Global Health Elective Rotations - HCOM Year 4

Global health elective rotations allow students in good academic standing to explore the delivery of health services in other countries. Participants engage in activities that may have a clinical or research focus. The balance between clinical activities, didactic instruction, and investigative activities varies with individual interest, preparation, and the options available at a given site. Rotations can be 2-12 weeks long and count for 4-24 credits.   

Opportunities for OCOM 8911 Global Health Elective rotations occur in the spring of the fourth year. All fourth-year rotations must end by mid-April and be scheduled around other spring semester requirements. The application deadline is October 1 of the year before the spring rotation. Late applications risk denial.  Approval of the rotation occurs by December 1 of the previous year. 

General Guidelines

Eligibility 

Students must be in their 4th year and in good academic and judicial standing.

Planning 

Plan for a Global Health Elective rotation 6 to 12 months in advance (spring of the third year).

Site Approval 

Students are responsible for securing a site from the vetted list before starting the application process. Any program providers or rotation sites not listed must be reviewed and approved by the Global Health Initiative (GHI). 

  • Only sites running regular international rotation programming through third party providers, universities, hospitals or other similar organizations will be considered. One-time sites that don’t offer ongoing rotations, for example with an individual physician or a one-time mission trip will not be approved.
  • A signed Affiliation Agreement with all sites must be in place prior to starting the application process. 
  • Locations with State Department Level 3 or higher advisories require additional risk review and may not be approved.

Schedule Approval

Students must submit their proposed dates to their Academic Program Administrator (APA) for approval prior to application.

Site/Provider Information

It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the rotation site or provider to complete the rotation site or provider’s application process and obtain information needed for the HCOM/Ohio University application processes.  

Pre-Travel Preparation

Students will be asked to research:

  • Ethics and considerations for working in low-resource settings, as appropriate
  • Culture, health, and safety issues at the selected location
  • Sustainability of the proposed site

Students will complete HCOM/OU application steps including:

  • Supplemental application & OU student portal application
  • Online Bobcats Abroad Orientation
  • My Trips registration 
  • Personal Emergency Plan

Credit Requirements for OCOM 8911

  • Students receive 2 credits per week of rotation (2-12 weeks or 4-24 credits).
  • This elective cannot substitute for a required rotation.
  • Students complete all Pre- and Post-travel academic assignments in eMedley.

Health and Safety

Ohio University provides International Emergency Health  Insurance at no cost to students. This includes medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility and repatriation of remains. Insurance can be extended beyond the rotation dates. 

Site Selection

Students are responsible for securing a site from before starting the application process. The table that follows lists vetted sites. Students exploring other sites should provide the Global Health Initiative with details about the potential site including website, contact information, potential preceptors, and nature and length of rotation. GHI will review the site details and notify you and your Academic Program Administrator (APA) if you can move ahead with the rotation at that site.

  • Only sites running regular international rotation programming through third party providers, universities, hospitals or other similar organizations will be considered. One-time sites that don’t offer ongoing rotations, for example with an individual physician or a one-time mission trip will not be approved.
  • A signed Affiliation Agreement with all sites must be in place prior to starting the application process.
  • Locations with State Department Level 3 or higher advisories require additional risk review and may not be approved.

The following table lists the vetted sites. The affiliation agreements are updated annually.  Credentialing of preceptors is in place for some sites.  Sites with multiple preceptors may need to have additional preceptors credentialed.  

Organization
Location/Focus
More Information
Agreements
Child Family Health InternationalMultiple locations and topic areasChild Family Health InternationalAffiliation Agreement; Medical Director is credentialed for all sites 
Centro Evagelico de Medicina do Lubango - Dr. Tim KubackiAngola, General Med, remote clinicsContact the GH InitiativeAffiliation Agreement, Preceptor credentialed
CerviCuscoCusco, Peru: women's cervical cancer clinicCerviCuscoAffiliation Agreement, Preceptor credentialing may be required
Cacha Medical Spanish Institute - CachamsiRiobamba, Ecuador; language emphasis with clinical rotationsCachamsiAffiliation Agreement; Preceptor credentialing may be required
Elective AfricaKenya, TanzaniaElective AfricaAffiliation Agreement (may need renewal): preceptor credentialing required
Medical Electives - PeruTrujillo, Peru; Medical Spanish, General Med

Medical Electives

Contact Kevin@medical electives.net 

Affiliation Agreement; Preceptor credentialing may be required
University Hospital - Eramus School of Medicine, University of CreteLimited placements available annually; Multiple areas of medicine; Crete, Greece. A waitlist is in place for spring 2027Contact the GH InitiativeAffiliation Agreement; Preceptor credentialing may be required
University of Cincinnati - Guatemala Program TCH/UC Global Health Field ExperienceMust speak Spanish fluently.  Limited spaces available in February

Evan Onusko, MD

Sarah Jadeed

UC webpage

None

Blogs from previous rotations:

Spring 2025

Spring 2024

Spring 2023

Spring 2019

Spring 2018

Application & Approval Process

Key Contacts: 

  • Include your APA in all correspondence related to your rotation.

Shape

Applications due by October 1

 January – June prior to spring travel

  1. Notify the Global Health Initiative and your APA of your intent to pursue a Global Health Elective rotation. CC your APA on all related correspondence.
  1. Meet with your APA to propose rotation dates and add the rotation to your schedule.
  1. Select your site using the vetted site list.  If exploring other sites (third-party providers, universities), submit the following details to GHI:  
    1. website URL
    2. contact information
    3. potential preceptors
    4. nature and length of rotation

GHI will review and confirm if you can proceed. Sites not offering ongoing rotation programs will not be approved.  

