ELEC 5057: Leadership in Global Health

Course Director

Ruth Berggren, M.D., MACP
Jason Rosenfeld, DPH, MPH

Course Pre-Requisites

  • Currently enrolled Second-year medical student
  • Successfully completed ELEC 5047 Foundations in Global Health Enrichment Elective

Course Description

Second-year medical students are invited to delve deeper into the themes and issues introduced through the Foundations in Global Health Enrichment elective via this seminar-style elective.

This longitudinal elective explores contemporary issues in global health, including the controversies and successes, through student-led and faculty facilitated discussions. The monthly discussions focus upon carefully selected readings, videos and other online content around the major issues in global health including leadership, ethics, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and models of foreign aid.

This elective is open to all second-year medical students who have completed the Global Health Enrichment Elective and is required for all second-year leaders of the Project Hispaniola, Ethiopia Outreach, ¡Vamos Guatmala! and Students Going Global Panama international student groups.  

Students will either play an important role on subsequent trips as they serve as peer mentors and trip coordinators, improving the overall quality of the services the teams provide OR develop independent experiences to continue developing their global health knowledge and skills. 

If the student chooses to travel, they will be required to complete a Grace Application on The Office of International Services portal.  

Course Objectives

  • 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
  • To broaden understanding of chronic and infectious diseases impacting developing countries, with emphasis on HIV and TB
  • To highlight the importance of prioritizing community resources-community leaders, public health services, faith groups, governments and other NGOs – to encourage collaboration
  • To provide a framework for understanding the ethical dilemmas encountered in global health through case studies
  • To deepen insight into different cultures thereby building a foundation that promotes professionalism
  • To offer skills and knowledge geared towards enhancing students’ abilities
  • To engage with and learn from leaders in global health

Course Requirements

  • Attend 1 (one) in class seminar per month
  • Complete the assigned reading(s) (posted on Canvas) every month prior to the in-class meeting
  • Lead one team class discussion. Students will be expected to read and prepare discussion questions for the monthly seminars
  • Attend a minimum of three (3) Global Health Journal Club meetings
  • Must co-lead at least one (1) Global Health Journal Club meeting

Sample Course Outline

August: Leadership in Global Health

September: Global Health Ethics

October: Maternal Health

November: Child Health

December: Infectious Diseases

January: Non-Communicable Diseases AND Models of Foreign Aid – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

If you are interested in this course, please contact masti@uthscsa.edu or globalhealth@uthscsa.edu.