In our Spring 2025 newsletter, the Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP) at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) announced the inaugural Community Health Spring Break Mission to Uganda for GW medical students. This initiative was launched in partnership with Omni Med, a global health-focused nonprofit providing service and volunteering opportunities in Uganda for individuals with both health and non-health backgrounds.
Tailored for first-year medical students, this mission builds on a long-standing partnership between IMP and Omni Med. Since 2014, first- and fourth-year GW medical students, as well as nursing students, health sciences students, and residents, have traveled to Omni Med’s site in Uganda for summer projects and clinical rotations.
GW SMHS alumnus Edward O’Neil Jr., MD ’87, founded Omni Med in 1998 with the mission of reducing global health inequity by inspiring more health providers and students to serve internationally. As O’Neil notes, “We must foster an understanding of the world as it is for as many people as possible. For 27 years, Omni Med, has been sending students to developing countries to improve local health while undergoing transformative experiences. These powerful emotional connections drive curiosity and sink deep roots into fertile, ethical terrain; many of these students lead purposeful lives beyond their daily work, joining the quest to improve the lot of the least fortunate among us. Among future doctors, that really matters.”
During the Spring 2025 trip, a cohort of 12 GW first-year medical students traveled to the Omni Med compound in the rural Mukono District in central Uganda. They spent the week immersed in a wide array of Omni Med programs, learning first-hand from staff and volunteer community health workers about the scope and impact of their health promotion and prevention efforts. Students gained valuable insight into the pressing health challenges facing the region, as well as the life-saving strategies employed by Omni Med to address them.
Members of the Cookstove Project, an Omni Med partner, demonstrated how to build contained cooking chambers using natural materials. These stoves require less fuel, reduce indoor air pollution, and help prevent respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and asthma, in contrast to traditional open-fire stoves. Students also visited protected water sources developed by Omni Med. These systems create naturally filtered, potable water by channeling it through clay, sand, and porous rock — making the water up to 50-times cleaner than unfiltered sources. Clean water access is essential in preventing diarrheal diseases, a leading cause of child mortality in Uganda.
Beyond these initiatives, students visited local schools to offer lessons on germs, diarrhea, handwashing, mental health, and positive peer relationships. They also led two hypertension clinics, where they took villagers’ blood pressure and educated the community about what blood pressure is, what contributes to high blood pressure, and how to maintain healthy levels.
Most integral to the mission were the students’ interactions with the volunteer community health workers, who form the backbone of local health promotion efforts. These volunteers, trained and supported by Omni Med, play a vital role by sharing health information in their villages, conducting home visits, accompanying patients to clinics, facilitating group therapy sessions, and generally helping to maintain community well-being.
O’Neil and Rebecca Zacuto, IMP program manager, are already planning for the next community health mission for GW first-year medical students, during their spring break in mid-April 2026. Continue reading for testimonials from some students who went on last year’s mission:
“I loved my experience in Uganda serving on the Community Health Mission as it provided learnings about a unique blend of cultural competence, clinical insight, and sustainable health solutions that would be virtually impossible to find elsewhere!” – Nikhil Kamdar, MSII
“Going to Uganda with Omni Med was an incredibly impactful experience. I learned a lot about how their health system worked and differed from ours, and how to provide foreign aid the right way without disrupting their system. This trip solidified my desire to work in global health in the future.” – Min Yang, MSII
“I had the opportunity to take part in a variety of public health programs that not only support daily health needs but also empower communities to build a healthier, more sustainable future. Even if you’re not planning a career in global health, I highly recommend this trip!” – Lucas Allen, MSII
“I cannot think of a better way to have spent my spring break than in Uganda with Omni Med. In school, we talk a lot about community health and the Hippocratic oath but being in those schools and villages are truly where the rubber hits the road. I encourage everyone to consider signing up with an open heart and seeing just how greatly this trip can impact you.” – Giles Hayden, MSII
For more information on the spring 2026 mission, please contact Rebecca Zacuto at rebecca [dot] zacuto [at] gwu [dot] edu (rebecca[dot]zacuto[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Visit Omni Med's website to learn more about their organization.