Penn Medical Students

• Overview

• Global Health Certificate & Scholar Programs

• Global Health Courses @ Penn

• International/Global Health Experiences: 
  Planning, Required Forms, Opportunities, Funding, Travel Arrangements

• Global Health at Home

• Global Health Careers

• Global Health Videos/Lectures by Penn Faculty/Associates

• Global Health References

Overview

At Penn Med, you are invited to pursue numerous opportunities to expand your knowledge about and experience in global health.  You may focus on research or on clinical activities -- in resource-rich or resource-poor countries.  You can also have a global health experience without leaving home by working with an immigrant community in Philadelphia, serving as an interpreter, or acting as a peer host for a visiting international medical student. The Office of Global Health Programs (GHP), in cooperation with the Office of the Registrar of the School of Medicine, coordinates global health experiences, provides course work in global health, and advises students on how to earn a Global Health Certificate to accompany the MD degree.  In addition, GHP sponsors an annual Global Health Career Day for students from Penn and other local universities to learn about how professionals incorporate global health in their careers. 

Penn medical students have demonstrated growing interest in and commitment to global health.  Since 2006, on average, more than 100 students a year participate in a global health activity. These global health experiences have taken place in countries all over the world, including:

• Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
• Asia: China, India, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
• Central America/Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua
• South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru
• Europe: Austria, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Penn's medical school curriculum lends itself to global health experiences at two junctures. During the summer between MS1 and MS2, students may pursue experiences of 1-2 months; during the last 18 months of the curriculum, from January of the 3rd year to graduation, students may undertake an activity of 1-3 months.  Experiences that require 6-12 month minimum commitments are best suited for students wishing to take a year out.

Global Health References

• Ethical Considerations for Short-term Experiences by Trainees in Global Health (JAMA 10/2008 -- Crump & Sugarman)
• Journal Articles & Books:  9/2009 Word Document
• Médecins Sans Frontières:  Research for Health Workers in Developing Countries

Last updated: October 29, 2009