Global Health
Electives

*IDIS 349 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS

Operation Smile

Worldwide
Operation Smile provides comprehensive surgical and medical treatment to children and adults with facial deformities in a variety of international sites on several continents such as: Africa, Asia and South America. Each mission is fully staffed with attending physicians, residents, medical students and other support personnel. Students will perform standard clinical duties and are expected to work closely with a designated mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress. Operation Smile will cover Air Travel; Lodging and Meals.

Project MEDISHARE

Thomonde, Haiti
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system in the central plateau of Haiti. Students who choose this clinical rotation will gain a better understanding of infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related healthcare issues that are continuing to plague Haiti. Students will also be able to offer their expertise in the areas of patient care; training and education programs and lecturing. Students must also perform standard clinical duties while in Haiti, and are expected to work closely with a designated Project Medishare healthcare mentor, who will supervise and evaluate the students’ progress.

Course Duration: Two weeks maximum for Operation Smile; Up to eight weeks for Project Medishare
Report: Operation Smile – Students report to a selected mentor for the country chosen; Project Medishare – Students will report to Ms. Marie Chery , RN, Program Director
Evaluation: Clinical (subjective) Evaluation; Reflection paper based on experience; photos.

Operation Heartbeat

Kashmir, Pakistan
Operation Heartbeat conducts medical and surgical missions to Kashmir, Pakistan. Participating in these missions provides medical students with a unique learning opportunity. It will enrich and diversify their medical education in a different physical setting and provides quality patient care to the people of Kashmir. Dr. Farzad Najam, a GWUMC faculty is the contact person and vice president of Operation Heartbeat.

IDIS352 INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SYSTEMS


Introduction: The following sites are available to 3rd and 4th year medical students who have completed the required rotations in the following areas: internal medicine; family practice; pediatrics; OB/GYN; surgery; and psychiatry. An application will be required and students must be in excellent academic standing. Rotations range from four – eight weeks and are based upon availability.
Course Duration: Variable- Contact Course Director/Coordinator for information
Evaluation Method: Clinical (subjective) Evaluation; Paper/Report

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Dena Hospital

Almora, India
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system in the Almora/Himalayan region of India. Students will work mainly in the areas of anesthesiology, medicine, pathology, radiology, OB/GYN and surgery. Students must perform standard clinical duties while in India and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

Nippon Medical School

Tokyo, Japan
This senior elective provides GWUMC medical students with a medical and cultural experience to help foster a better understanding of the evolution and operation of their emergency medical systems (EMS). Students will be exposed to differences in medical and postgraduate education, EMS system design, and hospital operations. At the end of the program, students will have a better understanding of how the emergency medical system serves its target population and will be better able to function in a future that will have an increased interdependency among countries. Students are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students progress.

Kelaniya University

Colombo, Sri Lanka
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system of Sri Lanka. Students may select a variety of specialties, mainly obstetrics and gynecology; pediatric; surgery and infectious disease that plague the poor areas. Students must perform standard clinical duties while in Sri Lanka and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students progress. Kelaniya University offers complimentary lodging for visiting medical students.

Hue Medical College

Hue, Vietnam
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system of Vietnam. Students may select a variety of specialties, mainly obstetrics and gynecology; pediatric; surgery and infectious disease. Students must perform standard clinical duties while in Vietnam and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students progress.

CARIBBEAN, LATIN AND SOUTH AMERICA

GWUMC and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Research

Minas Gerais, Brazil
This elective is an opportunity for GWUMC medical and public health students to participate in patient-oriented research in hookworm vaccine clinical trial sites located in rural northeastern Minas Gerais State in Brazil. Students will participate in collecting blood and fecal samples from patients enrolled in hookworm vaccine studies, perform diagnostic examinations, and participate in data analysis. From this experience students will be able to gain knowledge of the importance of diseases that are not known of in their home country and gain a better understanding of tropical disease. Students are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

