International Health Electives (IHE)

Description

IHE was designed by the UWSOM International Health Group for students in their fourth year of medical school. IHE includes intense clinical and public health training. Funding for these opportunities is provided by the Puget Sound Partners for Global Health. Fourth year students may participate in an IHE at any time during their fourth year of medical school once they have completed all their required clerkships. Participants will be required to spend 6-8 weeks (12-16 credits) working at their IHE site. Participants will receive course credit for their IHE experiences.

Objectives

* To provide quality international health experiences for UWSOM students including practicing medicine in a resource poor setting, public health training, and cross cultural exposure.
* To develop long-term relationships with international sites
* To provide site support including journals, textbooks, computers and other equipment.

 

Eligibility

1. You must be a fourth year medical student at the University of Washington.
2. You must have completed all your required coursework and clerkships prior to participating in IHE.
3. You must have a long-term commitment to working with underserved populations worldwide.
4. You must be in good academic standing at the UWSOM

Sites

1. University of Melbourne Rural Clinical School and the Rumbalarra Health Center, Goulburn Valley, Australia
2. SHISONG General Hospital, Northwest Province, Bui Division, Cameroon
3. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana
4. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India
5. Majuro Hospital, Majuro, Marshall Islands
6. Clinica de Salud Publica "Barton del Callao", Instituto de Ciencias Neurologicas and Instituto Materno-Perinatal, Lima, Peru
7. Malawi (more information to come!)
8. Philippines (more information to come!)
   

Selection criteria

1. Long-term commitment to working with underserved populations worldwide.
2. Prior experience working with underserved populations.
3. Prior experience in international health is preferred, though not required.
4. Demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively.
5. Foreign language proficiency.

To Apply

1. Complete the IHE Application.
2. Applications and letters of recommendation should be e-mailed to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center. Applications and letters of recommendation may be submitted between 2/23/06 and 6/23/06. Please note that both the application and the letter of recommendation are due no later than 6/23/06.
3. Once both your IHE Application and LoR have been received and evaluated, a subset of applicants will be invited to an interview with the IHG Board.

IHE Selection Committee Members
The committee will be made up of UW faculty and the IHG Board. The committee members will rank applicants using the following form.

Instructions for students selected to participate in IHE 2005-06:

Please note that by failing to complete all requirements by the listed deadlines, you forfeit your right to an IHE placement and/or IHE stipend. You may be asked to return all or part of your stipend for failing to complete the requirements.

1. Read and follow the instructions on getting credit for international rotations. Deadline 11/1/05.
2. Schedule an appointment with your PCP or at Hall Health.
   * You are required to have a documented physical exam.
   * You will need to have the "Medical Report" forms (Parts 1, 2, 3) completed and submitted to the UW Office of International Programs & Exchanges (see below). Deadline 11/1/05.
3. Provide documentation of health insurance with equal or better coverage than the UW Accident and Sickness Plan. Deadline 11/1/05.
4. Obtain the following forms from the UW Office of International Programs & Exchanges (IP&E) in 516 Schmitz Hall, (206) 543-9272. Turn in these forms along with a check for $200 to IP&E as one package. Deadline 11/1/05.
   * "UW Independent Research/Study Abroad Credit Verification" form (blue) -- See "Getting Credit for International Clinical Rotations" for instructions on completing this form.
   * "Concurrent Enrollment and Release" form, "Medical Report" form, and "Liability Waiver" form (brown) --If you are registering for any other courses or clerkships during the quarter when you will be doing an international clerkship, indicate this in RED INK at the top of the brown "Concurrent Enrollment and Release" form. This is very important. You must also include information about your health insurance policy. See "Getting Credit for International Clinical Rotations" for instructions on completing these forms.
5. Obtain the Extra Protection Plan from Cultural Insurance Services International. Please get this travel insurance plan and not another as this one has been carefully selected. You must provide documentation of coverage to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Health Sciences Global Training Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. It is STRONGLY recommended that you purchase traveler's health insurance for your time abroad. Deadline 1/31/06.
6. Schedule a travel consultation with the Hall Health Travel Clinic. Deadline 1/31/06.
   * Obtain all necessary vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis
   * Obtain needlestick prophylaxis
   * Provide documentation of all travel health services received to to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.
7. Purchase supplies prior to your trip. Required supplies are listed on each individual IHE site page. Provide documentation of all supplies purchased to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Deadline 2/28/06.
8. Complete and sign the IHE Contract, which can be obtained from Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Deadline 1/31/06.
9. Complete and submit a "Financial Aid Revision" form (may be obtained from Diane Noecker, UWSOM Financial Aid Office, T-557, Health Sciences Building, Tel. (206) 685-9229). This is mandatory. On this form you should report that you will not be charged tuition for the duration of your rotation (by filing with IP&E, your tuition during this time will be waived). All the costs associated with an International Health Elective will be reimbursed, so you may not report these as expenses on your "Financial Aid Revision" form. Deadline 1/31/06.
10. Attend the mandatory International Health Electives orientation. The orientation is scheduled shortly after student selection takes place. It is a 1-2 hour meeting.
11. Bring a credit card for emergency/unplanned expenses.
12. Keep receipts for all expenses related to your IHE placement. Upon your return you are required to fill out an "Expense Report" form. Please submit your receipts and the "Expense Report" form to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. This is necessary for you to receive your funding and will allow us to adjust stipends in the future as necessary. Deadline is 2 weeks following your return to the United States.
13. An evaluation of your IHE experience is required. Please keep track of your activities each week in a diary (this may be in the form of a bulleted list for example). At the end of your placement, we ask that you submit your activities diary and an evaluation form (please your take time in answering these questions). Submit these to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Health Sciences Global Training Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Deadline is 2 weeks following your return to the United States.
14. You are required to take 5-10 digital photos (may be scanned in if necessary) of yourself with patients and staff. Please ask for permission from both patients and staff before taking photos. You must e-mail these photos to Daren Wade, Program Manager, Global Health Resource Center, C-314 Health Sciences Building, Box 356355, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Deadline is 2 weeks following your return to the United States.
    

2002- 2003 participants:

2003-2004 participants:

2004- 2005 participants:

2005-2006 participants: