Global Health Pathway

Purpose
The Internal Medicine Global Health Pathway is designed for residents in the Internal Medicine and Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency who desire a more rigorous education in global health.  This may include any of the following areas:

• Improving healthcare for immigrants, refugees and travelers
• Developing a clinical or academic career in global health 
• Expanding understanding of under-represented diseases
• Increasing competence of care of a multicultural society
• Pursuing a career in underserved communities in the United States
• Building local, national, and international community collaborations 

Program Eligibility
The Pathway is open to any resident currently enrolled in the Internal Medicine or Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program. 

Program Requirements
Residents must:

1. Enroll in the program during orientation or in the first year.
2. Maintain good standing within the residency program.
3. Attend at least 6 of the lectures (out of ~18 evening events offered annually) of the Tropical and Travel Medicine Lecture Series or the Global Pediatrics Lecture Series per year.
4. Maintain an electronic portfolio of global health experiences (case presentations, international rotation summary, etc.).

Other Program Opportunities
Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in any of the following:

1. Complete 2 month Global Health Course taught annually during July and August.
2. Participate in a continuity clinic elective with an emphasis on serving immigrant patients.
3. Complete 1-2 months international elective rotation (two months required for ASTMH certification).
4. Complete an academic project or scholarly activity related to global health (required for all residents taking an international elective).
5. Take the ASTMH examination leading to Certification of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health (requires taking the entire Global Health Course and two months of international experience). See www.astmh.org for more information.

Benefits of the Global Health Pathway to Residents

1. International rotations including a rich educational experience, facilitation of research projects, and opportunities to contribute to the health of developing countries.
2. Priority scheduling for international rotations and continuity clinics that serve immigrant populations.
3. Participation in collaborations at international sites that are formally affiliated with the Global Health Pathway.
4. Priority enrollment into the Global Health Course.
5. A stipend for international travel or global health research project upon completion of the project.  Additionally, competitive scholarships are also available.
6. An opportunity to connect with a faculty mentor with career interests in global health.
7. Career guidance and assistance for residents interested in pursuing, either partially or fully, international work in their future career plans. 

X = Can participate in this program component during that year. 

Notes Regarding Timeline 

1. Enroll in pathway.  Although residents may enter the pathway anytime during their intern year, ideally those who are strongly interested should enroll at the start of their residency program.
2. Meet with mentor.  Residents should meet with their mentor at least yearly to schedule projects, track progress, and review experiences.
3. Lectures.  Required.  May be either Travel and Tropical Medicine Lecture Series or the Pediatric Global Health Lecture Series (total of 18 opportunities per year).  Lectures missed during the intern year may be made-up during later years.
4. Scholarly project.  Required for those taking an international elective.  Fulfills the residency programs requirement.
5. Global Health Course.  Strongly recommended.  Ideally both months taken before first trip abroad, but may be taken later if scheduling does not permit earlier participation/scheduling.
6. Continuity Clinic. Recommended (as available). Base continuity clinic in a location seeing many immigrants, with faculty mentors.
7. Local elective.  Optional.  Local electives must be approved by the residency program.
8. International rotation elective.  Strongly encouraged, third year preferred.  This must be scheduled with the appropriate pathway by January 31^st prior to the academic year the elective is requested.  May include an international rotation, work with the Indian Health Service, or a global research elective.  All global electives must be approved by the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director and the Global Health Program.  The Global Health Program would provide a one time stipend after all program requirements are completed.
9. ASTMH exam.  Optional.  Pre-requisite is the completion of the Global Health Course and two months of work in a tropical country.  Currently the exam is offered only every other year.
10. ePortfolio.  Required.  All participants must maintain a portfolio of their progress including their scholarly project and weekly reports during any global elective.  Teaching presentations should be on a global health topic or aimed at presenting an internal medicine topic to a tropical audience.