Background
The Global Health Scholarly Concentration at UTMB offers a unique opportunity for medical students to study the many dimensions of global health and development, and gain hands-on experience working in settings around the globe.
Eligibility
All students enrolled in UTMB's School of Medicine are eligible to apply for the GHSC. Students should demonstrate a strong interest in global health issues, which includes global surgery, and be able to participate in all the required activities, including overseas electives. Students interested in any field of medicine are eligible to apply.
To remain in the scholarly concentration, students must successfully complete each required activity as outlined in the table below. Students who complete the scholarly concentration will be eligible to sit for the Certification Exam in Tropical and Travel Medicine through the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene if they choose to do so. GHSC students will be well-prepared to incorporate global health with their future medical careers.
Curriculum
The curriculum is integrated into the full four years of medical school, and involves coursework, one-two international clinical and/or research electives and a Capstone project. The basic elements of the curriculum are noted in the table below. Some of the topics covered in the scholarly concentration include global public health, global infectious diseases, epidemiology, maternal and child health, nutrition, sustainable development for health, and social determinants of health and their impact on the global burden of disease. The curriculum is designed to meet the global health competencies outlined by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).
Concentration Contacts
- Kimberly Turner, MS
Global Health UTMB / VSLO Global and Areas of Scholarly Concentration
kimturne@utmb.edu
Requirements
| Requirement | Expected Completion Year |
|---|
Global Health Interprofessional Core Course (GHICC)- Monthly 2-hour evening sessions Sept-April (Virtual)
- This course provides an overview of critical issues in understanding global health challenges in contemporary society within an inter-professional learning environment. Topics covered include socio-economic development, foreign aid, public health and epidemiology, health equity and social and structural determinants of health, human rights and ethics and culturally appropriate health care. The course is designed to encourage reflection on the local as well as the global applications of the aforementioned topics.
| Year 1 |
- 4-8 weeks during summer after MS1 year
- Primarily research-based
- Options: global or community health setting
- Outputs: scientific abstract, poster to present at local symposium, narrative reflection
| Year 1 |
Quarterly Global Enthusiasts Meetings- Journal clubs
- Guest speakers
- Students will be expected to attend at least 4
| Years 2 and 3 |
| Year 3 (after all clerkships) or Year 4 |
- 4 weeks
- Research-based essay related to global health issues
| Year 4 |
- 2 weeks, virtual, can take anytime
| Year 3 or Year 4 |
- 4 weeks during period 12
- Quizzes/exams related to course
| Year 4 |
UTMB Global Partners
“During my senior global clinical elective in Nairobi, Kenya, I witnessed firsthand the creativity and adaptability of providers working with constrained diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It deepened my appreciation for the role of public health infrastructure in shaping health outcomes and prepared me to engage with a wide range of patients and settings for my career.”
– Christian Frey, 2025 Graduate of the GHSC
GHSC Photo Gallery