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Medical Students

Meaningful participation in real life surgical situations is often the inspiration for a medical student to elect to pursue a career in a surgical specialty. We aim to provide information relevant to medical students interested in participation in both domestic and international surgical volunteerism opportunities via this resource center.

 

Please feel free to provide any suggestions you may have on appropriate volunteerism resources for medical students via the feedback form found in the "Contact Us" section.

 

Please note that the following links are provided as a courtesy to those with an interest in humanitarian outreach.  Unless otherwise indicated, the American College of Surgeons is not affiliated with these organizations, and not responsible for the content of their websites.

 

General Resources

 

Global Health Education Consortium (GHEC)

A non-profit organization of health professionals, educators and institutions dedicated to global health education. Through its focus on education, GHEC provides dedicated global health leadership to educate, train and mentor health care students, faculty, professionals and practitioners to address global health challenges.

 

University Coalitions for Global Health (UCGH)

UCGH brings together leaders from global health-focused, student-serving organizations to harmonize efforts and collaborate on events and projects.

 

Mission Finder, Missions for Medical Students

Provides information on short-term medical mission trips for students with information available on elective rotations, specialty medical training, and non-medical trips.

 

AMSA Global Health Scholars Program Website

2008-2009 progam focuses on Humanitarian Assistance and Displaced Populations.

This site includes a forum for discussion and recommended reading on the topic.

 

Educational Resources

 

American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC): Protecting America's Uninsured

AAMC has created the following lists of teaching hospitals offering programs to assist America’s uninsured and underinsured:

Midwestern Region: IL, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI

Northeastern Region: CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT

Southern Region: FL, GA, LA, NC, TX, and Puerto Rico

Western Region: CA, NM, WA

 

Child Family Health International

A global family of committed professionals and students who work at the grassroots level to promote the health of the world community. Since, 1993 CFHI has run international health, service-learning electives for over 2,700 pre-medical, medical, and other students of the health profession. Students travel to Bolivia, Ecuador, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, and South Africa to immerse themselves in new cultural contexts and to learn about the way healthcare is practiced and experienced worldwide.

 

Global Health Education Consortium: Library of Resources

Articles and presentations for students and faculty on global health and education.

 

Medical Peace Work

Medical Peace Work has created an online course to offer information to health professionals on how they can become engaged in peace work through the practice of medicine.  Medical Peace Work is a transnational partnership of health professionals coordinated by the Centre for International Health at the University of Tromsø in Norway.

 

University of Massachusetts, International Health Education Student Handbook

Catalogues different international opportunities, resources, and travel tips.

 

Financial Resources

Listed below are web sites that provide information on possible financial resources for international volunteers.

 

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

List of recommended fellowship programs and funding information.

 

University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center, International Health in the Developing World: Clinical and Community Care

A compilation of possible sources of financial support for international health opportunities.

 

University of Washington, International Health Group

Provides information on funding sources for international opportunities.

 

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for Global Health

Provides information on funding sources for international opportunities.

 

Online Articles and News

 

Global Pulse Journal

The American Medical Student Association's online international health journal featuring research articles, editorials, personal accounts, and other materials from medical students, practicing physicians, and others working on global health issues.

 

Global Health TV

From the Global Health Council, Global Health TV is essentially a "YouTube" for international health which enables you to view and share the work being done and provides a forum for education about the health issues faced by communities around the world.

 

Global Health Education Consortium: Preparing for an International Experience

How to prepare for global health work abroad.

 

Ethical Considerations for Short-Term Experiences by Trainees in Global Health

JAMA, 2008, Volume 300, Issue 12, pp 1456-1458

John A. Crump, MB, ChB, DTM&H; Jeremy Sugarman, MD, MPH, MA

 

Learning without borders: Medical students take on the world - "Medical schools are offering overseas clerkships and students are eager to go."

Myrle Croasdale, AMNews, March 12, 2007, published on amednews.com.