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How to connect from
off-campus
Please send any comments concerning this page to Tom Mead.
Where can I get funding for an international medical elective?
American Medical Women's Association
International Reproductive Health Student Support Fund
American Medical Student Association
Creative Funding for International Health Electives
Child Family Health International
In 2004, Child Family Health International (CHI) offered ten $800 scholarships for students participating in their programs. They expect to award approximately $9,000 in Scholarships in 2005. They offer both complete and partial scholarships. The available scholarships for 2005 will be announced in late September of 2004. CHI is not able to process applications after the first of the month prior to a program start date. For example, if you are interested in going on a November 6 program, you may not apply after October 1. Application information: visit any program description page on http://www.cfhi.org/ and click on "Apply Now" for online application.
International Medical Volunteers Association
Click on the ?Student?s Corner? tab on the left to see suggestions for identifying associations and funding for overseas electives for medical students.
MEDSEND
Project MedSend offers student loan repayment grants to healthcare professionals who are headed for career medical missions service. They also develop funding to repay educational loans for healthcare workers as they minister among the underserved at home and abroad. Project MedSend offers financial counsel to help keep educational borrowing to a minimum.
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
AJWS is a not-for-profit international development agency. AJWS places professional Jewish men and women on short-term volunteer consulting assignments with partner organizations throughout the developing world. They place doctors frequently, medical students less often. A medical student without a license to practice medicine in the States would not be allowed to practice medicine in another country. However, a student who believes that he or she possesses specific skills that would be useful should feel free to apply. Some funds are available for volunteer travel to and from the host site, as well as SOS Emergency Evacuation Insurance. There are also modest cost-of-living stipends available to those volunteers who need them.
Who sponsors international electives?
International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse
The International Healthcare Opportunities Clearinghouse web site is designed for health-care professionals and students who are interested in volunteer work with under served communities at home or abroad. Supporting information is available on health advisories, travel, culture, customs, and history. The site is an ongoing project maintained by the Lamar Soutter Medical Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Mobility International USA
This agency provides a resource called the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, which is a convenient and comprehensive one-stop resource for free information and referrals on topics related to international exchanges for those with disabilities. Call 541-343-1284 (v/tty) or email info@miusa.org for more information.
International Volunteer Programs Association
This is an alliance of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations based in the Americas that are involved in international volunteer and internship exchanges. Though not specific for medically oriented volunteer programs, the website is a forum for international volunteer program representatives to share information, as well as a resource for students looking for volunteer opportunities abroad. Worth checking out, but some of the programs listed may not take medical students with the intent of providing a clinical elective experience.
InterAction
This is an umbrella organization of international development and humanitarian non-governmental organizations with more than 160 member agencies in every developing country. Search their website for opportunities for medical students and then contact specific agencies.
Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS)
Medical student volunteers might investigate the Trujillo Peru, Guatemala, Ayacucho, Ghana, China, and Thailand programs specifically. CCS has sent health professionals to these sites, placing in hospitals, free clinics, and rural health education outreach programs. Medical student experiences are mainly limited to observation, they may expand this role into diverse health related responsibilities. These experiences might include doing home visits, managing fluoride programs, helping with births, and processing patients. Factors such as experience and credentials, language proficiency, and length of stay time will impact a student?s options. CCS has no financial funds for defraying travel or living costs.
International Health Database - AMA
This site lists agencies providing medical electives, mission trips, residency opportunities, and educational programs in international health.
How can I find out about the country I am going to?
CIA - World Factbook
A terrific site for current country profiles.
Economist Intelligence Unit
Another excellent site for country-specific profiles.
Country Health Profiles
Pan American Health Organization.
How do I prepare for the trip?
CDC Travelers' Health - Yellow Book
The Yellow Book provides an overview of outbreaks of disease, destination-specific health precautions, quarantine information, and links to other travel relevant sites.
Telephone Information
How to call from here to there across countries.
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Travel
A UK government site on travel guidelines, including country-specific travel warnings and advice.
Visa Requirement Information
Travel visa processing. Applications available online.
Medical Information for Americans Abroad
U.S. State Department information on travel recommendations and guidelines.
International Medical Volunteers Association
Provides a preparation checklist of issues to consider when preparing for overseas electives.
What do other students think of international medical electives?
These sites relate the personal reflections of medical students who have participated in international electives. The stories provide a first hand appreciation of the medical challenges and emotional impact of providing care to individuals in impoverished societies.
BMJ ? Student Journal
Elective experience the Thai-Burmese border
What are some of the health issues in resource-poor countries?
Info For Health
Produced by Johns Hopkins, this site is designed to disseminate information and promote understanding and knowledge about reproductive health for policy makers, health care administrators, teachers, and health care practitioners. This site includes:
Reproductive Health Gateway
Vetted web sites with a focus on reproductive health.
Popline
A family planning bibliographic database with several journals on family planning and reproductive health.
Contraceptive practice handbook
Photos
A database of international health care photos for non-profit use.
Partners In Health
This site introduces the issues in providing healthcare in politically disempowered countries such as Haiti.
Health Topics - World Health Organization
A comprehensive index of resources produced by WHO.
eMedicine Clinical Knowledge Base
Similar to UpToDate, but this resource is publicly available and supported with advertisements.
EurasiaHealth Knowledge Network
This is a clearinghouse of freely available resources from a worldwide community of health professionals focusing on Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States.
Doctors Without Borders
This site provides current news, perspectives from health professionals in the field, reports on global medical assistance initiatives, a quarterly newsletter on latest issues in world health, and a variety of teaching curriculums on topics such as availability of medical supplies, famine, and refugee populations.
National Library of Medicine - AIDS Information
Includes clinician and patient information about HIV and AIDS, including treatment options, drugs, articles, books, and videos.
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