San Francisco University of Quito

Ecuador
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the Ecuadorian healthcare system through participating in clinical rotations in the areas of tropical medicine and community medicine in rural hospitals and in the third level hospitals of Quito. From this experience, students will gain knowledge of the importance of the tropical diseases that are not known of in the United States. Students must also perform standard clinical duties while in Ecuador and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

Project MEDISHARE

Thomonde, Haiti
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system in the central plateau of Haiti. Students who choose this clinical rotation will gain a better understanding of infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related healthcare issues that are continuing to plague Haiti. Students will also be able to offer their expertise in the areas of patient care; training and education programs and lecturing. Students must also perform standard clinical duties while in Haiti, and are expected to work closely with a designated healthcare mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

St. Lucia College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system of St. Lucia more through Tropical Medicine; and other tropical diseases that plague many Latin American and Caribbean regions. Students must perform standard clinical duties or research whichever field is chosen and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

EUROPE

Max Kade Fellowship Program

Vienna, Austria
The senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience a different system of quality medical care as seen in Austria. The students acquire specific knowledge along with a broader, more international view of medicine. Students may chose from an array of specialties. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Vienna and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students progress. This elective is offered once a year to GW students during the month of February. The Max Kade Foundation offers scholarships to those qualified medical students. The scholarship will cover transportation to and from Austria, room and board.

University of Graz

Graz, Austria
The senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience a different system of quality medical care as seen in Austria. The students acquire specific knowledge along with a broader, more international view of medicine. Students may chose from an array of specialties. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Graz and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

Mission Interuniversitaire de Cooperation Des Eschanges Franco

Americains (MICEFA), Paris, France
This senior elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the French healthcare system through clinical rotations at participating hospitals in the Mission Interuniversitaire de Cooperation Des Eschanges Franco-Americains (MICEFA) consortium in Paris, France. Students may select any clinical specialty or basic science research area at any of the fifteen Paris institutions. Students will perform standard clinical duties while in Paris and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor at their chosen institution, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

University of Malta

Valletta, Malta
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the Maltese healthcare system through clinical rotations at St. Luke’s General Hospital. Students may select any clinical specialty or basic science, however Thalamessia, Dermatology and Diabetes offer a very unique opportunity beyond what we have available at home. Students must also perform standard clinical duties while in Malta and are expected to work closely with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

THE MIDDLE EAST

Alexandria University School of Medicine (AUSM)

Alexandria, Egypt
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system through clinical rotations at four hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. Amiry Hospital and Shatby Hospital with specializations in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Pediatric Hospital and El Hadara Hospital with specializations in Orthopedics and Neurology. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Alexandria and gain a better understanding of Schistosomiasis, which is a major health risk in Egypt. Medical students will work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the students’ progress.

Jordan Hospital

Amman, Jordan
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the Jordanian healthcare system through clinical rotations at Jordan Hospital. Students will be able to select a clinical rotation in the following areas: surgery; medicine; obstetrics and gynecology; pediatrics and anesthesiology. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Amman and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the student’s progress.

American University of Beirut (AUB)

Beirut, Lebanon
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the healthcare system at AUB, which offers comprehensive healthcare services and extensive tertiary resources through its specialized care units. Students may choose from a variety of specialties that are offered at AUB. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Beirut and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the student’s progress.

Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center (HHUMC)

Saida, Lebanon
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience yet another area of the Lebanese healthcare system through clinical rotations at (HHUMC) which offers clinical clerkships in medicine and subspecialties; pediatrics; anesthesiology; emergency medicine; obstetrics and gynecology; and surgery and surgical specialties (including cardiovascular and transplant). Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Saida and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the student’s progress. HHUMC offers complimentary lodging for visiting medical students.

TRAD Hospital

Beirut, Lebanon
This senior clinical elective allows GWUMC medical students to experience the Lebanese healthcare system through clinical rotations at TRAD Hospital, a small private hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Students may select a clinical rotation from an array of specialties; however the most notable health issue is the rapid growth of breast cancer patients in Lebanon. Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties while in Beirut and are expected to work with a designated faculty mentor, who will evaluate the student’s progress.

Students may also participate in third party international electives