Commentary: Students don’t need to wait to make a difference in the world

February 17, 2026

Wayne State University students participated in a December medical mission to Mexico's Yucatán region through Humanity First International, a nonprofit organization that provides healthcare services to underserved communities. The volunteers, working alongside licensed physicians, delivered free clinical care, screenings, and medications to 231 patients across two rural communities, Umán and Yobaín, where residents face limited healthcare access. The experience gave pre-medical students hands-on clinical exposure they cannot obtain in traditional classroom settings, while demonstrating how students can make meaningful contributions before graduating.

Who is affected

231 patients in the rural communities of Umán and Yobaín, Mexico who received medical care
Wayne State University students Maarya Chowdhary and Shanze Ahmad
13 U.S. volunteers from Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and Oakland University
Dr. Anwar Ahmad and other licensed physicians providing medical supervision
Noman Rana, national director of Humanity First Mexico
The local Mexican health system receiving relief support
Residents of Mexico's Yucatán region who face insufficient health service coverage

What action is being taken

Humanity First International volunteers are providing free clinical care, patient screenings, basic treatments, and health education to underserved communities
The organization is conducting humanitarian and medical missions in Mexico (ongoing for more than 11 years)
Volunteers are working alongside licensed physicians in resource-limited environments
The team is distributing supervised medications to patients with limited healthcare access

Why it matters

This program addresses a critical healthcare gap in Mexico's Yucatán region, where the United Nations reported insufficient health service coverage leading to high disease incidence. The initiative serves dual purposes: providing essential medical care to communities that lack regular access to healthcare professionals, and offering relief to the overburdened local Mexican health system. For participating students, these missions provide invaluable hands-on clinical experience in real-world, resource-constrained settings that cannot be replicated in classroom environments, demonstrating that students can create meaningful impact before completing their degrees.

What's next

Humanity First Mexico hopes to organize additional medical missions in Mexico for Wayne State University students in the near future
Students interested in participating can join the Humanity First Club at WSU or check the Humanity First USA website for upcoming mission opportunities

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com