Southern Illinois School of Medicine is a chapter of Global Brigades, the world's largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. The SIU SOM chapter systematically works with more than 300 other university groups around the world to deliver and implement one of nine skill-based programs that benefit more than 130,000 Honduran and Panamanian community members annually.

Global Medical Brigades develops sustainable health initiatives and provides relief where there is limited access to health care. Each community receives a brigade every 3 to 4 months where hundreds of patients are treated and volunteers deliver public health workshops. Electronic patient records are collected for future visitations and to monitor overall community health trends.