Global Health Elective

This two-week elective is designed to further experiential learning related to global health. Under the supervision of the course directors, and other faculty mentors engaged as required, the student will build on an existing global health project that s/he has been actively involved with.

Elective Description

EDUC 9533: Global Health Elective

Elective Directors: Dr. Ziad Sifri and Dr. Harsh Sule

Location: Variable

Duration: 2 weeks during designated third-year elective time

Max number of students: 4

Prerequisites: Approval from the course directors

Course Description::This two-week elective is designed to further experiential learning related to global health. Under the supervision of the course directors, and other faculty mentors engaged as required, the student will build on an existing global health project that s/he has been actively involved with. The global health experience is further subject to review and approval by the Office of the Registrar and the Office of the Dean of NJMS. To be considered qualified, at a minimum, the student must have prior global health experience and must have a project that s/he is working on. The project must be in accordance with NJMS curricular goals, objectives and educational policies, and must afford the student meaningful exposure to medical care systems and/or public health problems and programmatic interventions in the host country.

Prior to departure, each student will be required to have a travel consultation with a physician from the Student Health and Wellness Center. Additionally, travel must be considered safe by the Rutgers Office of Risk and Claims. This determination is made in conjunction with the NJMS Office of the Registrar and is based upon the U.S. Department of State travel alerts, advisories, safety and security statements. The safety decision made by these offices is considered final. Travel expenses are the responsibility of each student. Following participation in the host country, each student will also be required to complete a standard student feedback evaluation form about their learning experience at the global health site.

Outcomes: Each student’s elective will be assigned unique outcomes that will be pre-determined in conjunction with the course directors.  These outcomes will be based on their individual global health project and can vary from history/physical exams to administration of survey, completions of needs-assessments, etc.  Upon completion of the elective period the student will be required to submit a brief paper summarizing the student’s experience, as well as goals accomplished over the two-week period in the context of the overall global health project s/he is working on.

Evaluation: The course will be graded Pass/Fail. Submission and approval of the summary paper is required to complete the course.  The grade is determined by the elective directors based on the summary paper and feedback from relevant faculty mentors.

Key responsibilities of the student while on elective:  Students must follow all Registrar’s Office procedures concerning international travel, including the purchase of international health insurance, enrollment in the International SOS program, and registration for the Rutgers MyTrips program.  Information regarding these requirements will be provided by the Registrar’s Office prior to the student’s trip.  Furthermore, students should be advised that Rutgers University/Rutgers NJMS will not approve travel to any country listed on the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Warnings or Travel Advisories.  Students are expected to monitor this information through the website:  http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html. 

The student is to contact the course directors at minimum 90 days prior to the start of the elective to coordinate specific objectives for the elective.  Key objectives, responsibilities and expected outcomes of the student will be finalized in conjunction with the course directors at least 30 days prior to the start of the elective.

Upon conclusion of this elective, the student will be able to: Due to the unique nature of each student’s global health project, prior to commencement of the elective the student will submit a one-page summary of their global health project, with proposed elective goals & objectives. Once approved these individualized goals and objectives will replace the appropriate section of this course description for that student.

The course will be graded Pass/Fail. Submission and approval of the summary paper is required to complete the course. The grade is determined by the elective directors based on the summary paper and feedback from relevant faculty mentors.

Reporting Instructions: TBD in conjunction with the course directors

Orientation

Mandatory:

Highly Recommended: