Anyone interested in international medicine?

[quake]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am interested in practicing medicine in countries that are severely disadvantaged in health care delivery. If there is anyone with similar intersts out there could you offer me some info on how I can keep myself informed on issues concerning international medicine! 🙂

 

[Trek]

Nah- there's tons of people within 3 blocks of my apartment who are as bad off as anyone anywhere else in the world. I'll stick around. But best of luck with what you wanna do. --Trek

 

[nezlab99]

Check out <a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org" target="_blank">www.doctorswithoutborders.org</a> or the red cross.

 

[Sir William Osler]

in response to trek about within 3 blocks of his place there are people as bad off as anywhere in the world. I would have to strongly disagree on this one. Trek, have you ever actually visited third world countries and observed their health systems? If so, I would like to know which ones and how you could compare the it to the US. I spent some time in Africa and came into contact with atrocities that are unimaginable.

my humble opinion.

 

[quake]

Thanks Nezlab, and Tbone I couldn't agree more with you. Your humble opinion = gold nugget 🙂

 

[sandflea]

maybe the timing isn't right for you right now, but you could always pursue an MPH, especially one geared toward international health or tropical medicine. it would provide you with a greater academic background in health concerns in other countries and could lead to internship opportunities. maybe you could enter an MD/MPH program.

 

[Ai]

I am very interested in this as well. I don't really have any advice for you but I'm glad you started this thread because I'd like to learn more. Have you mentioned this in any of your applications or interviews? My pre-med advisor recommended that I not talk about my desire to work abroad.

 

[quake]

Ai, fortunatley or unfortunately my interest in international medicine is all over my application. You think all is lost?

 

[EpiII]

I agree that there are huge needs here in the United States, but they simply do not compare in the least to the developing countries. I have lived and worked in Ethiopia and spent a month in the rural Sierra Madre mountains of northern Mexico and those experiences are something else.

In the US we are concerned about an infant mortality rate of 7/1000 births and a low birth weight % above 5% and mothers getting prenatal care in the 1st trimester, but in these countries, the infant mortality rate is more like 10% and in some countries, it approaches 50%.

I also definitely agree with the suggestion about getting an MPH. This will broaden your view of health and give you some skills that are more useful abroad. As you might be able to guess, the problems in these developing countries are more infrastructural and one doc seeing as many patients as possible doesn't really begin to make much of an impact. Couple your clinical skills with some population-based knowledge and ability and you can make a more profound impact. I have my MPH and am trying to get into Med School now.

 

[deleted7807]

I too want to spend some time working abroad in third world countries. Originally I had wanted to do the Peace Corps, but I recently found out that they don't take doctors...but I put my interest all over my application and I don't think that it has hurt one bit. It comes up in almost every interview and makes for an interesting conversation. I believe doctors without borders, who, etc put out medical care to underserved areas and I have found that many med schools will have opportunities as well. Keep an eye out! Plus, ask interviewers - they are always full of suggestions

Good luck! 🙂

 

[CoffeeCat]

Actually the Peace Corps may not take doctors but they do employ doctors for volunteers in each country...maybe something to think about down the line.

 

[rajneel1]

hey quake,
well i think MPH is a good idea. and i greatly disagree with the guy who said that there is need here in the US comparable to that in other countries. you cannot even compare the medical needs in africa to ANYONE (no matter who) in the US. there is such a support mechanism for all sorts of people in the US in regards to healthcare. in africa, there isn't even health insurance.
if you are interested....there is this great community service program called Cross Cultural Solutions that sends volunteers to work in foreign countries (self funded, search for them on the web). i worked in a clinic in Ghana and loved it. it has certainly changed me.
lastly, i was also told by my pre med advisor not to go hum ho about working aboard as a doctor. the solution she told me was to make sure that i made clear that i wanted to be a US based physician who volunteered in other countries as a hobby or in my free time. hope that helps.

 

[rajneel1]

hey quake,
well i think MPH is a good idea. and i greatly disagree with the guy who said that there is need here in the US comparable to that in other countries. you cannot even compare the medical needs in africa to ANYONE (no matter who) in the US. there is such a support mechanism for all sorts of people in the US in regards to healthcare. in africa, there isn't even health insurance.
if you are interested....there is this great community service program called Cross Cultural Solutions that sends volunteers to work in foreign countries (self funded, search for them on the web). i worked in a clinic in Ghana and loved it. it has certainly changed me.
lastly, i was also told by my pre med advisor not to go hum ho about working aboard as a doctor. the solution she told me was to make sure that i made clear that i wanted to be a US based physician who volunteered in other countries as a hobby or in my free time. hope that helps.

 

[none]

I tend to think I want to stay in the US.

 

[quake]

rajneel 1, thank you so much for the advise and support. What a coincidence, I've strong ties with Ghana. Good luck with your apps too.

 

[poindexter]

hey rajneel1,

When were you in Ghana? I was there July/August with CCS in Akatsi. The experience has definitely changed my goals for the future and my idea of the way the world works. I'm evaluating schools in terms of where international rotations are possible and whether or not entering an MPH program after admission is a possibility.

I never, ever would have guessed that this would be the way my life/practice would end up. Obviously you had similar feelings?

 

[quake]

Wow, guys it seems that our paths might be crossing in Ghana or somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa someday.

 

[grasshopper]

While we're on the subject, anybody know of schools that particularly encourage international work in health care field while in med school (summer, take a year off, or rotations abroad)? I've been asking at interviews, and every school says "oh of course you can do that", but I'm guessing some are better about accomodating/encouraging it. Yale and Columbia were the two schools who sounded most like that was a good idea to me so far. Any comments?

 

[USeF]

Good Q Grasshopper. Georgetown seems to be very internationally oriented. Being they are in the nation's capital helps, but the WHO and other international health organizations have centers there from which you can learn about international health and get connections to do rotations abroad. I'll add it to my list of questions for the interviewers when I go next week.

 

[USeF]

Just checked their webpage (I knew I saw it somewhere) and indeed there are established programs to do residencies abroad.

<a href="http://www.dml.georgetown.edu/schmed/admissions/prospectus/curr-overview.html#internation" target="_blank">http://www.dml.georgetown.edu/schmed/admissions/prospectus/curr-overview.html#internation</a>

If you are fluent in Spanish, you can even do an 8-week Health Education elective in the Dominican.. sounds awesome.