History

Global and Border Health

In 1982, Ron Pust, MD within the department of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) began Global Health: Clinical & Community Care (retitled to Global Health Intensive Course), a 3-week intensive course, to prepare senior students and residents for their 4-8 week Global Health Clinical Preceptorship, served in over 70 nations.

  • In 1991, FCM hosted the first meeting of what is now the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH). UArizona has been a member since.
  • In 2010, the Global Health Distinction Track [GHDT] was formed and became the second College of Medicine Distinction Track.
  • Global & Border Health was funded via a small part of $4,699,000 in HRSA grants for FCM Predoctoral [R. Pust, PI/director] from 1981-2011.
  • Like many educational programs begun in FCM [e.g., CUP, RHPP, MD-MPH], in 2012 Global & Border Health was elevated/funded at the College of Medicine deans’ level.
  • In addition to Global Health tracks at both FCM residencies, the Office of Global & Border Health has worked with 4 College of Medicine residencies to create global health tracks.
  • To facilitate health sciences faculty and student collaboration, the Office of Global & Border Health has worked with hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania.

Highlights & Awards

Oldest continuing clinical global health preparatory course in the USA, now with faculty from all over the US and the world.

  • Formal consultations with nine medical schools starting global health programs.
  • Featured as 1 of 8 US global health programs in Evert J, et.al., Developing Global Health Programming: A guidebook for medical and professional schools, 2014.
  • Furrow award for “Innovative Teaching” [of global health], College of Medicine, 1990.
  • STFM Smilkstein Award in International Family Medicine, 2007.
  • Global Health Service Award, UArizona Office of Global Initiatives, 2013.
  • Over 60 peer-reviewed journal publications on global health or careers among underserved.

Program Outcomes

Global Health Intensive Course has over 850 “graduates” since 1982.

  • The majority are from ~45 medical schools in the USA; several from Canada.
  • We have kept track of ~80% of them, including a survey of 1982-2007 graduates. ~25 have worked with the CDC. Top specialties are family medicine [41%], pediatrics [10%], public health [10%]. During their training, 73% worked abroad in global health. Over half have done global health as part of their career.