International Fellowship

[WilburSK]

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I have an interest in being involved in global health throughout my career, particularly as a leader of a fellowship program, if possible. Or I would be pleased to be a leader in an NGO as well.

As you may be able to ascertain from previous posts, I am also interested in living in KC. Currently there isn't a fellowship in the area, but it would be exciting to start one!

Additionally, due to its central position, KC does not have a great deal of choice in NGO work for those interested in overseas work.

So my thought to augment this: complete a fellowship to offer the skill necessary to start a program. Or organize a band of folks interested in international medicine and join an NGO to be deployed (to things like disaster response).

I don't have much experience in this field so I don't know if I am gauging in the right direction. Would anyone be willing to comment on what I have written?

Really, I would like some ideas regarding the proper expenditure of my efforts

 

[ALFI]

one thing i found was working as an aid worker with Doctors Without Borders really grounds you in this perspective. I am an Australian in my last year of Bachelor of Health Science with a view to get into med school and then specialise in Emergency Medicine. when i was a kid i use to have a real passion for 3rd world countries especially the congo so i did volunteer work with DWB and it changed my mind completely ..i still have the passion but my studies as well as the volunteer work have helped guide me. I know that they are in need of gen.doctors, surgeons, pharmacists etc at the moment but it is a big commitment

it might help you in the way of guidelines, what countries really need etc. I wish you all the best in your ventures in global health (lol studying it did my head in)

 

[WilburSK]

Thanks for the response!

I guess the heart of my question is regarding the purpose and efficacy of international medicine fellowships.

I read the sticky about it, and there weren't very positive responses. I was hoping to get an assessment of your thoughts in my position!

Thanks

 

[Hamhock]

I have an interest in being involved in global health throughout my career, particularly as a leader of a fellowship program, if possible. Or I would be pleased to be a leader in an NGO as well.

As you may be able to ascertain from previous posts, I am also interested in living in KC. Currently there isn't a fellowship in the area, but it would be exciting to start one!

Additionally, due to its central position, KC does not have a great deal of choice in NGO work for those interested in overseas work.

So my thought to augment this: complete a fellowship to offer the skill necessary to start a program. Or organize a band of folks interested in international medicine and join an NGO to be deployed (to things like disaster response).

I don't have much experience in this field so I don't know if I am gauging in the right direction. Would anyone be willing to comment on what I have written?

Really, I would like some ideas regarding the proper expenditure of my efforts

Suggest MPH or MBA...or politics

HH

 

[PMPMD]

When I was working in Guyana, I met a guy who is setting up the EM program in the teaching hospital there. I believe he did an international fellowship, and is on the Vanderbilt faculty. Definitely seems like a cool experience.

 

[Hamhock]

When I was working in Guyana, I met a guy who is setting up the EM program in the teaching hospital there. I believe he did an international fellowship, and is on the Vanderbilt faculty. Definitely seems like a cool experience.

Agreed: If you want to set up EM or - more commonly needed - EMS in the "third-world", then an "international fellowship" after EM may be the best way to go.

Otherwise, MPH, MBA, or politics...that's where the real differences are made...the rest is just small-scale, self-congratulatory tourism.

Cantankerous, as always, about the dilution of EM,

HH

 

[deleted109597]

Agreed: If you want to set up EM or - more commonly needed - EMS in the "third-world", then an "international fellowship" after EM may be the best way to go.

Otherwise, MPH, MBA, or politics...that's where the real differences are made...the rest is just small-scale, self-congratulatory tourism.

Cantankerous, as always, about the dilution of EM,

HH

I like to go on vacation too. I guess I'm just not as good as writing it off as some.

There are plenty of places in the US that need healthcare.

If you really want to help some place, get them clean water. Then get mosquito netting. After that, start talking about going higher up the chain.

 

[WilburSK]

So most folks don't think the international fellowship is worth much? Mostly because international work is seen as taking away from skills that could be used in the states and it is more like a vacation?

Interesting...what I really want is to lead disaster response teams, and spend summers abroad. I thought that being a part/starting a program at a university would serve those ends and provide insight for the university that wants to expand their scope.

I thought the fellowship would be beneficial, but it seems like you guys think it is more or less useless.

any other thoughts?

 

[deleted65604]

So most folks don't think the international fellowship is worth much? Mostly because international work is seen as taking away from skills that could be used in the states and it is more like a vacation?

Interesting...what I really want is to lead disaster response teams, and spend summers abroad. I thought that being a part/starting a program at a university would serve those ends and provide insight for the university that wants to expand their scope.

I thought the fellowship would be beneficial, but it seems like you guys think it is more or less useless.

Other than noting negative responses, what do you think of the points brought up by Amory?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=514318

 

[WilburSK]

Thanks for the information!

I guess my fundamental question is who should utilize the opportunities offered through these fellowships?

Does someone with my interests have sufficient international ambition to apply for a fellowship?

 

[deuist]

If you really want to help some place, get them clean water. Then get mosquito netting.

Vaccinations are helpful, too. However, your donations would probably be more appreciated than going abroad for one week each year to stick kids with needles.

 

[WilburSK]

Would anyone be willing to make an argument for what the efficiency and scope of this type of fellowship?