FAQs
Questions
Q: How and why was Timmy Global Health founded?
Q: Where does the name ‘Timmy’ come from?
Q: Where does Timmy Global Health work?
Q: Other than medical brigades, what else does Timmy Global Health do?
Q: What is the total of Timmy Global Health’s annual operating costs? What percentage of the total budget does that consume?
Q: How many university chapters does the organization have? Where?
Q: How many high school chapters does the organization have? Where?
Q: How do I get involved with Timmy Global Health?
Q: When are medical brigades scheduled for the coming year?
Q: As a medical professional, how do I get on a medical brigade team?
Q: What types of medical professionals are you looking for?
Q: How do I start a university or high school chapter of the organization?
Q: Can I go on a medical brigade as a student not affiliated with a Timmy Global Health student chapter?
Q: How do I donate medical supplies or medicines to Timmy Global Health?
Q: Is my donation tax-deductible and will I be issued a tax receipt?
Q: How and why was Timmy Global Health founded?
A: Timmy Global Health was founded in 1997 by Dr. Charles Dietzen (Dr. Chuck) after working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India. “I didn’t want to add the layers of bureaucracy that can come from philanthropic organizations,” says Dr. Chuck, “but I knew first-hand there are a great number of groups doing vital work that need support. So we established Timmy Global Health as a resource clearinghouse for partner organizations around the world. We serve the underserved by activating the youth, empowering them to make a difference in the world and helping those young people discern if they are truly called to the medical profession as doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists and more.”
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Q: Where does the name ‘Timmy’ come from?
A: ‘Timmy’ was the founder’s older brother who died during infancy. The name is a tribute to both his family and children everywhere living without the health resources necessary to thrive.
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Q: Where does Timmy Global Health work?
A: Although based in Indianapolis, the organization’s outreach is local, national, and global. Timmy has active high school chapters at five Indianapolis-based schools; university chapters at seventeen universities throughout the United States; and international partners in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Nigeria. At present, Timmy’s medical outreach is concentrated in Indianapolis, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Nigeria; and its educational programming focuses on partner organizations based in Colombia and Nigeria.
Q: In addition to its medical brigades, what other programming does Timmy Global Health support?
A: Although the organization’s primary programming focuses on health development via the provision of direct medical brigades, we also aim to expand access to educational opportunities, while providing financial and other support to both our medical and educational partners. Timmy Global Health currently supports education projects in Medellin, Colombia and Bodo City and Bane, Nigeria. To learn more about each of these projects, please visit our International Outreach page.
Q: What is the total of Timmy Global Health’s annual operating costs? What percentage of the total budget does that consume?
A: Timmy Global Health’s Annual Budget has fluctuated between $1.5-4.5 million during the last 5 years. Historically, program expenses have accounted for more than 90% of the organization’s total expenses. In FY2008-2009, Timmy Global Health’s budget was 1.972 million dollars, 83% of which was spent on programming, 14% spent on management, and 3% spent directly on fundraising. For more information, please see the Timmy Global Health Financial Information page.
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Q: How many university chapters does the organization have? Where?
A: Timmy Global Health is fortunate to have sixteen university chapters at the following universities:
- Ball State University
- Boston College
- Butler University
- Colorado State University
- Davidson College
- DePauw University
- Indiana University
- IUPUI
- Purdue University
- Ponce School of Medicine
- Tufts University
- University of Colorado
- University of Louisville – School of Medicine
- University of Notre Dame
- University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
- Washington University
Q: How many high school chapters does the organization have? Where?
A: Timmy Global Health has five high school affiliates in Indianapolis at the following high schools.
- Brebeuf High School
- Cathedral High School
- International School of Indiana
- North Central High School
- Park Tudor High School
Q: How do I get involved with Timmy Global Health?
A: There are a number of ways for students, volunteers, and medical professionals to get involved with Timmy Global Health.
- We are always in need of volunteer support at our headquarters in Indianapolis.
- University and high school students can get involved by joining or starting a chapter at their school.
- Medical professionals are always welcome to join a brigade team to Ecuador or Guatemala.
If nothing else, we always appreciate advocacy—take our name and mission to someone else who might not know who we are or what we do.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities, please visit our Get Involved page.
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Q: When are medical brigades scheduled for the coming year?
A: A schedule of medical brigades can be found on our Medical Professional information page.
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Q: As a medical professional, how do I get on a medical brigade team?
A: We are always interested in medical professional volunteers! Our university chapters do the majority of recruitment for their respective medical brigades, however we are happy to put you in touch if you are interested in a particular brigade. All opportunities are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If interested, please email our Programs Coordinator at kathy@timmyglobalhealth.org.
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Q: What types of medical professionals are you looking for?
A: Because our medical brigades focus on primary care (general medicine), we utilize:
- Licensed practitioners (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants)
- Registered nurses
- Pharmacists
- Dentists
If you are comfortable practicing general medicine in an international setting, we are happy to have you on a brigade team—no matter what specialty you are trained in! Resident physicians are welcome.
If you are not a practitioner, registered nurse, or pharmacist but think your professional skills could be helpful on an international medical brigade, let us know. Please contact our Programs Coordinator with questions or concerns at kathy@timmyglobalhealth.org.
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Q: How do I start a university or high school chapter of organization?
A: For information on starting a Timmy Global Health chapter, please visit our Students information page. If you have further questions, please contact the Programs Coordinator at kathy@timmyglobalhealth.org.
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Q: Can I go on a medical brigade as a student not affiliated with a Timmy Global Health student chapter?
A: Maybe. Timmy Global Health does not currently offer open brigade opportunities for students not affiliated with one of our university chapters. Nonetheless, we are interested in expanding to more universities and understand that true inspiration only comes from direct involvement with our work. If you are interested in starting a Timmy chapter at your university or are interested in learning more about Timmy Global Health’s work, there may be opportunities for you to travel on a medical brigade. Timmy makes a concerted effort to send only seriously interested students on its brigades. For more information, please contact the organization’s Programs Coordinator at kathy@timmyglobalhealth.org.
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Q: How do I donate medical supplies or medicines to Timmy Global Health?
A: If you have medical supplies or medicines to donate, please visit our Medical Supply Warehouse information page. There you will find more information about the types of supplies and medicines the organization accepts, any restrictions, and directions for how/when you may drop them off at our headquarters.
NOTE: Timmy Global Health does not accept expired supplies or medications and, legally, cannot accept donations of narcotic medicines. Please do not donate these materials.
Q: Is my donation tax-deductible and will I be issued a tax receipt?
A: Timmy Global Health’s Finance & Operations Coordinator issues tax receipts for each and every donation—both financial contributions and supplies/medicines. For supply or medicine donations, the donor is responsible for applying a monetary value to the donation.
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