University of Washington Department of Global Health

Study Abroad / Exchange

International Health Electives (IHE)

IHE applications are now available. See details below.

If you have any questions, please contact jearle@u.washington.edu, 206-685-7418

Overview

The International Health Elective (IHE) is a funded international global health experience for students who are enrolled at the University of Washington School of Medicine and are in their fourth year medical school. Fourth year students may participate in an IHE at any time during their fourth year of medical school once they have completed all of their required clerkships.

IHE is a competitive program that requires an application, letter of recommendation and an interview. Up to ten fourth year students are selected each year for an IHE. Funding for IHE is provided through the Puget Sound Partners for Global Health Training and Education Program.  

IHE was founded by the International Health Group (IHG) at the UWSOM and is administered through the Global Health Resource Center with continued participation from IHG student coordinators.

IHE includes clinical training, public health training and cultural immersion. Participants will be required to spend 6-8 weeks (12-16) credits at the IHE site. Participants will receive clinical course credit for their IHE experience.

To learn more about IHE sites, click on the links below:

Each site has been specifically chosen because of its ties to UW faculty and researchers. Click on the links above for more detailed descriptions of each site and site requirements.

IHE Requirements

IHE participants are required to:

  • Sign and adhere to the Puget Sound Partners for Global Health (PSPGH) contract guidelines.
  • Attend a required orientation session, to be held in early September 2008 (TBA) in Seattle, Washington.
  • Attend any other required meetings related to IHE.
  • Spend 6-8 consecutive weeks at the program site.
  • Follow the checklist of tasks and requirements for the IHE experience prior to, during and upon completion of the experience.
  • Comply with the travel health and safety guidelines and requirements.
  • Submit 5-10 digital photos of yourself with patients and staff on site. Be sure to ask permission from patients and staff before taking any photos. 
  • Complete and turn in an Evaluation form, receipts and Expense Report form.

Objectives

  1. To provide quality international health experiences for UWSOM students including observation of the practice of medicine in a resource poor setting, public health training and cross-cultural exposure.
  2. To develop long-term relationships with international sites.

Eligibility

  1. You must be a fourth year medical student at the University of Washington.
  2. You must have completed all of your required coursework and clerkships prior to participation.
  3. You must be in good academic standing at the University of Washington, School of Medicine.

Applicant Characteristics and Selection Criteria

  • Long-term commitment to working with underserved populations worldwide.
  • Prior experience working with underserved populations.
  • Prior experience in international health is preferred, though not required.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively. Must be flexible.
  • Foreign language proficiency where required.

IHE recipients have been diverse in the past. In your application, be honest about your interests and emphasize how participation in this experience would connect with your long-term career goals.

Applicant Procedures

  1. Complete IHE 2008 APPLICATION
  2. Applications and letters of recommendation should be emailed to Jennifer Earle, Student Services Coordinator, Global Health Resource Center: jearle@u.washington.edu.  All applications will be blinded and reviewed by the IHE selection committee. The committee will be made up of UW faculty, GHRC staff and IHG members.
    Applications and Letters of Recommendation are due on Friday, July 11, 2008.
  3. Interviews will be held the week of August 4-8th, 2008. This form will be used to evaluate applications and interviews. Applicants will be interviewed by members of the IHE selection committee.
  4. IHE will announce 2008 participants the week of August 18, 2008.
  5. IHE selected participants must accept IHE opportunity by August 22, 2008.
  6. IHE grantees must attend a required orientation to be held sometime during the first week of September 2008.

Funding

While the International Health Elective (IHE) opportunity covers the majority of costs for students selected for the program, it does not cover 100% of the expenses incurred. Students will be expected to contribute to the costs. Specific information around funding will be provided upon selection for the IHE program.

Documents for IHE Participants

IHE participants: please download the following documents:

  1. IHE Checklist
  2. Expense Report Form
  3. IHE Evaluation Form

IHE 2008 Orientation: Date, time and venue TBA – early Fall Quarter in Seattle, Washington

IHE participants are required to participate in an orientation session.

2007 - 2008 Past Participants

Rachel Bender – India
Jerry Flynn – India
Onyeka Nduaguba – Malawi  
Jake Harris – Malawi
Sara Thompson – Peru 
Krista Reagan – Peru
Cecilia Wu – Ghana  
John Lemos – Ghana
Thomas Le – Philippines
Tsering Lhewa - Australia

Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Jennifer Earle, Student Services Coordinator, Global Health Resource Center
Daren Wade, Director, Global Health Resource Center
Katie Newell, MS3, IHG IHE Student Coordinator
Aya Reiss, MS2, IHG IHE Student Coordinator

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