This year 1 preparatory course/externship is open to all medical students in good standing at the College of Medicine-Tucson. Students enrolled in this course are not required to be part of the Distinction Track. For enrollment information or further details regarding the Global Health Distinction Track, contact the global health coordinator.
This course is divided into 2 parts:
1. Global Health Preparatory Course
2. Field Experience
1. Global Health Preparatory Course
Designed in response to a growing interest in global health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, this 7-hour preparatory course prepares students for a field experience in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs).
Attendance is required in all 7 sessions. There is an additional session held in August to debrief those students who completed an international rotation. Requirements include the completion of an evaluation for this part of the course.
This 7-session preparatory course is a prerequisite for students who wish to do the field experience. This course spans the academic year with 3 sessions scheduled in the fall and 4 sessions in the spring.
Some topics covered include:
- Overview of the Global Health Distinction Track
- Ethics and Misconceptions about Global Health
- Introduction to Diseases of Poverty and Tropical Medicine
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Travel Safety
2. Field Experience
The field experience is a 2 to 4-week, faculty-mentored experience in a low-to-middle income country. The focus is on clinical observation and community assessment. Rotation sites must be approved by the global health co-director(s).
A field experience is required as part of this course for the Global Health Distinction Track. Students not enrolled in the distinction track may also participate in a global health rotation but must first take the 7-session preparatory course.
Requirements include the following:
- Reflection on International Experience based on the student’s rotation
- GeoJournal (details discussed in part 1 of this course)
- Completion of a site evaluation and course evaluation
The global health rotation is scheduled during the summer between year 1 and year 2. Exception: dual degree students.
Students may review prior site evaluations on the Learning Sites tab to help with site choice. The global health co-directors are also a good source for site suggestions. After a site is chosen, either an existing or new site, the student must complete the Pre-Clinical Site Approval Form and submit to the global health coordinator for review and approval by the co-director(s). If an affiliation agreement is not in place, one will be initiated by the global health coordinator. After the site has been approved, a Student Elective Selection Form should be completed and sent to the global health coordinator.