The International Health Program
The International Health Program (IHP) is a curricular initiative taking
place in a number of medical schools across the country. The program
requirements are spread out over all four years of medical school, and
students who complete those requirements are recognized on their Dean’s
letter and receive a certificate stating that they have completed the
IHP.
Mission
To prepare culturally competent physicians with an understanding of
and appreciation for international problems of health and illness. Students
will gain a more complete perspective of existing health care systems and
of the practical challenges of delivering care in an international setting.
Program Requirements:
- Health Care in Developing Countries Elective offered during Year
1: a ten-week course that meets weekly to discuss factors influencing
global health. Topics include, but are not limited to: maternal/child
health, water and sanitation, war and PTSD, malnutrition, and PTSD,
malnutrition, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Students are also required
to present a project on the health care system of a foreign country.
- Summer Travel Elective: Students are expected to complete a travel
elective with an underserved population, domestically or abroad, for
a minimum of two weeks. This travel experience must meet current elective
criteria and have approval from the Biennium I Elective Sub-committee.
A pre-requisite for Summer Travel Elective is the Health Care in Developing
Countries course described above or an approved equivalent experience.
- Health Care in the Global Community Elective offered during Year
2: a monthly seminar based on student-led discussion which meets throughout
the year. This elective begins the clinical exploration of the impact
of global health. Topics include, but are not limited to: natural disasters,
terrorism, health economics, chronic disease management, epidemiology
of global health, and the relationship that exists between the United
States and the rest of the world (research, pharmaceuticals, and foreign
aid).
- Extramural International Travel Elective: Students are expected to
complete a four week travel elective with an underserved population,
domestically or abroad in their 4th year. This rotation must be approved
by the Biennium 2 Elective Committee and Office of Student Affairs,
and must fulfill the current elective requirements.
Because the IHP is part of the medical school curriculum, students who
are enrolled in the International Health Program are eligible for additional
financial aid to assist with travel electives. IHP participants may request a budget increase for travel costs, up to a maximum of $3,000. Contact Tussel Conner, financial aid coordinator, for information about the program. The budget increase request
must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs in advance of the
travel experience.
Students participating in the IHP are often involved in the student
club, GHI. However, students do not have to be a member IHP to be a member
of GHI and vice versa.
Participation in the IHP requires that students sign the IHP contract
by the Winter Electives Options Deadline (usually in mid-December of
the first year of medical school). This is the only opportunity to sign
the contract, and doing so indicates a student's intent to complete the
requirements outlined above for the IHP program. That being said,
if a student signs the contract they may choose to leave the program
at a later date.
Travel abroad is not restricted to students in the IHP. However, students
must complete the first year elective, Health Care in Developing Countries
as a pre-requisite in order to receive elective credit for travel.
IHP Contract
|
