Independent Student Travel- Medical Global Health opportunities are available to medical
students at the Medical College of Georgia.
Dr. Kaminstein is the director of Global Health for the Medical College of Georgia.
He overseas Global Health Education and activities for the M1 through M4 year class.
He also runs a fellowship in International Medicine though the Department Of Emergency
Medicine. Please reach out to Dr. Kaminstein if you have any questions about our IST:
Medical Global Health opportunities.
Start here by completing the intial MCG Independent Student Travel Interest Form via Qualtrics.
This survey is the first step for MCG students who would like to enroll in the EMED
5007 Global Health elective. To qualify for this elective you should be a pre-clerkship
student who has completed all core rotation requirements or an enrichment student
in good standing.
1. Review the Global Health Elective Policy and Application Packet.
2. Fill in the information below to indicate your intended dates of travel, location
of travel and uploaded CV of your supervising physician.
3. Once you have completed this survey the information will be reviewed the Director
of Global Health and the Class Dean. Once your elective is approved you will be directed
to the Study Abroad office to complete all Augusta University requirements for student
travel.
Required Paperwork
We've moved all of our paperwork to a new online registration system, Terra Dotta.
Please complete your paperwork online.
Process
Year 1
The summer between M1 and M2 is the only "free" summer available. Make it worth your
while! Do research, volunteer, find a course for credit, etc. Make this summer a productive
one by doing something that will expand your knowledge and build up your resume. Setting
up these rotations takes time. Start this process as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to travel abroad
during the summer months.
Application Process:
- Identify the opportunity you are interested in. There is no one option. Students are encouraged to seek out
their own opportunities. Our 4 primary suggestions for where to start looking for
an elective are listed below. You should aim to start the application process to these
programs at least 6 months in advance.
- VSLO program – there are limited opportunities for 1st year medical students. Learn more and start your application.
- Child and Family Health International – this is an independent organization that has an excellent reputation for helping
students with international electives
- Develop a research opportunity with MCG or external faculty – project must have IRB
in Augusta approval prior to a research project being started
- Floating Doctors- this is an organization that provides mobile clinics via boat to remote parts of
Panama.
- Find your own rotation
- Individual Student Travel Form – This is a single online form that is the only information that you are required to
complete before travel. Click on the link below labeled “Independent Student Travel
(M1 Students) Registration". This will take you to the Augusta University’s Terra
Dotta website. Login with your AU account information. You will be prompted to
complete information about your clinical experience and emergency contact information.
You will also be able to buy very affordable and excellent travel insurance. You
are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance through the study abroad office.
- Office of Global Health- Once reviewed by the study abroad office your application will be forwarded to the
Director of Global Health for review. The Director of Global Health will ensure that
proposed travel is safe and offers an appropriate educational opportunity for the
student’s level of training. Please be aware travel WILL NOT be approved to countries
that are designated by the US State Department as a travel advisory level 4 (red).
Any travel to these areas must be done strictly on the student's own time as vacation
and not in connection with any MCG project or faculty member. Travel to advisory
level 3 (orange) countries will require an extra step of approval. Once approved
by the Director of Global Health the international application form will be sent to
Dr. Fly for final review and approval.
- Curriculum Office – Dr. Fly will review both completed application form and completed study abroad
paperwork. Final approval rests with the curriculum office and can only be considered
once all paperwork is complete.
- Study Abroad Office- The study abroad office will review all paperwork and approvals that are submitted
through Terra Dotta. You can review your application status through the Terra Dotta
website.
Students are responsible for tracking their application submitted through VSLO or
any applications submitted to outside organizations
Non-Credit Experiences Abroad:
Most medical students choose to participate in non-credit international experiences
during the summer after M1 year. If you decide to do this, there is an abbreviated
IST Paperwork Process the Study Abroad Office will need you to complete (see "Required
Paperwork" below).
Recommended Timeline for Clinical Opportunities:
- January - March: Select a program/site. See "Finding an international opportunity" section below for suggested programs.
- March - April: Complete Study Abroad Office paperwork (see "Required Paperwork" below)
- April - May: Pre-departure preparations
Recommended Timeline for Research Opportunities:
- October - December: Select a research project
- December 31st: Deadline for selecting a research project
- January - February: Complete all IRB paperwork
- March - April: Complete Study Abroad Office paperwork (see "Required Paperwork" below)
- April - May: Pre-departure preparations
Year 2
With very few exceptions, your second year of medical school does not leave time for
traveling abroad. The summer between 2nd and 3rd year will be dedicated towards studying
and preparing for your STEP exam. Instead, begin thinking about the opportunities
that you may want to pursue during your 3rd or 4th year.
Year 3
Start the process for Year 4 international experiences at least 6 months in advance.
This is includes getting course forms signed and picking a site. At this point, you
may not have full approval but you should have your elective selected.
Year 4
Choosing an International Elective:
Page six of your Phase 3 Elective Bulletin outlines the paperwork process that is
detailed below. Page 13 lists the electives available to you. All international electives
will be listed as "International and Travel Medicine" (EMED 5007).
Course Sign-up Process:
General outline of the process:
Pick a destination/program:
- Can be urban, rural, whatever and in any time of town/city (even Native American reservations
are considered international experiences)
- For this elective to count towards graduation, the program must have "significant
medical educational content," as stated in your Elective Bulletin
- See the "Finding an international opportunity" section below for suggested programs.
- NOTE: Electives to State Department travel advisory level 3 countries are highly discouraged.
This will be a much longer process with extra paperwork and more approval signatures.
Additional Waiver paperwork must be completed for the SAO no later than 3 months before
needed approval.
Obtain approval from preceptor from that site for the dates you plan to be there
- You must get approval from the site
Paperwork with the Curriculum Office - International Elective Form
- You can only do ONE international medicine elective that applies towards graduation
- Advisor approval is required
- This form cannot be completed without working concurrently with the Study Abroad Office
(see below)
- This form requires approval by the curriculum office, director of global health and
study abroad office
Complete Study Abroad Office IST paperwork:
Plan Travel
- Meet with Dr. Kaminstein to discuss travel safety, vaccinations, travel papers, and
anything else you need based on your destination and your travel experience.
- Make an appointment with the Travel Medicine Clinic
- Purchase tickets and finalize housing
Finding an International Opportunity
Programs to Start With
Augusta University programs:
External programs:
Global Health Research
Other Resources
- Global Health Faculty
- Sign up for the Global Health Initiative Newsletter
- Prezi presentation of "International Opportunities for Students in Health Fields" (presented by University
of Cincinnati, but still relevant to MCG students)
- Potential program for M1 students:
- SMS- School of Medical Sciences of Unicamp Winter School: July 2-6th, 2018 - an experience in Brazilian medical and cultural practice. A one
week training program that consists of educational activities and visits in their
Health Care System (Hospital de Clínicas Complex). They offer interesting courses
with technical and practical content in topics of internal medicine, mental health,
surgery and dermatology.
- The deadline for application is March 26th, 2018. Contact email for more details: gti@fcm.unicamp.br.
- Links to potential opportunities:
- Potential funding opportunities:
