Overview and General Policies

Accepted participants are thoughtfully supported through every step of the six-week elective, beginning with pre-orientation training through the duration of the elective and continuing, not only on return, but through whatever endeavors they take on afterwards. With careful consideration given to clinical teachings, global health issues, social and political situations, ethical dilemmas, and cultural competency, these electives are comprehensive and immersive. Supported by a robust system on-the-ground in elective sites, participants live in community-oriented homestays and learn within a team-based model. 

Participants gain monumental clinical, cultural, and personal experience from their engagement with global health. The international setting provides immense clinical diversity and medical teachings while challenging participants to grow in the areas of cultural sensitivity, compassion, perspective taking, and advocacy—critical characteristics of healthcare professionals and core values of the GHP. Students return with personal narratives and research to share and submit for publication and presentation on online platforms and conferences. Ultimately the global health experience is designed to encourage commitment to the field with the hope that participants return to their elective sites to engage in capacity building by serving as mentors for incoming students interested in advancing their medical training in the United States. With the perspective of eight years of the GHP, it is clear that our alumni grow in their commitment to global health and advocacy, and continue on to projects that make an impact on closing the health equity gap.