About us

Public Health Brigades (PHB) is an international network of college students and professionals that volunteer to design and implement public health solutions in the developing world. In collaboration with Medical and Water Brigades, this program empowers volunteers to build relationships with rural communities and create integrated projects to combat the threat of disease and the challenge of limited resources. Our holistic model focuses on education and infrastructural development to ensure sustainability.  PHB empowers volunteers with the material, know-how, and support to deliver solutions that provide value while preserving local culture and conserving the environment.

Public Health Brigades is a program of Global Brigades, Inc., a secular nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California whose mission is to empower students to provide communities in developing nations with sustainable solutions that improve quality of life while respecting local culture.  Our vision is to be the largest student-led social movement on the planet.

Mission:   Empowerment of both volunteers and local communities to work together to develop and attain sustainable health solutions in the developing world

Values:

• Equality : All people have the right to enjoy health and well-being; we strive to improve the conditions in which everyone lives and thereby contribute to the formation of a equal and just society

• Sustainability : We do not compromise the future for the present

• Empowerment : We are not forcing solutions, but rather giving people tools to change their own lives

• Social Justice : All of our activities are motivated by a commitment to social equity and fairness, a spirit of compassion for all persons, and a desire to apply tools of scientific knowledge to pressing societal health concerns.

• Cultural sensitivity : All people must be treated with fairness, respect and dignity in a culturally and linguistically relevant way

• Students : This is the strength and direction of this program; their ideas and suggestions will be acted upon
  
  

• Community : We seek to strengthen the communities we serve through the development and expansion of innovative education, research, and practice initiatives
  

Leadership Team

Joy Bittner, Public Health Brigades Director, Honduras

Dr. Shital Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, Health Brigades

Steve Atamian , Chief Empowerment Officer

Catherine Markman, Chief Executive Officer, Development Brigades

Quique Rodriquez, Exec Director, Honduras Operations

Pablo Garron, Director, Panama Operations

Diane Dunn, Law Brigades Director, Panama

Ben Erker, Water Brigades

Adriana Piñeiro, Business Brigades Director, Panama

John Cunningham, Architecture Brigades

Merrilee Chapin, Microfinance Brigades

Michelle Menclewicz  , USA Director, Student Advisory Counsel (Panama)

Chris Ha, USA Director, Student Advisory Counsel (Honduras)

Oison O'Connor, USA, Chief Transformation Officer 

Kim Hanson, GBB Travel Coordinator

Danielle Starry, GBB Travel Director