Part II

Swedish Family Medicine Residencies

Cherry Hill and First Hill Campuses

International Health Area of Concentration

International Rotation

The purpose of the overseas rotation is to provide the resident with a hands-on experience in patient care and community health in an established medical work in a carefully selected location in the developing world. It is a required experience for residents wanting to complete the International Medicine Area of Concentration (AOC).

We are partnering with 4 overseas sites for our rotations. Pre-selected sites offer many advantages in insuring an excellent experience and also role models the importance of continuity of relationship that should be established when working overseas. Medical tourism is to be avoided and the best way to do so for this program is to have our residents regular travel and work at one of the pre-selected sites.

Current Confirmed Sites:

AFRICA:

Kijabe Hospital, Kenya - Christian mission hospital operated by African Inland Church. Full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient care, OB, and emergency medicine in a limited resource setting about 60 miles NW of Nairobi on the Rift Valley. Medical Director: Bruce Dahlman

Mosvold Hospital, Ingwavuma, South Africa - Provincial hospital run by the government of South Africa. Full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient care, OB, and emergency medicine in a limited resource setting. Medical Director: Holgar Reichart, MD

CENTRAL AMERICA:

University of Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo, Peru. - Family medicine program in Peru with both inpatient and outpatient experience in an urban setting, though rural clinic work is also part of the rotation. Rotation director: Freddy Cabrera.

Mulukuku, Nicaragua - Small rural hospital/clinic setting in Northern Nicaragua. Medical Director: Dorotea Granada.

We will orient each resident to the site that they will be going to in order to prepare them for their month experience there. Advanced planning for immunizations, visa and having a valid passport are essential. Pay careful attention to visa and license requirements, as well as proper immunizations for your trip.

After residency there are several good sources when looking for Overseas medical work:

·         Where in the World? Information on Overseas Medical Opportunities
http://staff.washington.edu/dolson/int/wworld.html

This site (from the UW) is a great place to start! It lists a number of great resources and some tips on how to get going on finding an overseas site.

·         AMSA International Health Opportunities: Clinical and Preclinical Electives, Research Fellowships and Courses
http://www.amsa.org/global/ih/ihopps.cfm

AMSA has compiled an excellent list of resources for overseas opportunities. Those which mention opportunities for medical students will usually also gladly accept residents. The AMSA website also has several pages devoted to preparing for your overseas rotation.

·         International Health Care Opportunities in Family Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/cgi-bin/ihcop.pl

AAFP provides this extensive online catalog of overseas opportunities.

·         Advice for Aspiring Volunteer Physicians
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n5/ffull/jmn0804-1.html

This listing from JAMA comes out every three years (the next edition should be published in August 2002), and catalogs numerous organizations which may provide international opportunities for residents. Some of the listings will be more valuable than others.

·         International Health Electives for Medical Students
http://www.amsa.org/global/ih/intlintro.cfm

This is a tremendous AMSA catalog of overseas opportunities, organized by country. Some of the listings will be more appropriate than others.

·         Child Family Health International
http://www.cfhi.org/

Excellent program, providing international health opportunities for medical students and residents.

·         Medical Electives in Developing Countries
http://host4u.upws.net/web/twig/main.htm

This website is dedicated to encouraging people to volunteer their much needed skills in developing countries. It includes a database which has over 100 elective opportunities in 34 countries.

·         International Health Group: International Health Opportunities Outside UW
http://depts.washington.edu/ihg/extopportunities.htm

A database of overseas opportunities, furnished by the International Health Group at our own UW School of Medicine.

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