How to Set up an International Elective 

Please reach out to IMEP-GHP@umassmed.edu at least 4 months in advance to notify of interest to travel. 

Step 1: Complete “Part 1: The Big Picture” & Read Global Health Equity Article 

Each medical student is required to complete “Part 1: The Big Picture,” the first part of the 3-part course Practitioner’s Guide to Global Health. This course prepares students and trainees to safely and effectively participate in global health learning experiences. In Part 1 you will learn how to determine what type of global health learning experience is right for you and how to set it up. The course is free-of-charge and generates a Credly badge upon successful completion.  

Read the following article. “This article offers 10 guiding questions that learners should answer before selecting or codesigning a global health opportunity through a lens of global health equity.” Ten Questions to Guide Learners Seeking Equitable Global Health Experiences Abroad. 

Step 2: Identify Country, Elective Site and UMass Faculty Mentor 

Here is a list of UMass International Partner Sites which would make the process of approval faster as these are long-term collaborations with agreements in place. They are listed with faculty advisors below.  

• Gujarat, India (Bhaikaka University/Shree Krishna Hospital): Nisha Fahey, DO (maternal/fetal population health) or Anindita Deb, MD (neurology) 

• Kisumu, Kenya (KEMRI): Ann Moormann, PhD (immunology), Heidi Leftwich, DO (Ob/GYN) 

• Cochabamba, Bolivia (IDH): Doug Golenbock, MD, PhD and Mireya Wessolossky, MD (ID) 

• Dominican Republic (IDEV): Doug Golenbock, MD, PhD 

• Dominican Republic: La Romana Clinica de Familia: Jean Boucher, PhD, RN (https://clinicadefamilia.org.do/)  

• Bahamas and Thailand: Bo Wang, PhD  

• Vietnam: Hoa Nguyen, PhD and Rajani Sadasivam, PhD  

• Blantyre, Malawi: Don Hangen, MD (Ortho) 

• Bridges to Malawi: Brian Lisse, MD (Fam Medicine) https://bridgestomalawi.org/  

• Armenia- HENAR: Henri Louis, MD (Fam Med), Nancy Barsamian, DNP, MPH, RN https://henar.am/  

Other Established Opportunities: 

• UMMS Radiology Travel Grant for 4th year travel: Max Rosen, MD, MPH and Maria Barile, MD (https://www.umassmed.edu/radiology/education/international/)  

• Other opportunities with various surgical subspecialties: Muriel Cleary, MD 

• Plastic surgery: Joyce McIntyre, MD (https://www.thepsf.org/programs/surgeons-in-humanitarian-alliance-for-reconstruction-research-and-education)  

• International Organization for Women and Development: Cynthia Hall, MD (Gyn), www.IOWD.org 

4th Year Elective Opportunities: 

Cochabamba, Bolivia 

The Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology is offering a subsidized elective in HIV diagnostics and care at Viedma Hospital in Cochabamba during February 2026.   

Contact: Doug Golenbock, MD, PhD Douglas.Golenbock@umassmed.edu & Mireya Wessolossky, MD Mireya.Wessolossky@umassmemorial.org   

Mumbai, India  

Rotation at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM) and Seth GS Medical College (GSMC)  

Contacts: Apeksha Tripathi, MD, MPH (apeksha.tripathi@umassmemorial.org) & Abbas Rupawala, MD (abbas.rupawala2@umassmemorial.org)  

Mtunthama, Malawi 

Nonprofits Bridges to Malawi & K2TASO typically travel in April  

Contact: Dr. Brian Lisse, MD brianlisse2@gmail.com or by phone at 508-361-6069 

Kigali, Rwanda 

Treating birth injuries and prolapse with Dr. Hall for IOWD typically travel in May 

Contact: Cynthia Hall, MD (cynthia.hall@umassmemorial.org)  

 

International Language Programs: 

The sites listed below are recommended. If the student wants to pursue a different site, please have them reach out to IMEP at least 4 months in advance. We encourage programs with BOTH language and cultural immersion or medical exposure.  

 

• Hispania Escuela de Español, Valencia, Spain:  https://www.hispania-valencia.com/en/    

• Cacha Medical Spanish Institute, Ecuador: http://www.cachamsi.com/ 

 

Timeline: You should start the process of obtaining travel approval by contacting IMEP (imep-ghp@umassmed.edu) at least 4 months in advance of travel dates. Of note, the 4th year experiences have specific deadlines so please contact the faculty listed as soon as possible.  

Restrictions: UMass Chan School of Medicine will not give academic credit for, pay for, supervise, direct, or otherwise support a medical student if travel approval is not obtained. Travel approval may be affected by the U.S. State Department Travel Warning.  

