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International Health Opportunities Program (IHOP)

• Overview |
• IHOP & III |
• Objectives |
• Eligibility |
• Applicant Charateristics |
• Application Procedure
  
• Fundings |
• Documents for IHOP Participants |
• Past IHOP participants

Overview

The International Health Opportunities Program (IHOP) is a funded international global health experience for students between their first and second years of medical school at the University of Washington. Funding is provided through the Puget Sound Partners for Global Health Training and Education Program.

IHOP was founded by the International Health Group (IHG) at the UWSOM and is administered through the Global Health Resource Center with assistance from the IHG and UWSOM.

IHOP is not a clinical preceptorship experience but provides students the opportunity to learn more about international health care systems and basic public health.

IHOP sends students to:

• India
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Palau
• Peru

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.

IHOP Requirements
IHOP 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 on March 15th-16th, 2008 in Seattle, Washington.
• Attend any other required meetings related to IHOP.
• Spend 10-12 consecutive weeks at the program site.
• Follow the checklist of tasks and requirements for the IHOP experience prior to, during and upon completion of the experience.
• Comply with the travel health and safety guidelines and requirements.
• Complete an IHOP project.
• 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.
• Attend and present at two poster presentations: 1. UWSOM and 2. Puget Sound Partners for Global Health (PSPGH)
• Complete and turn in an activities diary, Evaluation form, receipts and Expense Report form.

*If participating in research, you are REQUIRED to obtain IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval before traveling to the site.

IHOP & III

UWSOM students may also fulfill their III project while participating in IHOP. Students will discuss project options with the UW faculty contact and foreign site contact upon selection for the IHOP program.

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.
3. To provide site support including Tumaini fundraiser, journals, textbooks, computers and other equipment.

Eligibility

1. You must be a first year medical student at the University of Washington.
2. You must have a long-term commitment to working with underserved populations worldwide.
3. You must be in good academic standing at the University of Washington, School of Medicine by the time of travel in order to be permitted to participate in the IHOP Program.

Applicant Characteristics

• Long-term interest in pursuing a career serving disadvantaged populations overseas.
• Initiative and ability to work independently.
• Prior international health experience OR
• Prior public health experience OR
• Prior experience working with disadvantaged populations.

IHOP 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.

Application Procedure

IHOP application for 2009 will be available in fall 2008. Check back soon.

1. Complete IHOP 2008 APPLICATION
2. Download the following documents: IHOP 2008 PPT, application instructions, and frequently asked questions
3. Applications due on January 4th, 2008. Applications must be emailed to Daren Wade (dwade@u.washington.edu). Letters of recommendation should be emailed electronically as well, but may be mailed if necessary.
4. Interviews will be held January 22nd-23rd, 2008. This form will be used to evaluate applications and interviews.
5. IHOP will announce 2008 participants on February 4, 2008.

Funding

IHOP funding covers MOST of the expenses associated with travel but students are expected to contribute to the costs. Specific information around funding will be provided upon selection for the IHOP program.

Documents for Ihop Participants

IHOP participants: please download the following documents:

1. General Information for IHOP participants
2. IHOP "to-do" Checklist
3. Expense Report Form
4. IHOP Evaluation Form

IHOP 2008 Orientation: March 15-16, 2008 in Seattle, Washington
IHOP participants are required to participate in an orientation session, to be held on March 15th-16th, 2008 in Seattle, Washington.

Reimbursement for WWAMI students traveling to Seattle will be provided. Please contact Daren Wade for reimbursements. Please make travel arrangements ASAP. WWAMI students should plan to arrive in Seattle on Friday evening March 14th. Housing will be provided for WWAMI students. IHOP participants are required to give a 10-minute power-point presentation to IHOP coordinators, participants and faculty. Please contact Daren Wade for any questions regarding this assignment.

QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
Daren Wade, Director, Global Health Resource Center: dwade@u.washington.edu
Jennifer Earle, Student Services Coordinator, Global Health Resource Center: jearle@u.washington.edu
Rachel Bender, MS4, International Health Group: rabender@u.washington.edu
Grace Marx, MS3, International Health Group: marxg@u.washington.edu

Past IHOP Participants

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