Global Health in Medicine Program
About Our Global Health Partnerships
Our global health partnerships guarantee optimal educational experiences for residents while serving local communities. Our main collaboration and training site is in Botswana, though residents can seek other international experience at other sites on a case-by-case basis. Also, many residents participate in local, regional and national global health rotations in underserved and marginalized communities through Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's (BIDMC) affiliated community health centers and the Indian Health Service.
Global Health Residency Track
Learning how to work effectively in resource-limited settings requires both training and experience. The Global Health Track offers both within a traditional 3-year internal medicine residency training program.
- Available to residents starting PGY–2-year, application required mid-PGY-1 year.
- Attend a collaborative 10–14-day Global Health Bootcamp in early PGY2 year with other Boston-area affiliated global health residents and fellows.
- Up to 12 weeks in two global health opportunities; up to six weeks abroad each (four weeks + two weeks vacation) – one during PGY2, one during PGY3. One elective must be in Botswana.
- Attend at least 70% Global Health Curriculum Series in PGY2 and PGY3 year.
- Lead rounds and engage in clinical teaching at bedside while at Scottish Livingston Hospital (SLH).
- Give at least two (2) formal didactics to medical students, interns and/or SLH medical staff.
- Opportunity to engage in longitudinal quality improvement projects.
- Mentorship by program director, country director and global health fellows.
- Up to $1,500 travel reimbursement per global health elective.
Our Programs
Our main international partnership is with Scottish Livingstone Hospital (SLH) in Botswana. Through the Botswana Global Health Program, the Department of Medicine supports a full-time attending physician based at SLH. We also offer robust medicine residency and fellowship opportunities there, as well as anesthesia and OB/GYN training programs.
Additional Locations
Residents may also seek global health experiences through the Indian Health Service, other greater Boston sites (e.g. Boston Healthcare for the Homeless) or other international sites. These require approval on a case-by-case basis.
Many members of the Department of Medicine are involved in projects and partnerships in countries around the world, including:
Haiti
Nephrologist Dr. Robert Brown is the current President of the volunteer organization TORCH (The Organization for Renal Care in Haiti), a consortium committed to bringing better kidney care to Haiti. TORCH works with the Partners in Health facility Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Mirebalais, Haiti.
Israel
Department Chair Dr. Mark Zeidel and other Medicine faculty have partnered with the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, offering quality improvement and education consultation.
Kenya
Dr. Eli Gelfand of the BIDMC CardioVascular Institute has partnered with global initiative Hearts Around the World since 2011. Dr. Gelfand and several members of the BIDMC community have traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to provide cardiovascular care and training at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Malaysia
Dr. Tony Kaldany and the Division of Clinical Informatics are currently working to expand their international partnership to the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Singapore
Department Chair Dr. Mark Zeidel and other Medicine faculty members have partnered with the National University Health System (NUHS) in Singapore to create an exchange of education, research and quality improvement resources, and to offer consultation on the NUHS residency and medical student curricula.
Zimbabwe
Dr. Lowell Schnipper of the Division of Hematology/Oncology partners with St. Albert’s Mission Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, researching and implementing cervical cancer screening and prevention efforts. Dr. Schnipper’s work centers around providing inexpensive, effective and sustainable care for African women at risk for cervical cancer.
Meet Our Global Health Faculty
Our faculty supports clinicians in becoming leaders who address global health disparities.
Advancing Care, Research & Education
Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine at BIDMC is a recognized leader in patient care, medical education and biomedical research.
Research
The Department of Medicine is engaged in leading-edge research to help better understand and treat a variety of health conditions.
Services
BIDMC's Department of Medicine provides a wide range of patient care services, from routine primary care through advanced specialty care.
