International Global Health Elective

Residents and fellows at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center can participate in a Global Health Elective (GHE). This elective can be an immersive experience on its own or part of the larger Global Health Scholars Program.

Academic Criteria and Requirements

Participants must be in good standing with their academic program.
A rank of PGY2 or above is required.
Approvals are required from the program director, the GME Office, and the host site.
Pre-departure training must be completed prior to the elective.

Safety Criteria and Requirements

The safety of our participating residents and fellows is of utmost importance. The following steps help ensure that a site is safe for a rotator.

Sites will be evaluated and approved by the GHSP Steering Committee with input from multiple sources including, but not limited to:
- U.S. Department of State
- Center for Disease Control – Travelers’ Health
- Reports from physicians currently working or have recently worked at a site.
Please review visa requirements, embassy locations, current security threats, crime statistics, medical facilities, general health information, and medical insurance options.
Avoid countries with travel alerts or travel warnings. Please use the following sites to assess security level of your host country:
Locations must offer adequately safe lodging, including potable water and reasonable health care facilities.
The host site must be accessible for rapid evacuation should the need arise (i.e., airport nearby or a safe way to travel to the nearest airport).

Application Process Overview

Six Months Prior to Global Health Elective
Step 1: Site Selection
- Review the Global Health Elective (GHE) Criteria & Requirements listed above and then choose an elective. Ideally this should begin at least six months ahead of time (more if possible). GHE’s can be arranged by working with GHSP steering committee; researching and connecting with contacts on your own; or going through a third-party organization. Regardless of how arranged, all GHE’s must be approved by the GHSP steering committee and GME.
- The host site must be in a developing nation (lower, lower middle or upper middle income). The World Bank provides a list of qualifying countries. For residents seeking local opportunities for their GHSP requirement, please contact the GHSP steering committee for approval. Feel free to ask GH scholars program for ideas, suggestions, or contacts.
- Tell your program that you will be going abroad at least 6 months in advance. Please request a month to do an international elective on your "beginning of the year elective request form" or at least let the program directorates know via in person or email what month you are planning to go abroad. This time can also be used to apply for funding.
- A list of sites previous trainees and faculty members have been affiliated with in the past is available on SharePoint.
Step 2: Host Approval and Visa
- Initiate contact with the program or contact to find out the application requirement. You will need an acceptance letter or email from the host institution/program to submit to the GHSP steering committee.
- Establish an on-site mentor in the country in which you are electing to do your rotation, as well as establish a local global health mentor. We recommend doing this early in the process. Note: There must be direct, on-site supervision of all procedures. The only exceptions are procedures that can be reasonably and independently performed by a PGY-1 at their home institution (e.g., urethral catheterization & venipuncture). All supervising physicians must have experience, expertise, and credentialing appropriate for the location.
- Determine if you will need a visa. Depending on where you travel, your visa may require several months of lead time to obtain. You can find out more regarding visas through the U.S. Department of State. OGH can help you determine if this is necessary, if requested.
- Secure funding/funding opportunities for your GHE from either your residency/fellowship program or the GME Office. A compiled list of known funding opportunities is available on SharePoint.
120 Days Prior to Global Health Elective
Continued from six months prior to Global Health Elective.

Step 3: MedHub and International Template to residents and site director also known at Affiliation Agreement/Program Letter of Agreement (PLA)
- Log onto MedHub to submit a Global Health rotation request. Consider if this rotation will take the place of your elective time or vacation time. If you use vacation time, the process will be slightly different than below. Please contact the GHSP steering committee if you are using your vacation time for the GHE.
- Sign the International Template to residents and site directors and/or PLA. Ensure your Educational Goals and Objectives are thorough, otherwise you may need to refine them. These will be reviewed by GME and the GHSP steering committee.
Step 4: International Templates
- International template to resident must be completed within 45 days of the MedHub request.
- International template to site director will be completed by the GME office with the OGH.
Step 5: Malpractice Coverage
- GME Office should start to coordinate Malpractice Coverage.
Step 6: Travel Vaccines and Preparation

Trainees must take appropriate health precautions specific to their destination abroad. Refer to the CDC Travelers’ Health website for further details. For destination-specific information, you can use the CDC destinations tool for country-by-country health notices.

There are several local travel clinics that offer vaccinations and other travel advice. Check with those clinics and with the CDC destinations tool on which immunizations are suggestion for your destination. For every destination it is recommended that Hepatitis A, Influenza, and COVID-19 are either received or updated. HIV (post-exposure) and Malaria prophylaxes are also recommended for many locations. It is recommended that you reach out to your primary care provider to see if they can provide vaccinations and prophylaxes for you.
60 Days Prior to Global Health Elective
Continued from 120 days prior to Global Health Elective.

Step 7: Licensing and Credentialing
- GME office will complete pre-departure licensing and credentialing prior to the start of the rotation.
- Once approved, you will receive a letter from the program director and GME office acknowledging that you (the resident) are currently in good standing, the Program Director approves the resident’s time away and that OSU will pay the resident's full stipend during his/her time away. At this point you are approved to go on your elective.
Step 8: Pre-travel Preparation
- Participating residents and fellows must complete pre-departure training prior to their rotation. Training is held each Autumn. Contact globalhealthscholars@osumc.edu for more information regarding the training dates.
- Each participant must communicate with their on-site mentor regarding their GHE and any research or project.
- Continue to communicate with on-site supervisor to solidify clinical rotation plans.
- The resident is responsible for arranging lodging during their GHE.
  - Ask for amenities and what is available, and cost associated with it.
- The following information must be provided to OGH and the GME Office:
- A copy of the fully completed and approved host-site application
  - Lodging and Hospital/Clinic Address
  - Personal cell phone number
  - Phone number of the host site
  - Emergency contact information
  - Copy of a valid Passport
  - Flight itinerary
  - Travel clinic verification
  - Travel health and evacuation insurance certificate (See plans like GeoBlue)
  - Confirmation of STEP enrollment

During the Global Health Elective

If you have questions or concerns during your trip, please contact someone from the Global Health Program Steering Committee via email. Contact information will be given to you prior to your departure. Other emergency phone numbers are included below:
- Ohio State 24/7 International Emergency Phone Line: +1-614-292-6677
- U.S. Department of State American Citizen’s Services: +1-202-501-4444
- Ohio State University Office of Global Health: +1-614-247-8968
The Site Director or designee must provide a detailed, written (or electronic) evaluation of the Resident’s/Fellow’s performance at the conclusion of the rotation. It might be helpful to print and take this with you to ensure it is completed in a timely fashion.
Schedule a debrief session with your site supervisor near the end of your rotation. While this is not required, it is recommended.
Please remember ethical principles in clinical activities, photography, and research. All research activities during Global Health elective must be conducted in compliance with The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and IRB policies. Please refer to appropriate policies below.
- Code of Conduct – PGT
- OSU Photo Release

After the Global Health Elective

You must complete a post-trip debrief with your mentor within 3 months of your return.

International Global Health Elective

International Global Health Elective

Academic Criteria and Requirements

Safety Criteria and Requirements

Application Process Overview

Six Months Prior to Global Health Elective

120 Days Prior to Global Health Elective

60 Days Prior to Global Health Elective

During the Global Health Elective

After the Global Health Elective

Other resources