Global Health Experience Rotations Give Students New Perspectives with On-Site Opportunities

October 2025

The Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health works closely with its international partners to give students the opportunity to observe and participate in health systems and programs that are different from what they would experience in Chicago and other U.S.-based institutions. These global health experiences work in tandem with their academic programs to ensure robust learning experiences which contribute to their overall academic training. Upon return from their Global Health Experience rotations, students have noted learning outcomes such as: 

• Improved physical exam skills  
• Improved cross-cultural and language competencies  
• Opportunity to observe illnesses and diseases not typically seen in the United States and other unique clinical training opportunities  
• Increased understanding of different healthcare and medical education systems  
• Appreciation of distinct cultures of medicine
• Increased interest in working with underserved patients 

On average, between 70 to 90 learners travel per academic year. According to a 2025 AAMC graduation questionnaire, around 40 percent of Feinberg School of Medicine medical students participate in a Global Health Experience rotation prior to graduation. The same questionnaire lists the national average for Global Health Experience rotations as 13.6 percent, highlighting the impact of the Feinberg program. 

Funded by the generosity of donors, the Global Health Experience program supports travel for Feinberg medical students, physician assistant (PA) students, physical therapy (PT) students, and The Graduate School Master of Public Health (MPH) students and McGaw residents. The Global Health Experience is a facet of the Havey Institute for Global Health Center for Global Health Education.  

The Havey Institute for Global Health currently collaborates with affiliated educational partner sites in 22 countries on the continents of South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and sponsors multiple rotations at unaffiliated sites every year. 

Oluwatobi (Tobi) Ogunbiyi, MD candidate (Class of 2028) from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed a Global Health Experience rotation at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in the Butaro District of Rwanda between 2024 and 2025.  

Ogunbiyi, who grew up in Nigeria, was inspired by his personal experiences.

“Even as a child, I viewed myself as a problem solver. And the most pressing problem I observed was the lack of access to healthcare for far too many people in my native country,” Ogunbiyi said. “I vividly remember patients and their families crowding the hallways of the city's main hospital. Many [patients] waiting all day to be seen, only to be turned away because they could not afford consultation fees or necessary treatments. These early experiences left an indelible impression on me and planted the seed that would grow into my commitment to becoming a physician.” 

While in Rwanda, Ogunbiyi researched life expectancy. 

“I learned quickly that the need for data-driven policies, age-inclusive clinical guidelines and professional strengthening of local health systems is now more critical than ever,” Ogunbiyi said. “This experience reaffirmed the vital importance of investing in global health research, particularly in aging populations in low-income countries.” 

The Global Health Experience program allows students like Ogunbiyi to enhance their education through practical, on-site experiences they would not otherwise be able to access. 

For Caroline Carlson, MD/MPH candidate (Class of 2027) from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the experience was particularly meaningful for her work in primary care. In the summer of 2024, Carlson worked at Clinica de Familia la Romana in the Dominican Republic. While there, she conducted a program evaluation to assess areas of growth in the maternal HIV program. 

“A comprehensive prenatal care program had to be built,” Carlson said. “Behind all of this were stable systems and reliable funding and partnerships, including the one with Northwestern, that made long-term care possible. My conversation stayed with me. It underscored the power of sustained, collaborative primary care and the fragility of what’s at stake if those systems are not supported.” 

“As global health funding shifts, I find myself asking what happens to families if we turn away,” Carlson asked.

“Experiences like this inspire, transform and motivate all of us as medical students and will definitely lead us to be better doctors and better people,” Ogunbiyi said. 

Students interested in the Global Health Experience program can schedule a one-on-one meeting with Havey Institute for Global Health staff to learn more about the unique offerings of each partner site.

For more details and to apply to the Global Health Experience, visit their website. 

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