International Health Program for Residents
In an effort to appeal to residents with an interest in international
health, Synergy Medical has developed two unique opportunities to
incorporate international health into the current residency curriculum
in all of our residencies. The International Health Program for Residents
gives residents a chance to gain knowledge in the diagnoses and treatment
of common tropical diseases and conditions. Working in areas of limited
resources, it also allows the opportunity to expand clinical, diagnostic
and management skills. Each opportunity will surely change the way
you look at the world and your role as a health care provider.
The first experience is a Short-term International Medical Mission
and is limited to a one-week clinical experience in Belize, Central
America under the supervision of Synergy Medical faculty. The second
experience (International Health Scholarship) will alter the curriculum
of each residency in such a way to formally encompass new learning
objectives in international health accompanied by a rich and in-depth
clinical experience at the senior levels of each residency. Each
experience will take place at Valley of Peace, a small village
in Belize, Central America. Synergy Medical has already arranged
clinic sites, housing and travel options.
Short-term International Medical Mission
Short-term International Medical Mission participation will be subject to availability of trainers and other factors that may limit site availability. The selection of the resident(s) will be based on the interest of the individual resident. Participation will be at the discretion of the program director(s) and will take into account the impact of the residency program call and duty schedule. Residents from any program are welcome to participate.
Funding for the one-week medical mission including travel, medical and living expenses will be the responsibility of the resident.
The one-week Belize Medical Mission provides an organized medical
experience in an underserved international setting. The opportunity
will be tailored to the type of residency training to the greatest
extent possible; however, primary care experiences are the current
focus of the one-week experience.
International Health Scholarship
The International Health Initiative will require special application during the year prior to the planned year of participation. Applications for the International Health Initiative will require an interview with the International Health Director in addition to the core faculty within each department. A maximum of one resident from each residency per year will be accepted into the program. Residents in the senior years (second through fifth) of their programs are eligible to apply.
As part of the training experience the resident will be responsible for their flight to Belize up to $1,000. Any flight cost greater than $1,000 will be the responsibility of Synergy Medical. CME funding may be used for the flight costs if approved by the individual program director. Synergy Medical is responsible for general living expenses and in country travel (car rental, required in country flights), as well as medical expenses incurred in preparation for travel, such as immunizations.
The program is available at the senior training levels for all residency programs and is offered as an elective. The experience can be tailored to the type of residency to the greatest extent possible. However, we have currently developed experiences for one-month rotations in a rural clinic in Belize to provide primary care to the citizens of Valley of Peace, a small village in Belize. Experiences in other specialties may be developed in the future if possible and as warranted.
In addition, to the one-month experience in Belize, residents will participate in a one-month preparatory experience prior to departure. This will take the form of two to three hours per week of meeting time to help with procuring supplies, acculturation, language skills, etc. in the month prior to making the trip to Belize.
Contact Information
Nhu Dargis
Manager, Research & Educational Programs
Synergy Medical Education Alliance
1000 Houghton Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 583-6960
ndargis@synergymedical.org
or
Individual Program Directors