Step 3: Submit an International Experience Request Form 

• Complete an International Experience Request (IER) Form (Link to form) including your signature and UMass Faculty signature 

• If you are not traveling to a partner site, please fill out the supplement  

Step 4: Submit any additional paperwork 

• Submit any paperwork related to your elective (proof of acceptance). Complete required documentation per International Support Services (ISS) which may include a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with host site/program (internationalsupportservices@umassmed.edu) 

  

Step 5: Submit Foreign Project Registration Form 

• Foreign Project Registration Form: Foreign Project Registration (sharepoint.com) 

For any project with a foreign component, a form will need to be completed by faculty. If students are involved, that should be indicated on the form. Forms are required to be completed minimally, 30 days prior to the project start date, at renewal and when material changes are planned (i.e., students become involved in the project). Submit to internationalsupportservices@umassmed.edu.  

 

Step 6: Request E-mail of Acceptance (for New Outside Electives) 

If you plan to undertake an outside elective that has not been undertaken by a medical student in the past, an e-mail of acceptance from the host institution/mentor is required. This e-mail must be sent to Pawel Chojnowski and IMEP-GHP@umassmed.edu and include: 

• Title of elective 

• Exact dates of elective 

• Complete address/contact information of sponsoring institution and mentor* 

• Whether or not the site regularly hosts students 

* be sure to obtain full contact information for the physician who will be supervising and evaluating you. 

Step 7: Register your travel  

Once you have submitted all the required paperwork, you are required to register your travel through Concur. You can find out more about Concur and links to job aids here: Concur (umassmed.edu). Additionally, once travel has been approved and booked, travel must be registered in the Healix travel registry. Please see the section on Before Departure to learn more about how to register your University Travel.  

Step 8: How to apply for Credit 

Once travel is approved, please add this as an International Elective to your Proposed Educational Plan (PEP). You will also need to complete an Away Elective Approval Form which can be found here: 

https://www.umassmed.edu/studentaffairs/curriculum/advanced-studies2/electives-umms-students/ 

Reach out to Office of Student Affairs with questions (studentaffairs@umassmed.edu)   

Step 9: Submit a Trip Report 

After returning from travel, please ensure to submit a Global Health Trip Report which can be found at the following link:  

https://repository.escholarship.umassmed.edu/handle/20.500.14038/13 

You will need to login to the site with your UMass Chan credentials to access the collection. 

External Funding Opportunities  

These are some common international travel funding opportunities for students 

*Students: For the opportunities below, please ensure faculty are given at least 4 weeks’ notice before the application deadline for any required material (i.e. LOR). Please make the faculty aware if you are applying to multiple funding sources, when applications are due, and what is required of them.  

Ben Kean Travel Fellowship in Tropical Medicine https://www.astmh.org/awards-fellowships-medals/astmh-sponsored-fellowships/benjamin-h-kean-travel-fellowship [add this link to the navigator as well] 

• Airfare + $1000 Stipend to offset travel expenses 

• Deadline: around mid-March (check link above for specific date) 

• Open to full-time medical students in accredited school of medicine in the US or Canada  

• Research or clinical training in tropical medicine or global health with at least one month at a site for endemic diseases or illnesses common in the tropics  

Faculty: required to write Letter of Recommendation (note IRB approval if applicable), written approval from overseas mentor, please see details of elective proposal at link above 

Students: contact faculty by mid-February regarding requirements for application; faculty require at least 4 weeks’ notice to ensure enough time to complete requirements 

Mass Medical Society Global Health Studies Grants https://www.massmed.org/Charitable_Foundation/Applying_for_Grants/Global_Health_Studies_Program/ 

• up to $2000 subsidizing travel expenses 

• Deadline: around February 1st (check link above for specific date) 

• Funds medical students and residents who are pursuing international education that focuses on under resourced populations.  

Faculty: Students may require a Letter of Support and review of project proposal, please see details at link above 

Students: contact faculty by early January regarding requirements for application; faculty require at least 4 weeks’ notice to ensure enough time to complete requirements 

Additional recommendations for travel-prep 

• Please review the UMass Chan International Support Services Resource page for a pre-travel checklist, Emergency Assistance and Travel Insurance information, and tips for staying health and staying safe abroad which can be found on the International Support Services website.

• Register travel with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program which can be found here: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAneK8BhAVEiwAoy2HYdS0SxZ8cFrqvhgpe-YUwVy3T2OERKPgWNMlLSUSUhV0QLRpBOz95xoC0iIQAvD_BwE [STEP] 

 This step should be completed once you know your exact dates of travel.  

• Review the CDC’s health information for travelers to the country of your destination (which can be found here), and if appropriate, make an appointment with a health care provider to discuss pre-travel health issues and vaccinations (at least 2 months in advance).  Health care providers may include the following:   

UMass Chan Student Health (508-334-2818)  

Pedi ID/Immunology/Travel (774-442-3947)- for ages 24 and younger  

UMass Memorial Health Travel Clinic (508-334 -5481)  our Primary Care Provider  

Passport Health: Private travel clinic in Worcester (365 Main St) - may be out-of-pocket  

---

Updated OCT 7 2024 | cjb