
Katrina Zaki (’26) was grateful to help individuals with health and medical concerns in the Panamanian community.
University of Mary Washington senior Katrina Zaki spent some of the first days of the year in Central America, thousands of miles from home, helping people she’d never met.
Zaki, a biomedical sciences major and vice president of UMW’s chapter of Global Medical Brigades (GMB), was part of a group of Mary Washington students who kicked off 2025 in collaboration with the international nonprofit to bring essential health care services, sustainable medical solutions and education to remote and underserved communities.
Traveling to Panama during a week of winter break in early January, Zaki and fellow Eagles immersed themselves in the Panamanian community, working alongside local medical staff to provide free health and dental care.
Senior Bonnie Butler, UMW’s GMB president, who did not join this particular brigade but whose leadership and prior experiences on similar trips were instrumental in organizing this year’s efforts, said, “It’s a privilege to be able to travel to Panama and provide care to these communities. The Panamanian people are some of the most kind and caring people I have met and experiencing their culture is a joy.”
This mobile clinic – marking the eighth international GMB trip led by UMW students – offered triage, diagnosis, treatment and health education to scores of patients who otherwise lack regular access to medical services. Students play active roles, from taking vitals and shadowing physicians to assisting in the pharmacy and educating community members on preventative care. The experience can be transformative for student volunteers, many of whom are pursuing careers in medicine or dentistry. Read more.