Choosing a Global Health elective is a rewarding and enriching experience.

Participating Residents will:

  • Learn about the global burden of disease and the need to promote global equity in health care;

  • Experience a different medical system, cultural practices and understanding of diseases and treatment;

  • Become familiar with medical and social conditions unique to regions, which may help improve the quality of care for patients at home;

  • Obtain unique clinical experience in treating diseases that you may encounter in immigrants, refugees and travelers;

  • Experience cross-cultural issues such as language, communication, traditional healing, religious beliefs and family structure-all of which impact the physician-patient relationship;

  • Learn to enhance standards of care in resource-poor areas;

  • Share medical knowledge with international colleagues; and,

  • Work with other health disciplines to improve care.

There are ample opportunities in our city to work with different patient populations and learn about the Social Determinants of Health and their central role in well-being of our communities.

Residents are able to set up Longitudinal Elective experiences with a chosen clinic or program, which will complement the family medicine training in the teaching unit or community practice. The Global Health Director (visit Our people for contact information) can guide you in this process.

Past residents have spent time in Addiction Medicine, Refugee and Immigrant Health and Inner City Health.