offer a 20% PET (Past Experienced Tripper) discount to students who have attended a trip in the past. Refer to item 2.9 in this list for information about discounts.

Here you will find detailed instructions on how to use discount codes.

No. The student agreement states: “If I cancel my trip for any reason or fail to comply with any international travel regulations, THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS. However, you can make a written email request that 80% of your paid amount be applied, as partial payment, to any future GMT trip of your choice. You must pay the balance between this forwarded amount and the future trip actual posted cost on the GMT website when you register for that trip. The other 20% will be used by GMT to pay for reservations and services that were covered in advance for you on this canceled trip.”

The non-refundable deposit system was created as an option for student chapters in order to get trips confirmed quicker so that students can purchase their flights quicker (often making them cheaper). Click here for details and policy of the $207.00 non-refundable deposit system.

3. Trip and Travel Logistics

3.1. How many days is the trip?

Our “standard” GMT trip length is eight days. Student Chapters may request longer trips and some regularly do. Peru trips have an optional tourist trip extension to Machu Picchu following the standard GMT trip (this extension is not part of the GMT trip, but a trip coordinated by participants directly with a trusted travel agency). Most chapters that participate in the “standard” 8-day trip schedule their trips to go Saturday-Saturday or Sunday-Sunday. The first day is a travel day and when everyone needs to arrive. The second day consists of orientation and city tours/activities. Usually days 3-6 are spent in the clinics, with day 7 allotted for the free day. The last day is a travel day and when everyone will be departing.  

The Machu Picchu extension is an optional trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu that typically takes place at the end of a GMT trip to Peru. GMT does not coordinate nor organizes this extension. We can help you get in touch with a trusted travel agency that can help your chapter arrange travel, entrance tickets, hotel accommodations and more.

Our standard trips host 4 clinic days with one free day. The free day activity depends on the country. 

Click HERE to see an example packing list.

This information is sent out with the official trip itinerary a month before the trip begins. We usually recommend students to bring around $300. Also, please note in our Student Participation Agreement’s (can be read HERE, as well as in the regular trip registration form) clause 16, it is stated that GMT doesn’t own transportation services in any of the countries where we develop our programs and that due to this, airport-hotel-airport transportation fees are not included in the registration fee. For more information about this, please contact your Chapter Leader.

No, plane tickets are not included in the registration fee. Participants must purchase them. Please speak with your Chapter Leader to see if the chapter is affiliated with any program/service/NGO providing discounts for student airfare.

You can book your flight once the trip is confirmed, BUT NOT BEFORE. In order for a trip to be confirmed, a minimum of 15 students must be registered AND paid.* Your chapter leadership will inform you once the trip is confirmed. It is very unusual, but if your trip has to be canceled, your trip payment will be refunded (minus any taxes or credit card fees) or fully applied to a future trip of your choice.

*If your chapter has elected to participate in the $207.00 non-refundable deposit “system,” then you will be notified to that the trip is confirmed after a minimum of 15 students have paid the $207.00 non-refundable deposit. Please note that many schools that choose to do this set earlier deadlines.

Click HERE for details of the $207.00 non-refundable deposit system.  

If you have a US passport you don’t need a visa to travel to these countries. If you have a foreign passport you might need a visa, although it depends on the country of origin and destination. In this case, you need to check with your embassy.

If you are a permanent resident in the US you need to bring your green card/permanent resident card and your passport.

  • Panama: PTY
  • Peru: LIM
  • Nicaragua: MGA
  • Ecuador: UIO
  • Dominican Republic: SDQ

You will arrive on the first day of the trip and depart on the last. For example, if the trip dates are June 2-9, please plan to arrive on the 2nd and depart on the 9th.

Please note the following from the student agreement: “All GMT website posted trips begin at 12:00 AM on day one and end at 12:30 PM on the last posted day of the trip. Check-in time is at 1:00 PM. Any trip participant activities either before or after those times are not the responsibility of GMT. This includes any tours, visits or sightseeing that I may elect to do in the trip country or elsewhere or arriving before check-in time. I do those things upon my own initiative and responsibility and at my own risk, whether before or after the GMT trip.”

HOWEVER, in Peru, there is an additional option for an extended excursion to the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu. The excursion will typically add on an extra 2 days to the overall trip. All planning and payments for the Machu Picchu excursion will be made externally from GMT with a trusted travel company, MAPI Adventures. All payments and planning will be coordinated directly with MAPI, either by the individual students or the chapter’s trip coordinator. **Before purchasing your flights, double check with your chapter leaders to see if this is an option as a chapter.

