Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Harvard Medical School course Clinical Topics in Global Health was offered for the first time as a remote class. We sought to understand student and faculty perceptions of the elective and evaluate the perceived effectiveness of teaching global health using an online education platform. Methods Following the course, students and faculty were invited to complete a combined total of three online surveys, which consisted of closed- and open-response questions assessing the strengths and challenges of online learning. Data analyses included traditional descriptive statistics, Net Promoter Score calculation, and inductive thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results Thirty-two students and eighteen guest faculty (including four international faculty) participated in the course. Highly-rated course components included guest lecturers, practical skill sessions, polls, and case studies. The Net Promoter Score for the course was excellent at 92, and students reported a greater likelihood of pursuing a career in global health because of the course. While students and faculty highlighted limitations of the remote learning platform (lack of community and interactivity), they also commented on increased accessibility and faculty diversity. Most faculty and students recommended a hybrid model for future versions of the course and suggested strategies to address current limitations. Conclusions A remote learning platform can effectively deliver global health education, both in the pandemic setting and beyond.

The trafficking of proteins such as aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in the exocytotic pathway requires an active actin cytoskeleton network, but the mechanism is incompletely understood. Here, we show that the actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex, a key factor in actin filament branching and polymerization, is involved in the shuttling of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) between the trans Golgi network (TGN) and the plasma membrane. Arp2/3 inhibition (using CK-666) or siRNA knockdown blocks vasopressin induced AQP2 membrane accumulation, and induces the formation of distinct AQP2 perinuclear patches positive for markers of TGN-derived clathrin coated vesicles. After a 20oC cold block, AQP2 formed perinuclear patches due continuous endocytosis coupled with inhibition of exit from the TGN-associated vesicles. Upon rewarming, AQP2 normally leaves the TGN, and redistributes into the cytoplasm, entering the exocytotic pathway. Inhibition of Arp2/3 blocked this process, and trapped AQP2 in clathrin positive vesicles. Taken together, these results suggest that Arp2/3 is essential for AQP2 trafficking, specifically for its delivery into the post-TGN exocytotic pathway to the plasma membrane.