(G = Global, in-person experience in another country or in a medically underserved area of the United States)

This elective allows senior medical students to spend four weeks working under supervision in various clinical sites in other countries. The sites and experiences are varied and may include inpatient, outpatient, and/or community health experiences. The purpose is for students to serve in practice settings where they must rely on fund of knowledge, history, and physical exam skills with minimal technological support. For students interested in research or public health, this elective can be adjusted to include global health research or public health experiences. The Glasauer Externship Fund is available to assist students in participating in this international elective. Contact Julie Szrama for information about how to apply for this scholarship.

Doing an international health rotation will be an incredible experience! You’ll strengthen your history and physical exam skills and learn a lot about a different culture, country, medical system, economy, and language as well as different diseases. It will provide for a unique opportunity to learn from people and make new friends in a low-income country or wherever you decide to go.

There are opportunities to learn about tropical medicine, public health, infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases and so much more. You can go almost anywhere in the world (as long as there’s no travel restrictions posted by the U.S. Department of State). You can also go to medically underserved places in America, such as rural Alaska, Native American Reservations, and public health sites. Wherever you go, it will be an exciting way to serve those in need and learn a lot by doing it.

For questions about this elective, contact David M. Holmes, MD, at dholmes@buffalo.edu.

Some of the specific goals of this elective are to:

1.  enhance skills in diagnosis of undifferentiated presenting complaints

2.  improve judgment with respect to use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

3.  develop an appreciation for social, cultural, and economic factors in the presentation, etiology, course and management of illness

4.  improve sensitivity to health consequences of public policy and economics

5.  sharpen understanding of preventive intervention from a public health perspective

6.  increase consciousness of cost implications of clinical decisions

1.  Meet with Dr. Holmes to discuss and plan out the elective at least three months prior to traveling overseas and meet with him again after returning to Buffalo.

2. Review the State Dept. travel advisory website to make sure the country you plan to travel to is safe. UB does not allow students to travel to any country that has a Level 4 Travel Advisory.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

3. Review the CDC travel website and review their recommendations regarding what immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, and other medications you’ll need while traveling to a specific country. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

4.  Get updated passport and visa (if needed)

5.  At least two months in advance of your departure date, make an appointment at the Travel Clinic, at UB Student Health Services, (716-829-3316) to obtain travel advice and any immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, or other medications that you may need.

6.  Call UB Student Health Insurance Office (716-645-3036) to get evacuation insurance and health insurance that covers you while you’re overseas. Your normal UB health insurance does not cover you overseas. Approximate cost is $40/mo for both insurances.

7.  Sign the UB Liability Waiver.

Prerequisite: MS3 or MS4  

Modules: A-K. Minimum rotation, 4 weeks (Students must be in WNY during Match Week in Module J)

No. of students: unlimited

Course Director: David M. Holmes, MD