Essential Factors for the Development of a Residency Global Health Track

Abstract

There is increasing awareness of the importance of global health (GH) residency education but little guidance on what departmental, financial, and human resource support is required to develop a GH track. The authors aimed to identify essential factors and major obstacles to the development of a GH track. A survey assessing curriculum, support, and factors considered essential to or obstacles to successful development of a GH track was sent to 24 GH education directors within pediatric residencies. In all, 19 programs (79%) completed the survey, and 6 factors were identified as essential for developing and sustaining a GH track by ≥ 95% of all GH education directors: supportive residency program director, resident commitment, supportive department chair, protected resident elective time, dedicated budget, and GH faculty with protected time. Residency programs aiming to start a GH track should start by assessing the availability and sustainability of these identified essential factors within their program.