By Julian Feurer
The University of Maryland chapter of Global Dental Brigades is hosting fundraising events to raise money for its weeklong trip to Panama in January 2027, where student volunteers will help provide dental care to those with limited resources.
The UMD Global Dental Brigade is a chapter of an international, student-led non-profit organization that aims to expand access to essential dental care in rural and under-resourced areas. Student volunteers collaborate with local dentists to support treatment, prevention and education, aiming to contribute to the long-term health outcomes of the community.
In order to prepare and afford the service trip, student members participate in weekly fundraising efforts that go towards dental tools, supplies and travel costs, Global Dental Brigade president Avery Bonner said.
“We have a whole team of fundraising VPs,” Bonner, a junior public health science major, said. “They’ll pair up and run a fundraiser once a week, which goes towards supplies that we buy.”
On Oct. 28, the Global Dental Brigade hosted its Pie a Brigade Fundraiser, a tabling event where people can throw a plate of shaving cream at the face of a club member for $3, as one of their weekly fundraising events.
“It’s a great way to share what we do, and to especially get new members to come into our club,” Alex Bui, Global Dental Brigade fundraising vice president and sophomore public health science major, said with shaving cream on his face.
In Panama, the club will set up with local dentists and begin a screening process, where patients of all ages will be evaluated to determine the kind of treatment they may need, such as fillings, extractions or cleanings.
“We’ll basically look in all the patients’ mouths and decide what kind of care they’re going to need,” Bonner said. “They bring their forms to whoever is doing the data analysis, and they’ll give them a time to come back later in the week based on what kind of treatment we think they need.”
For the remaining six days of their trip, the volunteers will work alongside dentists and community members to help every patient who was screened. Depending on where they are, the technicality of the stations can vary, said Bonner.
“It really depends on the country how technical the stations are. Sometimes we’ve just been sitting at desks in a school or sometimes we bring mobile dental chairs,” Bonner said.
Members of the club will set up, complete the screenings, assist the dentists, clean the tools and educate patients on the importance of dental care.
The impact of the club goes beyond its work in the underserved communities it serves. For its student volunteers, the club offers an opportunity to put their passions into practice, learn from professionals and see firsthand the importance of public health efforts.
“You’re going on a trip to a country where there’s not so much clinical resources available in dentistry, and … it’s about expanding your horizons, and learning about different healthcare systems, and also just getting real hands-on clinical experience,” Kayla Jerome, junior neuroscience major and club member, said.
Featured Image: A University of Maryland Student pies Global Dental Brigade vice president of fundraising Alex Bui at a fundraising event on Oct. 28. Photo by Julian Feurer.