Apply to Global Health Experience
Feinberg School of Medicine students should follow these steps to apply for a global health education experience or elective.
All Feinberg School of Medicine students participating in a Global Health Experience (referring to both elective and non-elective rotations) are responsible for completing all pre-departure preparation prior to their departure.
COVID-19 Update: Please be aware that the University currently has guidance and requirements in place for graduate student travel. See more details here.
Step 1: Submit online inquiry and schedule advising session OR attend an Information Session.
Medical students should use the online inquiry form to schedule a one-on-one information session, or view the Information Session schedule and RSVP. Medical students only need to complete one of these two options, but participation is required.
Medical students with general questions about the Rural Medicine program should be directed to the following contact at the Department of Family and Community Medicine: Sybil Chadwick (schadwic@nm.org).
PT students are welcome to attend Information Sessions to learn more about the Pre-Departure Requirements. However, PT students must reach out to their Director of Clinical Education, either Cori Arquines (cori.arquines@northwestern.edu), Megan Freeland (megan.freeland@northwestern.edu), or Tobey DeMott Yeates (t-demott@northwestern.edu) to express their interest. Coordination with with IGH staff will not occur until Step 4 or 5.
For general inquiries about the Universidad de San Sebastian rotation (PT students only), please reach out to Assistant Professor Carolina Carmona (ccarmona@northwestern.edu).
PA students are welcome to attend Information Sessions to learn more about the Pre-Departure Requirements. However, PA students must contact paclinicalyear@northwestern.edu to express their interest. Coordination with IGH staff will not occur until Step 4 or 5.
MPH students interested in global health experience opportunities should reach out to the Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships (Program in Public Health), Grisel Robles-Scrader (grisel.robles-schrader@northwestern.edu).
Step 2: Submit online application.
Complete the online application. Feinberg students are required to submit this application when applying for global health experiences at both affiliated and unaffiliated institutions.
Medical students should apply for global health experiences by the following deadlines:
- For non-elective travel between first and third year: January 28, 2024, 11:59 p.m. CST
- For elective travel during fourth year: March 3, 2024, 11:59 p.m. CST
PA & PT students, please refer to the contacts listed in Step 1 for information about deadlines within your specialties.
Step 3: Confirm IGH placement decision.
Medical students will be notified of their global health experience placements by IGH staff within 8 weeks of the application deadline.
PA, PT, & MPH students, please refer to the contacts listed in Step 1 for information about placement decisions within your specialties.
Step 4: Work with IGH staff to complete and submit visiting student application to partner institution.
If applying for an experience at an affiliated institution, you will then receive information about completing the partner's visiting student application. If you are planning to rotate at an unaffiliated institution, you will be asked to complete and submit this Unaffiliated Site Application (per our travel policy) if you wish to receive elective credit or funding. Students will then submit all materials to the Institute for Global Health. Your participation in a global health experience is contingent on confirmation of placement from the partner site(s).
PT, PA, & MPH students participating in rotations at certain international affiliated partners may need to work with IGH staff to complete this process. You will be informed by the contacts listed in Step 1.
Step 5: Enrollment in Canvas Course (Feinberg Global Health Experience).
Havey Institute for Global Health staff will initiate enrollment into the Feinberg Global Health Experience Canvas course for all students who have been approved for rotations.
Step 6: Apply for Funding and Complete Pre-Departure Requirements.
The application for funding is available to all FSM students who have been approved for rotations through the Feinberg Global Health Elective Canvas course. Look for the "Travel Funding" module.
Use the course to complete and submit Pre-Departure requirements. You may also use the Pre-Departure Checklist PDF to track your progress outside of the Canvas course.