IU School of Medicine Student Portal

Elective Title: 71ZH900 — GLOBAL HEALTH ELECTIVE IN GHANA

Description:

The global health elective in Ghana is a four-week international health experience designed to immerse students in a developing country to gain a more direct understanding of the Ghanaian culture including language, public health issues and Ghanaian spiritual beliefs intersecting with health and illness. Students would receive training by TMS Global (partnering institution) and Ghanaian professionals on language, culture and medical care as it relates to the patient-doctor relationship and medical decision-making. Students think critically about global health challenges and practices while developing basic Twi language skills and working side by side with host country health care providers located at the Ankaase Hospital in Ankaase, Ghana. Clinical work occurs at community, mission-based health care facilities and governmental based public health organizations. The mission-based health care facilities offer prayer rounds and staff devotional sessions that are optional for students to participate. It is not a requirement of the elective to participate in these activities.


Elective Details:

Primary Contact for Add/Drops: Stacey Patrick (sapats@iu.edu)

Director: Cameron Gongwer, M.D.

Campus: South Bend

Location: Ankaase Hospital - Ankaase, Ghana

Other Faculty:


Learning Objectives

  • 1) Describe epidemiologic profile of host country and related public health programs (SBP3)
  • 2) Develop clinical decisions based on sound medical reasoning and implement patient care plan within the limited resources of developing host country (PC3)
  • 3) Explain process and structure of medical education, health care delivery in host country (SBP1)
  • 4) Explain interrelatedness of a global health issue on host country public policy (SBP3)
  • 5) Describe elements of primary health care (maternal child health, immunizations, prevention/control of endemic disease, water & sanitation, basic medical care, health education and nutrition) in context of the developing host country (SBP2)
  • 6) Demonstrate enhanced cultural competence, understanding of cross cultural dynamics, language skills, and physician patient communication through patient and peer interaction (ICS1, P2)

Assessment

  • Clinical Performance Evaluation Form; (1. Observation: Student observed and evaluated by IU Faculty and host country health care providers using the Standard 4th year Clinical Performance Evaluation Form. 2. Clinical Presentation: Student researches and delivers a clinically focused presentation on a disease/illness that disproportionately plagues under-developed countries, specifically in Ghana. IU Faculty will evaluate content and delivery of the presentation using the Presentation Rubric . 3. Written Paper: Student writes a 3-page policy brief summarizing the burden of the disease /illness selected as the aforementioned presentation topic, discusses the people most affected by this disease or illness, key risk factors, the economic and social costs of this disease, and what might be done to address this disease in cost-effective ways. Paper will be evaluated by IU Faculty using the Research Rubric. 4. Reflections: Students submit twice-weekly guided reflections over the course of the month. Reflection Rubric evaluates description/narration/connection/analyzation components. 5. Conduct and Behavior: Student conduct and behavior is assessed by IU Faculty and host-country partners in an on-going manner utilizing a rubric that assesses professionalism, intercultural competency and personal conduction.)

Enrollment Information

Prerequisites: 3rd or 4th Year; Must have completed Family Medicine Clerkship

Availability with Max Students per Month:

AprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecJanFebMar
000000000040

Duty Hours: 40

Time Distribution: 60% Clinical; 10% Library/Research; 30% Lecture/Seminar

Elective Type Category: AC - Advanced Clinical

Notes and Enrollment Information:

Add/Drop Contact Person: Stacey Patrick (sapats@iu.edu) THIS ELECTIVE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIAL SENIOR MATCH Students MUST apply and be accepted into the Global Health Elective in Ghana. You may obtain an application from Stacey Patrick sapats@iu.edu or (574) 631-5574. The i-Abroad application will open June 1 and close September 30, yearly. 4-week experience: approximately $3,500-4,000 plus optional weekend activities (includes room/board, in-country transportation, language instruction, tips, etc.) Students live in local hospital student hostel. Number of weeks a student must contact faculty prior to beginning elective: Students must apply and be accepted into the course through the i-Abroad system. The link to apply is http://abroad.iupui.edu/iabroad/

Third Year Elective? Yes


Interprofessional Skills and Service Learning

Interprofessional Collaborative Skills: None

Service Learning Included: None