Global Health Pathway

The Global Health Pathway (GHP) at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is an elective program available to selected medical students that have an interest or demonstrated commitment to careers in the future that include global and public health. Medical students will gain additional knowledge and skills in the health problems and solutions of populations that transcend socioeconomic and ethnic status and national borders. Knowledge will be gained through a didactic lecture series, direct experience and independent projects.

The required clinical experiences will build on the clinical skill set present in the Double Helix Curriculum to improve the ability to practice community-based medicine under diverse social, economic and cultural situations. Volunteer work and patient interactions will foster compassion and an appreciation for the plights of underserved populations. They will develop a sense of global health advocacy appreciating the role of the physician as an agent for change in community and global health.

Pathway Requirements

There are 5 categories of requirements for the Global Health Pathway

Lecture Series
Attendance at 75% of Global Health lectures over two years that take place approximately every 6-8 weeks during the academic year.
Summer Experience
Students will be expected to complete a global health focused project between the summer of first and second year. All projects submitted will follow the format for Offices of Medical Education (OME) summer research funding and be reviewed by the GHP committee as part of the application process. Upon completion of their summer experience, students will be expected to participate in the student research forum in the fall of year 2 and submit a summer research abstract to the GHP.
Clinical Experience
Four consecutive weeks of medical school approved elective credit in year 3 or year 4 providing clinical care either: internationally or in a community in the US that is not- native to the US or otherwise displaced, underserved (ie. Refugee- displaced persons, Indian Health service, etc).
Volunteer Work
20 hours of volunteer work during medical school in the Rochester area providing services to a population of immigrants or displaced individuals.
Summation Project
All students will complete a scholarly project during year 4 describing their experiences in the pathway and drawing upon knowledge of global health. The project should relate to the student’s activities in the pathway chronologically. It must provide a background on the community/communities the student worked with, the barriers the community faces, the student’s work and potential solutions to overcome some barriers. Students who travel internationally just include their international experience in their summary document. The expected format is a short description of the student’s activities then a referenced discussion about future directions these activities could take to improve the health of the patient groups. Students are invited to include a reflective piece summarizing their experience and achievements. The expected length of this paper is 8 to 10 double-spaced pages.

Application Process

Students are expected to apply for the Global Health Pathway by March 31 of year 1 of medical school. The application includes a letter of intent (maximum 1 page, single spaced) on why they have an interest in the GHP along with their curriculum vitae (resume). The student must also include a description of their planned summer project between year 1 and year 2; if they applied for outside funding, the funding proposal will suffice as a description of their project. Good academic standing must be confirmed by the student’s Advisory Dean.