Please refer to the item 3.2. from this FAQ for more information about it.

In-country coordinators send out the official trip itinerary 4 weeks before the trip begins. The itinerary will include information such as clinic sites, hotel accommodations, free day information, and when GMT will be providing food versus when you are responsible. An example itinerary has been sent to your chapter leadership, so please refer to them if you have more questions.

In addition, Dr. Johnson will send out pre-trip information a month before the trip that includes a vast amount of information including clinic guidelines, medical Spanish, and other useful documents. 

From Dr. Wil:

If you want to be as totally safe as possible from acquiring any major contagious diseases on our trips then absolutely follow the country specific advice found on this CDC site:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/#group-p

If you have any ongoing health problems or concerns, you should consult with your doctor about this and follow that advice. Additionally, you could seek out the personalized advice of a specialist. You can also seek out personalized advice for staying healthy, in general, while traveling internationally. The CDC also has a great deal of valuable information about this and it is worth your time to thoroughly read this information.

This may be reasonably modified by you (and perhaps your physician) knowing some additional facts about our trips as below. Knowing these GMT trip specific facts, most students do not get additional immunizations and they have done just fine on our trips since 2004.

  • these are relatively short trips so duration of exposure to possible risks are correspondingly reduced to lower levels
  • we do NOT travel in or close to any regions endemic for Malaria, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, or Rabies; this lowers the risk further
  • food, water, and mosquito precautions should be strictly and faithfully observed on all international travels; this is discussed on the CDC site and during our trip Orientation on trip day two; students should eat only at our approved eating establishments; discuss this with our trip leaders; this additionally lowers the risk
  • GMT provides safe bottled water for the entire trip for all trippers on all of our trips
  • our staff doctors travel with the students for the entire trip and if any tripper should feel ill for any reason they should immediately consult with one of our doctors; we have a pharmacy with us that will adequately supply treatment for almost any acute illness presenting
  • if a tripper should need hospitalization [eg for appendicitis surgery, etc.] our doctors will accompany this student to the nearest qualified hospital and qualified surgeon and doctors as needed
  • all of our staff live in the countries that we visit; they rarely see a new case of Malaria and if they do the patient has nearly always just returned from some Malaria endemic region; our staff do not take Malaria prevention  meds; we have never seen a new case of Malaria on our trips; our patients in these countries take no Malaria prevention meds

 

If you decide to take Malaria prevention medication, I offer the following advice.

  1. Chloroquine 300 mg base tablets (500 mg salt, eg C-Phosphate) once weekly starting 2 weeks before and continuing for 2 months after a trip.
  2. OR…Doxycycline 100 mg. daily starting 2 days pre-trip and continuing for 4 weeks post-trip.
  3.  

 

#1 is simplest re needing only one dose / week; is available generically (less $$ and just as effective); generally well tolerated. It should not be taken if there is a history of retinal (eye) disease. The pre-trip dosing is primarily to check for any adverse reactions to it. It is immediately effective.

#2 is a very different generic antibiotic and primarily used when a person cannot tolerate Chloroquine [e.g. nausea, vomiting, nightmares, etc.]. It must be taken every day. They are both relatively inexpensive. There are several other anti-malarial meds some of which are VERY expensive. They offer no advantages for traveling on our trips. Your pharmacist can supply you with detailed info re relative risks, possible adverse reactions and pricing, and you can look it up online. These two meds are generally tolerated very well by adults and both are adequately effective for C. and S. America.

You can learn much more about Malaria by going to this CDC site:  https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/malaria/index.html

You will see that the greatest risks are for travelers to sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Why do the CDC and, therefore, USA doctors recommend Malaria prevention meds so routinely?   

Malaria has been and is a huge disease and death problem around the world. It is among the top three contagious diseases causing morbidity and mortality in the world. Their recommendations can ”take no chances” so they, of necessity, apply a ”broad brush” approach. My ‘brush’ has a much more fine and pointed tip because I know exactly where our trips will be going and because I know the facts that I listed above.  Thus I can say that on our trips, the trip participants will have a relatively low to minimal risk of exposure to acquiring these above noted diseases. This risk is quite low but it is not reduced to zero. 

WJ.

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