Global Health in Medical Education: A Call for More Training and Opportunities

Abstract

Worldwide increases in global migration and trade have been making communicable diseases a concern throughout the world and have highlighted the connections in health and medicine among and between continents. Physicians in developed countries are now expected to have a broader knowledge of tropical disease and newly emerging infections, while being culturally sensitive to the increasing number of international travelers and ethnic minority populations. Exposing medical students to these global health issues encourages students to enter primary care medicine, obtain public health degrees, and practice medicine among the poor and ethnic minorities. In addition, medical students who have completed an international clinical rotation often report a greater ability to recognize disease presentations, more comprehensive physical exam skills with less reliance on expensive imaging, and greater cultural sensitivity. American medical students have become increasingly more interested and active in global health, but medical schools have been slow to respond. The authors review the evidence supporting the benefits of promoting more global health teaching and opportunities among medical students. Finally, the authors suggest several steps that medical schools can take to meet the growing global health interest of medical students, which will make them better physicians and strengthen our medical system.

Academic General Internal Medicine: A Mission for the Future

“…57 In medical education, the growing interest in global medicine among trainees may also build their commitment to equity in health care delivery in the US. 58,59 Academic GIM is well positioned to foster and support this trend in order to build a workforce to address local, national and global issues of equity and social justice. Of equal importance, academic GIM should lead in strengthening the linkages between community engagement and the development of a diverse physician workforce, including the development and support of pipeline programs and the creation of opportunities for minority trainees to participate in community based activities.…”

Global Experiential and Didactic Education Opportunities at US Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

“…The rate of 6.1% of student pharmacists participating in an international experience was behind the 29% of medical students who did so in 2014 and was comparable to the 5.9% of medical students who completed an international experience in 1978. 15 Although participation in globally focused didactic courses was more than twice of that for international APPE rotations, demand was substantially greater for international APPE rotations indicating that financial and logistical barriers may preclude students from participating in such opportunities. While overall student demand did not outweigh supply, there was higher student demand than supply for international APPE rotations at schools that offered at least one international rotation, indicating that awareness of such opportunities could facilitate interest.…”

“…13 Students who have participated in global health experiences report positive benefits including increased cultural awareness, enhanced community, social, and public health awareness, and more appreciation for global issues and challenges. [14][15][16][17] In addition, these experiences can help build confidence and critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. 18 Furthermore, international training experiences may be associated with future career choices in underserved or primary care settings.…”

The Role of Medical Students in Short-Term Experiences in Global Health: A Perspective from São Tomé Island

“…Benefits noted in literature include contact with diseases unseen in their home countries, skills improvement, networking with peers and mentors, and personal fulfilment and inspiration. 3 However, while STEGH are perceived as helpful for improving health conditions in low-income settings, literature has documented many negative impacts for hosting communities that can exacerbate health inequities and compromise patient safety.…”

“…Students typically hope to address the needs of challenging contexts around the world, and wish to pursue learning abroad as part of their training. 3 This popularity has given rise to hundreds of organizations responsible for STEGH, with students from high-income countries visiting low and middle income settings, on experiences that vary in length and frequency of visits, team composition, focus of activities, and resources. 4 Exact data on popular destinations is limited but in general, many countries throughout the world host STEGH in some form or another.…”