Portugal: Global Experience in Nuclear Medicine

The ENLACE Global Health Elective: Latin America, Nicaragua is designed to immerse MSIV students in a 4-week international global health experience in a developing country to gain a more direct understanding of the language as well as the systematic, policy and experiential differences between health care in the US and other countries.

Students think critically about global health challenges and practices while honing Spanish language skills and working side by side with host country health care providers. Clinical work occurs at community-based health care facilities, non-governmental public health organizations and health promoter organizations. Formal Spanish instruction occurs at a local language school.

Program occurs in February and April of the MSIV academic year.

The rotation consists of the following required components:

• Pre-Departure:  complete preparatory modules on principles of global health; participate in orientation sessions covering topics on cultural norms and expectations, how to recognize and mediate culture shock, nuts and bolts of living in a developing country, how to pack for a month in 1 bag, etc.; select and develop a clinically-focused lecture-discussion on disease/illness disproportionality plaguing Nicaragua for presentation in Nicaragua during first week.
  
  
• In-Country: participate in orientation sessions covering topics on Nicaraguan history, health & well-being and safety & security while in Nicaragua; present clinically-focused lecture-discussion on a disease/illness disproportionality plaguing Nicaragua; live Nicaraguan host family; attend daily Spanish Language School;  attend and actively participate in clinical work with assigned Nicaraguan health care professionals three half-days/week; participate in service learning project related to public health; and electronically submit weekly guided reflections.
  
  
• Upon Return to US: Write and submit a 3-page Policy Brief on disease/illness selected for clinical presentation; submit final guided reflections; complete required evaluations.

• Participants earn elective credit.
• This program is restricted to 4^th year students of medicine.
• Global Health Elective Program Manual

• Getting Started Handbook

You may apply if you:

• This program is only open to MSIV students.
• Must have completed the Family Medicine Clerkship
• Must be in good academic standing.
• Students from any regional medical school campus may apply.
• All interested students MUST submit an online iAbroad Application to be considered for the Global Health Elective.  
• An evaluation rubric is used to assist ENLACE Program leadership in participant selection.
• Highest rated applicants will be matched using ranking list of preferred months (February, April). There is no guarantee that selected student will get his/her preferred month.  
• An interview with ENLACE Program leadership may be required.
• ENLACE Program leadership have ultimate and final say on selected participants.
• ENLACE Program leadership reserve the right to terminate a student’s participation should academic, behavioral or professional concerns arise prior to or during the GHE.

Students must be able to demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and self-reliance.

Complete eligibility criteria and selection criteria are outlined within the Academic Policies and Procedures of the Office of Overseas Study. Selection is based on maturity, seriousness of purpose, and appropriateness of match between program and applicant. Students on disciplinary probation during program period are ineligible.