How to set up an International Elective

• Guidelines for Students pursuing an International Elective:

   

  1. Students much reach out to IMEP at least 4 months in advance to start planning process.
     1. Please email imep-ghp@umassmed.edu before planning any travel
     2. They will need to identify a UMMS faculty advisor for the trip

   

  2. There are UMMS 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.

   

  1. Gujarat, India (Shree Krishna Hospital): Nisha Fahey, DO (maternal/fetal population health) or Anindita Deb, MD (neurology)
  2. Kisumu, Kenya (KEMRI): Ann Moormann, PhD (immunology), Heidi Leftwich, DO (Ob/GYN)
  3. Cochabamba, Bolivia (IDH): Doug Golenbock, MD, PhD and Mireya Wessolossky, MD (ID)
  4. Dominican Republic (IDEV): Doug Golenbock, MD, PhD
  5. Dominican Republic: La Romana Clinica de Familia: Jean Boucher, PhD, RN (https://clinicadefamilia.org.do/)
  6. Bahamas and Thailand: Bo Wang, PhD
  7. Vietnam: Hoa Nguyen, PhD and Rajani Sadasivam, PhD
  8. Blantyre, Malawi: Don Hangen, MD (Ortho)
  9. Bridges to Malawi: Brian Lisse, MD (Fam Medicine) https://bridgestomalawi.org/
  10. Armenia- HENAR: Henri Louis, MD (Fam Med), Nancy Barsamian, DNP, MPH, RN https://henar.am/

   

  Other established opportunities:

  1. Ben Gurion, Israel: selective experience through Dean’s office [currently no travel]
  2. UMMS Radiology Travel Grant for 4^th year travel: Max Rosen, MD, MPH and Maria Barile, MD (https://www.umassmed.edu/radiology/education/international/)
  3. Other opportunities with various surgical subspecialties: Muriel Cleary, MD
  4. Plastic surgery: Joyce McIntyre, MD (https://www.thepsf.org/programs/surgeons-in-humanitarian-alliance-for-reconstruction-research-and-education)
  5. International Organization for Women and Development: Cynthia Hall, MD (Gyn), IOWD.org

   

  3. For 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.
  1. Hispania Escuela de Español, Valencia, Spain:  https://www.hispania-valencia.com/en/   
  2. Cacha Medical Spanish Institute, Ecuador: http://www.cachamsi.com/
  3. Pop Wuj Spanish School, Guatemala: http://www.pop-wuj.org/ **[of note, this location is currently high risk and will require special submission for Dean’s approval]

   

  4. For domestic experiences either through an NGO or institution, would recommend discussing with IMEP at least 4 months in advance. Some programs require a letter of agreement.

   

  Items that a student must complete to gain full approval of an international experience [Of note, you will need travel approval in order to receive credit for this elective]:

   

  1. Select a UMMS Faculty advisor for your trip who will review objectives of trip with you and

  sign-off on the International Experience Request Form

   

  2. Submit the International Experience Request form to IMEP for approval and Signature

   

  3. 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)

   

  4. 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.

   

  5. Register your travel: 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 Departureto learn more about how to register your University Travel. 

   

  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)

   

  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

  • 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 1^st (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

   

  • Register travel with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program which can be found here: 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

   

  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.

   

Updated 1.28 2025 | PSC