Research Concentration in Global Health

Course Coordinator
Farah Madhani-Lovely

Committee Members
Farah Madhani-Lovely
Sneha Surapaneni
Jennifer Monroe
Brandon Smith
Sara Hanneman
Catherine Doubek

Objectives1
1. Understand the major factors that influence the health of individuals and populations worldwide
2. Develop at least a basic understanding of the complexity of global health issues, especially in low- resource settings
3. Identify sources of information concerning global health topics
4. Appreciate the role of physicians as advocates for improving the health of patients and populations in their communities and globally
Administrative Details
1. Time commitment: minimum of 8 weeks longitudinally across Years I - IV
2. Must remain in good academic standing and comply with all standards found in Policy 007a "Student Eligibility for Special Programs"
3. Student selects a mentor from the faculty pool.
4. Signed Statement of Understanding Contract required between mentor and mentee.
5. Faculty and Community Mentors
  1. Kirk Bronander, M.D.
  2. Catherine McCarthy, M.D.
  3. Michael Bloch, M.D.
  4. Melissa Bloch, M.D.
6. May require competitive application dependent upon number of students requesting participation
Curriculum
1. Review and become familiar with the Global Health Essential Core Competencies released by AFMC Resource Group/GHEC Committee 20091
2. Year I - Participate in an international experience in medicine during the summer between Years 1 & 2. One possibility is the Nevada to Nicaragua Medical Mission trip (2 - 3 weeks).
  1. Prior to the trip during MS I year
    1. Each student must attend the pre-departure training session(s)
    2. Each student will read the AFMC/GHEC Global Health Essentials Core Competencies
    3. Each SCGH student must formulate learning objectives based on two of these essential competencies: Health-Care in Low resource Settings and another competency of their choice.
    4. Student is to generate a study question or questions relating to their objectives. Competencies, objectives, and questions should be reviewed with their mentor.
      Requires sign off by mentor.
    5. Students will begin a travel journal that log competencies, objectives, and study questions as well as pre-trip expectations, unexpected events and challenges while preparing for the trip, etc.
  2. During the trip (between MS I and II)
    1. Students will journal experiences in healthcare as well as gather information to satisfy their learning objectives and study questions for the trip
    2. Student will participate in all aspects of clinical activities
    3. Each student will present on a prevalent disease or condition affecting the health of the local population to their peers, attendings, and local community health professions.
    4. Student will present to community members and community health workers on a public health topic. (Topics will be decided in conjunction with Bridges to Communities staff and local healthcare professionals)
  3. After the trip
    1. Students will journal post trip impressions, experiences, and finalize data collected regarding their learning objectives
    2. Based on their journal, students will review their study question in a 1-2 page summary review and relate it to their learning objectives and core competencies.
3. Year II
  1. Review journal and summary review with mentor. Requires sign off by mentor or coordinator
  2. Mandatory attendance at all Community Health and Health Policy lectures relating to Global Health
  3. Be prepared to participate in Block 7's Medical Mission Debriefing session
  4. Assist with planning and participating in the pre-departure training sessions for MS I students
4. Year III
  1. Correlate Global Health Core Competencies to clinical clerkships
  2. Review and document completion of a minimum of 10 Global Health lectures from Global Health learning resource sites. Requires mentor sign off. Examples:
    1. GUGH Teaching Modules
    2. Institute for International Medicine
5. Year IV
  1. Global health elective rotation (4-8 weeks)
    1. Planning in conjunction with mentor at least 6-9 months prior to travel
    2. Development of learning objectives relating to at least 2 of the Global Health Core Competencies. Requires sign off by mentor prior to trip
    3. Maintain journal during trip
    4. Submit a 1-2 page summary review relating their learning objectives and Global Health Core Competencies to their mentor. Requires sign off by mentor or SCGH coordinator.
6. Longitudinal
  1. Required: Attend a meeting, course, or conference involving Global Health as the primary focus or a component of the agenda (ex: University of Arizona's Global Health: Clinical and Community Care course, AMSA National Convention - Global Health, GHEC Annual meeting, AAFP Global Health Workshop, etc.). Requires sign off by mentor after attendance.
  2. Optional: Complete a combined MD/MPH degree with a focus on community and global health
  3. Optional: Participate as an active leader in a local, regional, or national Global Health focused organization (ex. University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Global Health Interest Group, AMSA Global Health Committee, etc.)
  4. Optional: Complete or participate in a research project focusing on Global Health. May require Human Subjects training and IRB review as appropriate dependent upon project.
Capstone Global Health Project — Year IV
1. Final scholarly product should be defined during Year III and early Year IV with the student's mentor. The capstone project should be illustrative of the student's learning objectives and longitudinal learning process during their 4 years within the Scholarly Concentration in Global Health program. Projects can include, but are not limited to:
  1. A formal research paper on a Global Health research project they participated in with appropriate citations in a publishable style
  2. A poster presentation for a local or national conference/convention
  3. A summary presentation at a local or national conference/convention regarding their learning objectives, research, or experiences in Scholarly Concentration in Global Health in relation to the Global Health Core Competencies
  4. A summary report comparing and contrasting their Year I and Year IV global health experiences in the context of their learning objectives, Global Health Core Competencies, and a discussion of how they plan to implement what they have learned into their future medical career.
  5. Other - requires approval by student's mentor and an SCGH coordinator
Requires sign off by mentor and SCGH coordinator for initial project approval and to receive final credit and award once completed.
Scholarly Concentration in Global Health Award: Presented by mentor or SCGH coordinator at the Awards Ceremony during Graduation Week

Scholarly Concentration in Global Health developed by Jason Crawford, M.D., MPH; Jennifer Hagen, M.D.; Nagesh Gullapalli, M.D.

Note 1: Joint US/Canadian Committee on Global Health Core Competencies. Assoc. of Faculties of Medicine of Canada's Resource Group on Global Health (AFMC) / Global Health Education Consortium (GHEC) Committee. 2009