International Medical Systems

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Department
Interdisciplinary Medicine
Course Number
IDIS 352
Course Title International Medical Systems
Course Director
Huda Ayas, EdD
Length (Weeks)

2-8
When Offered

All year except weeks 36-39. This course requires pre-approval from the course director. 
Prerequisites

All core clerkships
Availability Notes

All medical students participating in international clinical or research electives, including those in the Global Health Scholarly Concentration, must first apply through the GW SMHS Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP) and then submit the Extramural Elective Request Form located on the MD Registrar website to the Dean’s Office prior to the beginning date of the elective.
Contact Name
Rebecca Zacuto
Contact Phone
202-994-2421
Contact Fax
Contact Email
rebecca.zacuto@gwu.edu
Other Contacts

impinfo@gwu.edu
Location

For a list of GW SMHS affiliated international sites, visit the IMP website.
Limit
3 students per site per academic year
Report

N/A
Evaluation

GW SMHS Uniform Clinical Evaluation; reflection paper. Both are due within two weeks of returning to the United States or two weeks before graduation, whichever is sooner.
Description

The SMHS Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP) partners with institutions abroad to provide opportunities for GW medical students to experience a medical system other than their own, through the International Clinical Electives Program (ICEP). These electives are designed to provide students with an opportunity to enrich and diversify their medical education in a different culture and system.

Most students in IDIS 352 participate in a four-week elective in a clinical specialty at an academic teaching hospital or clinic abroad, alongside medical students from that country. Experiences vary greatly depending on the type of clinical setting, organization, and location. International affiliated sites are carefully screened for academic quality, suitability for medical student education, and student safety by IMP.

Course Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Describe various regional diseases and issues concerning healthcare and health systems outside of the United States.
  • Broaden cultural perspective by applying global health or medical knowledge through experiential learning abroad.
  • Implement inter-cultural sensitivity and effective communication strategies with diverse and vulnerable populations globally.
Additional Notes

International Clinical Elective Guidelines:

  • All medical students participating in international clinical or research electives, including those in the Global Health Scholarly Concentration, must first apply through the GW SMHS Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP) and then submit the Extramural Elective Request Form located on the MD Registrar website to the Dean’s Office prior to the beginning date of the elective.
  • Students must adhere to the SMHS Policies and Procedures for Pre-clinical International Summer Experiences and International Electives.
  • Students must also follow university policies on student travel. See student travel policies on the GW Global website.
    • Of note, any students traveling to a high-risk destination will be required to submit additional information and risk mitigation plans that may be reviewed by the university's International Travel Risk Committee for approval. 
    • GW does not permit students to rent vehicles while on university travel.
  • At least 30 days before departure, students must:
    • Submit all required documents to GW Passport portal.
    • Submit completion certificate for the Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety (GAPS) training to IMP.
  • Students must be able to perform standard clinical duties during their rotation abroad and are expected to work with a designated mentor, who will evaluate the student's progress using the SMHS Uniform Clinical Evaluation form. 
  • Grades will be issued by Dr. Ayas based on 1) the feedback received from the in-country mentor in the Uniform Clinical Evaluation, and 2) the student's reflection paper. 

Policies: