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GLOBAL HEALTH MEDICAL ELECTIVES AT UNC

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

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GLOBAL HEALTH MEDICAL ELECTIVES AT UNC

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  1. GLOBAL HEALTH MEDICAL ELECTIVES AT UNC

  2. Nuts and bolts of planning….

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. Questions to ask as you prepare...

  6. 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?

  7. 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

  8. PRACTICAL ISSUES…..

  9. When is the best time to go? • Summer after 1st 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

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

  11. 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

  12. 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…

  13. 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.

  14. 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 1st year) – Irving Hoffman

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Questions, comments???

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