Program Overview

Global Health Scholars Pathway

The Global Health Scholars Pathway (GHSP) is an innovative approach that allows students and faculty to participate in global health. The GHSP is designed for those students who are highly interested in global health. The GHSP allows medical students to work together, both in the classroom as well as in the field. Supervised by faculty, the Global Health Scholars take part in two immersive trips. The first trip primarily entails an introduction to the community, and participation in developing a community health project. The second trip, occurring in the students' senior year, provides students with an opportunity to participate in clinical care at the same location.

Immersive Experience

The GHSP is a 4-Year Longitudinal Experience in Global Health and Advocacy. The program includes:

1. Year 1: Noticing: Understanding the Foundations of Global Health

• Bi-monthly class sessions on global health, social determinants, and advocacy
• Monthly meetings with site leaders to prepare for travel
• 4-week immersive summer experience at an international site

2. Year 2: Reframing: Analyzing Health Systems and Inequities

• Bi-monthly class sessions focused on contributors to health disparities
• Exploration and comparison of global and local health care systems

3. Year 3: Practicing: Applying Skills in Clinical and Reflective Settings

• Participation in Humanities sessions
• Integration of global health perspectives during clinical clerkships

4. Year 4: Performing: Returning with Purpose

• 4-week return trip to the global health site
• Continued focus on solutions and advocacy for socially vulnerable populations

Pathway Details

• Students receive pre-trip safety sessions, in-country medical education specific to the site, and several sessions by College of Medicine faculty on global and community health-related issues.
• Through completion of this four-year track, students will receive:
  • Credit for completion of GHSP specific electives
  • Mentoring relationships with highly interested faculty
  • Under the direction of faculty, students will gain skills for community engagement, basic health data collection and analysis, and community health intervention development with implementation.
• Scholars are responsible for their own funding to cover the costs of the trip, with some scholarships available.

Sites

The GHSP offers opportunities at various international sites, including:

• Australia: Melbourne and Mildura
• Balkans: Croatia
• Brazil: Sao Paulo
• China: Beijing
• Ghana: Accra and Koforidua
• India
• Nepal: Kathmandu and Bharatpur
• Peru: Trujillo
• Philippines: Iloilo City
• Vietnam: Dalat
• Zambia: Macha
• Rural Health Scholars: Pennsylvania

Program Leadership

The program is led by:

• N. Benjamin Fredrick, MD, Director and GHSP Site Leader: India
• Leesha Helm, MPH, MD, Director, Rural Health Scholars
• Tamika Washington, MSHE, Assistant Director and GHSP Site Leader: Ghana

Site Leaders

The GHSP has site leaders for each international location, including:

• Nirmal Ahuja, GHSP Site Lead: India
• Timothy Craig, DO, GHSP Site Leader: Vietnam
• Andrew Freiberg, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Zambia
• Gisoo Ghaffari, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Croatia
• Nasrollah Ghahramani, MD, MS, GHSP Site Leader: Croatia
• Maria P. Henao, MD, MPH, GHSP Site Leader: Peru
• Eileen Hennrikus, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Australia
• William Hennrikus, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Australia
• Jasmin Lagman, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Philippines
• Shane Sergent, GHSP Site Lead: Peru
• Wen-Jan Tuan, DHA, MPH, MS, GHSP Site Leader: Brazil
• Sanjay Yadav, MD, GHSP Site Leader: Nepal

How to Apply

The Global Health Scholars Program is designed for first-year medical students at Penn State College of Medicine who have a strong interest in global health. Recruitment begins each August, with a competitive application process that includes a written application and individual interviews with faculty site leaders and Global Health Center administrators. Students are encouraged to attend Global Health Information Sessions in August and September for an overview of the program and its unique experiences. The application process typically closes in September.