Getting the Most Out of Medical Students’ Global Health Experiences

N. Lynn Eckhert

doi:10.1370/afm.563

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Comments on Commentary: "Getting the Most Out of Medical Students' Global Health Experiences
Joseph Hobbs, MD

Published on: 02 October 2006

Published on: (2 October 2006)
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Comments on Commentary: "Getting the Most Out of Medical Students' Global Health Experiences
Joseph Hobbs, MD, Augusta, USA
There is ample high quality evidence suggesting that courses (e.g., clerkships) involving students in the provision of care to underserved populations has a positive impact on their attitudes (i.e., compassion, volunteerism, idealism, etc.).1,2 The broad-based implication of these elective global experiences is unknown. However, in conjunction with larger required courses that expose students to underserved populations, it...
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There is ample high quality evidence suggesting that courses (e.g., clerkships) involving students in the provision of care to underserved populations has a positive impact on their attitudes (i.e., compassion, volunteerism, idealism, etc.).1,2 The broad-based implication of these elective global experiences is unknown. However, in conjunction with larger required courses that expose students to underserved populations, it would seem logical to expect that these global experiences would have an even greater impact. It would appear that substantial opportunities exist to insure that the principles embraced in these global experiences are incorporated into various required clerkships of the medical school curriculum, especially those in primary care. It is reasonable to expect that more total emersion of medical students in experiences that demonstrate the problems confronting underserved local and global populations is likely to not only instill a desire to serve, but a desire to advocate for solutions both scientifically and legislatively. There would be additional benefit if these experiences, although not proven, could increase interest in primary care specialty selection.
References:
1. Smith JK, Weaver DB. Capturing medical students’ idealism. Annals of Fam Med. 2006;4(1 Supp):S32-S37.
2. Robinowitz HK, Diamond JJ, Veloski JJ, Gayle JA. The impact of multiple predictors on generalist physicians’ care of underserved populations. 2000;90(8):1225-1228.
Competing interests: None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.