Beyond borders: UM-Flint alumni embrace global service

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    • Group of people, including children and adults from the community, gathered with the medical mission team on final clinic day under a covered outdoor area with benches and greenery in the background.
    The 2026 mission team after the final clinic day, including community members who helped make the trip a success.

    For nearly three decades, the University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing has championed transformative medical missions to the Dominican Republic, offering students, alumni and faculty opportunities to provide care and gain invaluable global experience. What began as a single global studies course in the 1990s has blossomed into a dynamic partnership, connecting UM-Flint's clinical teams with the Midwest Medical Mission – an organization that started as a surgical team and has been serving communities through medical missions for more than 40 years. As the work expanded beyond surgery, a dedicated clinic team formed to meet broader community health needs, and today both teams travel and plan as one coordinated group – a collaboration that continues to change lives both abroad and at home.

    A Vision That Became a Tradition

    The inspiration behind the missions can be traced to Maureen Tippen, clinical associate professor emerita of nursing, who first joined as a volunteer in 1996 alongside her children's pediatrician. Deeply moved by the experience, she brought the heart of service learning into SON's curriculum, leading annual trips for 27 years. "I wanted to give students something you can't learn from textbooks," Tippen said. "In the Dominican Republic, you encounter diseases, challenges and gratitude that forever shape your perspective and your practice as a nurse." 

    A healthcare worker wearing navy scrubs and a blue bandana with a stethoscope around their neck sits next to a child in a pink jacket and floral shirt inside a bright room.
    Sherman taking a picture at the request of a patient.

    Now, Megan Sherman, a 2008 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, has taken on the leadership role, ensuring that the mission's core values of service, cultural exchange and clinical exposure live on for future students. Reflecting on her journey, she credits Tippen, her mentor and longtime friend, for inspiring her early in her nursing training and opening her eyes to the vast impact practitioners can have. "I am incredibly grateful for mentors like Maureen who inspired so many students to step outside of the classroom and use the skills they acquired to serve others," said Sherman. She added that her first service learning trip to Cambodia during her senior year fundamentally changed her perspective on nursing, service and the world. "What stood out the most is the gratitude of the people. They were so thankful to be seen. Not to just be seen medically, but to be seen as a human being. I will never forget their thankfulness."

    She has since participated in eight medical missions, each one strengthening her appreciation for compassionate care and the resources available back home. 

    Diverse Teams, Shared Purpose

    This year's trip brought together alumni from four states, serving as nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and translators, including one alum who's made the trip 17 times. Many participants said that they return after volunteering as undergraduates, drawn back by a sense of purpose and connection to the communities they serve.

    New attendees share a common thread: the desire to gain clinical, global and cultural insights unique to developing regions. "You go out with medical knowledge, but you come back humbled by the basics – the true fundamentals of providing care, no matter the resources," said Tippen.

    Overcoming Challenges, Delivering Hope

    The teams often operate in remote areas, relying on local leaders to coordinate logistics and organize patients using a ticketing system. Preparation begins months in advance, as SON alumni and volunteers donate supplies, equipment and medication to support the mission. Trip attendees created wishlists for needed items, which were quickly filled thanks to generous contributions. For 2026, these donations also helped supply much-needed baseball equipment to a youth team. All supplies are carefully packed and organized for each day abroad. On the ground, the clinical team works tirelessly, often from 9 a.m. to sundown, treating a range of health concerns and teaching preventive care such as handwashing and oral hygiene.

    A health care worker wearing scrubs and a mask uses a stethoscope to examine a young child with a pink backpack, while a woman and a man are nearby in a clinic setting.
    Tippen assisting with vital signs for intake on a young girl.

    But not every challenge is medical. The communities, especially Haitian residents without documentation, face poverty, fear of deportation and limited access to care. At one clinic, the group was asked not to inform the government of their presence, underscoring the precariousness of health care access.

    Tippen shared a particularly memorable moment about a grandmother raising grandchildren after their mother's death during childbirth. "She hugged me tight, spoke in Creole and didn't let go," Tippen said. "Her gratitude was unmistakable, reminding us why these missions matter."

    A Lasting Impact, and a Call for Alumni Support

    The ripple effects of these trips extend well beyond the clinics. Participants bring new perspectives to their work, recognizing the privileges and resources available at home. Many return year after year, finding "the magic of the Dominican" restores their sense of purpose and humanness. "To this day, going on mission trips reminds me to be thankful for what I can provide for my patients here at home. It is easy to take things for granted," Sherman notes. 

    SON hopes to expand alumni involvement, calling on graduates to support future missions by providing supplies, equipment or even their presence. "Early exposure to service can change a nurse's future practice," Tippen notes. "We hope more alumni can find ways to contribute, helping the next generation of nurses experience the same growth." 

    A health care worker wearing gloves and a blue bandana uses an otoscope to examine a young child sitting on an adult's lap in a clinic with other people waiting.
     Sherman performing an exam on a pediatric patient.

    According to Sherman, "Experiences like these shape better nurses and care providers. The understanding of empathetic care gained through service cannot be learned in the classroom."

    Advice for Future Volunteers

    Tippen's advice is simple but profound: "Be open to learning. Be ready to observe, listen and adapt. Know that your sacrifice – your time and resources – will be matched by the gratitude and lessons you receive."

    UM-Flint's service learning opportunities have reached Peru, Cambodia, Kenya and beyond, shaping a culture of compassion and global care. As the Dominican Republic mission progresses under Sherman's leadership and under the coordination of the Midwest Medical Mission, Tippen feels confident that what she built would endure. "I felt a great sense of pride that this mission was going to go on well beyond my days. I didn't have to worry," Tippen said, recalling the moment she arrived and saw attendees jump in immediately.

    Interested in Getting Involved?

    SON welcomes alumni to share resources or join future trips to the Dominican Republic. Updates are available in the school's alumni newsletter or by calling 810-762-3420.  For information about UM-Flint-sponsored study abroad opportunities, visit the university's Education Abroad webpage.

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    Kendal is a communications specialist with the School of Nursing. She can be reached at daviskmd@umich.edu.