GLOBAL HEALTH MEDICAL ELECTIVES AT UNC

Nuts and bolts of planning….

The most important things to take with you on any trip……. A flexible spirit Appropriate expectations The ability to laugh (even at oneself), learn new things in unexpected places, and love the people you work with and hope to serve.

What we’ll discuss today: General issues – goals, supervision, models for global health experiences Financial resources (from UNC and elsewhere) and the nuts and bolts of scheduling and planning an elective Resources and organizations that may be helpful – AMSA, GHEC, CMDA, AAFP Integrating your global health experience back into life at home

Questions to ask as you prepare...

General questions: Why are you doing this? Learning, travel, service, other??? For you? For them? For your career? For your faith? What kind of experience are you hoping for? Be realistic…. How do you hope to integrate this experience into your continuing medical education and life?

Different models of short term global health experiences: A short term team experience A med student rotation in an established hospital/clinic A community health oriented experience A research experience as part of a research project A combo – language and medical learning 1 out of every 5 medical student graduates in the USA do an global elective

PRACTICAL ISSUES…..

When is the best time to go? Summer after 1 st year (4-6 weeks) As a fourth year elective (4 weeks) Longer electives/fellowships if you are considering an MPH year or a break in your med school years

When do I start to prepare? Start thinking about it one year in advance Remember everything takes more time than you expect

Where do I start to look into the possibilities? Talk with other students/residents or faculty “Office of International Affairs” in SOM in transition UNC International Health Forum UNC/SPH Office of Global Health UNC Center for Global Initiatives Other organizations – see handout for ideas

How will I pay for this? As part of your financial aid package if you are receiving credit (must pay tuition) UNC International health fellowships and other UNC based scholarships (most deadlines for application are in early spring) OTHER scholarships and grants Kind family and friends Wait tables…

How much will this cost? AMSA estimated in 2003 that the average med student spent $2000 on a 6 week overseas elective. Most of this cost is the airline ticket. Now probably closer to $2500. Hidden costs – visa, immunizations, etc… Some well organized programs now have global fees that cover everything – more expensive, but may be worth it Travel health insurance - $1 per day. MANDATORY for UNC med students on approved global electives for which you are planning to get credit.

Some possibilities for UNC global health electives: UNC Faculty member needs to serve as a preceptor and credit/course arrangements made in advance. FMME 225/425 – Martha Carlough/Lisa Slatt or Beat Steiner for Honduran Health Alliance SOCM 204/404 – Alan Cross/Gail Henderson PERU 401- Marco Aleman HIV/STD/Infectious Disease – UNC/Malawi program (summer 1 st year) – Irving Hoffman

Examples of what electives students have done recently: Set elective with Himalayan Health Exchange in India Set electives with InterHealth in Mexico and Ecuador and with CFHI in Mexico IFMSA research electives in Prague, Czech Republic Infectious Disease elective with UNC/Malawi program Independent electives with Family Health Ministries in Haiti and Shoulder to Shoulder in Honduras Independent elective with Hospitalito de Atitlan in Guatemala Group trip with Honduran Health Alliance Medical Spanish and Latina health elective at various schools in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala Travel medicine elective in Pakistan with Global Medicine Rescue Services Fogarty fellowship (year long) in South Africa

A little advice…. Keep a diagnostic log Take time to make friends and learn from others Don’t make promises you can’t keep Take care of yourself – get reliable travel health information, finish your vaccines and prophylactic meds and get medical care if you have unusual symptoms after returning…. Allow yourself re-entry time to process and reflect Remember, you don’t have to cross an ocean to be involved in global health

Questions, comments???