The Global Health Scholarly Concentration prepares medical students to understand and address the complex forces that shape health and health care across populations, cultures and countries. Students explore how health systems, policy, sustainable development and social and environmental conditions influence patient and population health — while developing skills to advance equitable, practical solutions to health challenges at home and around the world. This concentration is for students who want to be equipped and inspired to think globally in a variety of locations. Global health physicians and researchers may work locally or internationally.
Through interdisciplinary coursework and a mentored scholarly project, students gain a broader perspective on medicine and the interconnected systems in which physicians practice. The concentration is a partnership between the IU School of Medicine and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, providing students access to expertise across medicine and public health. Global health coursework and the scholarly project can also count toward several Fairbanks School of Public Health degree programs, including the Master of Public Health.
Locations
All coursework takes place online. Scholarly project work usually occurs in the student's IU School of Medicine campus, city, and/or region or a mutually agreed upon site.
Curriculum and Timeline
Students will complete the Fundamentals of Research and Scholarship course, and can select two of four global health courses and a project and product (ie, manuscript) that aligns with these interests. Also, students will have the opportunity to build relationships and community with students, faculty, staff, residents and fellows through the resources of the IU Center for Global Health. In addition to presenting a poster at IU School of Medicine Education Day (annually in April), Global Health concentration students will present at IU’s Global Health Day (annually in May).