  1. Submit site contact information to your APA and GHI. Vetted sites have agreements on file. For new sites, your APA will initiate an affiliation agreement. A signed agreement must be in place before starting the rotation application process.
  1. Provide preceptor details (name and contact information) to your APA for credentialing.  Preceptor information needs to be submitted at least 45 days prior to the rotation to allow time for the credentialing process. You may begin the application process before identifying the preceptor.

June – October prior to spring of travel 

  1. Complete the Supplemental Application in as much detail as possible and notify GHI when submitted.  This application includes the following sections:
    1. Ethical considerations
    2. Measurable goals and plan to achieve them
    3. Health & Safety considerations
  2. Once the supplemental application is approved, complete the Office of Global Opportunities (OGO) Online Application in the OGO Student Portal.
    1. Log into the OGO Student Portal using your OHIO ID.
    2. Select OHIO Credit Program.
    3. Select the program name:  Various: Global Health Elective Rotation {Year of Travel}.
    4. Complete all tabs.
    5. Upload the supplemental application and a Letter of Good Standing from your Clinical Education Office.
    6. Submit.

Post Application Requirements

  1. Read the next steps in the “nomination” e-mail you will receive once the student portal online application is submitted and approved.
  1. Return to the student portal to “Accept” your nomination and open new tabs in the application.
  1. Confirm your travel by completing all of the tabs and submitting for confirmation at least 30 days prior to your rotation. 
  1. Register your trip with the U.S. Dept. of State. When registering with the Department of State, include the Office of Global Opportunities as a contact under the Traveler Information section in the comments box:  In case of emergency, also contact: The Ohio University Office of Global Opportunities (OGO), (740-593-4583),Global Opportunities email.
  1. Confirm health and evacuation insurance.
  1. Review the health and safety information and upload a completed Personal Emergency Plan.  The plan should address the health and safety issues researched for the supplemental application. 
  1. Obtain immunizations as recommended by CDC guidelines and your health care provider and upload documentation.
  1. Obtain a Visa as appropriate for your country of travel. Country specific information on visas is available at the U.S Department of State website. Non-US citizens can check the OGO Information page on Visas.
  1. Register your travel in My Trips.
  1. Confirm credentialing of Preceptor with your APA.
  1. Check status of enrollment in eMedley and follow the academic requirements.
  1. Complete all academic requirements in eMedley once enrolled in the course 
  1. Check your Student Account for the $150 Independent Rotation fee and pay the fee by the due date to avoid paying late fees. The fee posts in the spring semester.
  1. Inquire about HIV/AIDS kit availability at site; notify GHI if unavailable. We try to provide kits when possible, but cannot guarantee the availability.
  1. Students participating in a research rotation or any research while abroad must work with the Research Office to complete all pre-trip requirements, including Ohio University and local IRB approval.
  1. HCOM students are eligible for travel and research awards available through Ohio University.  More information can be found on the Global Opportunities Funding Your Experience pages.  
  1. Submit the results of a TB test taken 10 weeks post return to the US. The TB test is required due to high levels of MDR TB and XDR TB in many low and middle income countries.

Applications due by October 1.

Post Application activities completed by December 1 or at least 30 days prior to travel.

Academic requirements due 30 days prior to travel.

Academic Requirements

Pre-rotation academic activities due 1 month prior to travel. See the E-Medley Course Feed for OCOM 8911 to submit academic requirements.

Pre-Rotation Learning Activities

  1. Complete online Bobcats Abroad for Global Health. (Instructions e-mailed after application approval).
  1. Research 2 major health issues in rotation location (country/region) and write a 3-5 page paper including the following information:
    1. Introduction which describes the health issue
    2. Burden of disease (prevalence, cost, impact on society)
    3. Cultural and environmental factors that contribute to/affect the health issue
    4. How the issue can be addressed and any cultural or environmental factors which might interfere with efforts to address the issue
    5. Conclusion
    6. Include citations and references in APA style.
  1. Review the video, “First Do No Harm”.
  1. Complete the Online Workshop modules, “Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety. Complete and upload the quiz results to EMedley at least 1 month prior to travel.

On-Site Learning Activities

  1. Meet with the preceptor either prior to or on the first day of the rotation. Clarify the following details:
    1. Student responsibilities on the service
    2. Preceptor expectations of the student on the service
    3. Goals, objectives, and the structure of the rotation
    4. Required rotation assignments and responsibilities in the preceptor’s practice (e.g. clinics, lectures, conferences, other didactics, journal clubs, rounds, office hours, morning report).
    5. Discuss the Preceptor Evaluation of Student Clinical Performance.
  1. Ask for feedback several times during the rotation, especially at mid-rotation. In addition, be prepared to share past clinical experiences and personal objectives for this rotation with the faculty.
  1. Have Preceptor complete the Preceptor Evaluation.

Post-Rotation Learning Activities

  1. Ensure that your preceptor’s written (or electronic via eMedley) evaluation is completed and submitted to the clinical education office.
  1. Submit a 2-4 page reflection paper that focuses on the 2 major health issues identified pre-travel and how your experience on site has affected your view on these issues and potential solutions to these issues.  Due 2 weeks after completion of the rotation or earlier if traveling in April.
  1. Complete a presentation during the GHI scheduled presentation time in April.  You may also ask the Instructor of Record for permission to  complete a blog while on location.  The blog address must be provided to GHI prior to travel. If the blog option is selected, you must post one blog entry prior to departure, followed by 2-3 blog posts per week, and one post upon your return.
  1. Submit the Qualtrics International Programs Evaluation that will be e-mailed to you after your rotation.  Due within 2 weeks of the rotation.  
  2. Submit your preceptor's clinical evaluation.