Medical student implementation of a Global Health concentration: a unique bottom-up approach

Abstract

U.S. medical students are pursuing an education and training in global health at increasing rates. Many medical schools have responded by establishing global health programs offering academic and experiential training to prepare interested students. Implementation of these programs often requires a significant investment of resources from medical schools. At the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, medical students, with support of faculty, addressed the deficit of global health education by creating a university-approved global health concentration. Through a grassroots effort, the students overcame the need for an initial institutional commitment by building partnerships across disciplines and institutions and capitalizing on their enthusiasm for a student directed program This paper highlights the development of the concentration, along with the students’ vision for their education in global health. The purpose of this article is two-fold: to demonstrate a student based model for bringing global health education to medical schools without an established program, and to emphasize to medical educators the importance of global health education in the training of future physicians.