Global Health Enrichment – ELEC 5047

“Global Health Enrichment Elective” is a longitudinal enrichment elective for 1st and 2nd year medical students who are planning to pursue global health experiences during winter, spring or summer breaks. It arose in response to enormous student interest in international medicine, with increasing numbers of students choosing to spend time overseas during medical school. This proposed elective will utilize a community service learning model, in which preparation, mentorship, evaluation, reflection and reporting are essential in meeting the expressed need of a particular community. The elective will provide a foundation of practical knowledge in global health and will optimize the students’ overseas experiences, maximize the safety of their travel, facilitate their adaptation to working in different cultural settings, and maximize their impact in the communities where they serve. The course material will be presented through a variety of approaches, including lectures, small group case discussions, laboratory sessions, practical workshops and online learning modules.

Students:

This elective will be able to accommodate 75 first- and second-year medical students. Registration will be done by through a lottery system. Please enter your information here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/elec504712-13

Learning Objectives:

1. To advance knowledge specific to global health issues, such as social determinants of health and health disparities, community health, preventive medicine, disease burden measurements, health policy, maternal and child health
2. To broaden understanding of chronic and infectious diseases impacting developing countries, with emphasis on HIV and TB
3. To highlight importance of prioritizing community resources-community leaders, public health services, faith groups, governments and other NGOs – to encourage collaboration
4. To teach diagnostic and management approaches of tropical infectious diseases, including malaria, dengue, typhoid, intestinal parasites, with opportunities for optional hands-on laboratory practicums through Preparing for Global Health (Nov 7 – 18)
5. To provide a framework for understanding ethical dilemmas encountered in global health through case studies
6. To deepen insight into different cultures thereby building a foundation that promotes professionalism
7. To offer skills and knowledge geared towards enhancing students’ abilities to practice in resource poor settings with limited access to technologically sophisticated diagnostics

Requirements:

1. Complete twelve sessions per year, either online or noontime sessions.
2. One global health experience abroad, which must be vetted by the course directors. Course directors will ensure that the activities are consistent with the objectives and policies of Global Health education at the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics. Students may not complete the elective at a location that has not been officially approved by the course directors.
3. Book Seminar discussion
4. Completion of a reflection exercise, i.e. written, oral or photograph
5. Completion of a site evaluation: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ghstudentsiteeval