How to Find and Select an International Medical Elective Stephen A. Huffman, MD Steve Huffman, MD 862 Buckeye Court Tipp City, Ohio 45371 Email: shuffman39@hotmail.com Phone (937) 667-1877 Places I have practiced: San Juan Medical Clinic, Dominican Republic Spanishtown Hospital, Jamaica Regency Rainbow, Regency Cruise Line, Inside Passage, Alaska/Canada St. Jude’s Hospital, St. Lucia, West Indies Tully Hospital, Queensland, Australia Places I have practiced: Chubu Hospital, Okinawa, Japan, Visiting Professor Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital, St. Croix, US Virgin Island St. Elizabeth/ St. Martin de Porre Hospital, Cameron Africa King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, Bermuda Places I have practiced: University of Guadalaraja School of Medicine - Visiting Professor Cat Cay Island, Bahamas Private Island Physician Where to next: Roy L. Schneider Hospital – St. Thomas St. George’s Medical School, Grenada Questions to Answer Who? Why? How? What? When? Where? Who/When? Residents/Students – – – – – First year Second Year Third Year Fourth Year Resident What is the Big ‘M’ Today? Mission Money Me Why? Prepare for service after Medical School/Residency Educational Service to others Evangelistic Change of life style Adventure Find one’s self See the world Why? Great Experience – no Residents or other medical students Tropical Medicine Different presentations of disease states Different medical environment/culture Web Sites www.cfhi.org – Child Family Health International www.imva.org – International Medical Volunteer Association www.amsa.org – American Medical Student Association www.ifmsa.org www.ifmsa-usa.org – International Federation of Medical Student Associations www.ihmec.org – International Health Medical Education Consortium www.who.int – World Health Organization Web Sites www.medicstravel.co.uk – Medics Travel www.ifmsa-usa.org – International Federation of Medical Students Association www.vanterventures.com – Disney Cruise Ship Physician www.astmh.org – American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene www. Family.mcw.edu/belize – University of Wisconsin- Department of Family Practice www.uchsc.edu/international – University of Colorado School of Medicine Where? Third World Under-served areas Caribbean/Latin America Africa, Eastern Europe Cruise Ship/ Resort Medicine Public Health Service Indian Health Service Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Mark Twain International Health in the Developing World: Clinical and Community Care University of Arizona summer course 2 weeks every summer, optional 2 weeks abroad Contact: The University of Arizona, College of Medicine Dept. of Family and Community Medicine PO Box 245052 Tucson, AZ 85724 www.globalhealth.arizona.edu What? Primary Care Surgical Research Elective Credit Research what department will give you credit for your experience at your school Requirements – – – – – – Goals Objective Research Case Studies Written Report Presentation Additional Reading Jesus, MD A Doctor Examines the Great Physician; by David Stevens, 2001 JAMA, August 7, 2002, Vol 288, No. 5 pages 559-565 Where There is No Doctor; by Dr. David Werner, 1992 Funding www.amsa.org/resource/amsarc/ creative/creative.cfm www.depts.washington.edu/ihg www.map.org Local church Medical School Organizations School Loans What? Things to Consider Credit from Medical School/Residency Visa Travel Plans Immunizations/Malaria prophylactic Personal/Family Safety/Political Situation What? Things to Consider Accommodations Cost/Fund Raising Language Duty/Responsibility Communications Insurance Experience of Others Unique Requirements Singapore - record temperature Bermuda – nose culture for MSRSA South Africa – Student Visa $250US Jamaica – Gov. Employee – Preceptor Australia - Immunizations International Residency Programs Family Practice – University of Cincinnati – Case Western Reserve/University Hospitals – Marshall University School of Medicine – University of Arizona – Baylor College of Medicine – St. Joseph’s Family Prac. Residency, South Bend, Indiana International Residency Programs Emergency Medicine – Brown University – John Hopkins University – Loma Linda University – University of Illinois at Chicago – Medical College of Georgia International Residency Programs Internal Medicine – Brown University – Case Western Reserve University – Duke University – Indiana University – Yale Internal Medicine/Primary Care Medicine – Tulane University International Residency Programs Pediatrics – Case Western Reserve University Leonardo da Vinci It is good plan, every now and then, to go away and have a little relaxation; for when you come back to work your judgment will be surer; since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose the power of judgment. International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet One to three year before departure – Letters of inquire for need or current program in place to area, country, or organization you are interested in – Identify and engage funding sources – Identify available time and duration International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet 8 months before departure – Learn about medical needs, specific disease processes – Identify and start to collect needed medical and pharmaceutical supplies – Clearance for customs by host for supplies – Apply for CME/CUE – Approval from appropriate person at the medical school International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet 6 months before departure – Identify housing, food services, and travel arrangements – Immunizations including HBV, HAV, Tetanus, MMR, Polio, country specific – Passport and Visa application International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet 3 months before departure – Fundraiser – Language skills – Contingency plan for last minute changes – Identify specific role, daily schedule International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet 2 weeks before departure – Confirm all travel plans, accommodations, in country travel – Final packing – Give family/friends communication information – Start malaria prophylactic if needed International Medical Opportunity Time Sheet One month after return – Confirm all necessary requirements for credit – Write thank you and follow up letters to your host – Thank you letter and a note outlining your trip to the medical school and to everyone that donated supplies, money, or assisted in any way – Start making plan for next trip Questions Steve Huffman, MD 862 Buckeye Court Tipp City, Ohio 45371 Ph. 937-667-1877 Email: shuffman39@hotmail.com To purchase the book “How to Find and Select an International Medical Elective” Send $17.50 made out to Steve Huffman ($15. + 2.50 for Postage and Handling) Book Elective 862 Buckeye Court Tipp City, Ohio 45371