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Concern over healthcare for all people continues to grow, fueled by economic globalization, worldwide news coverage, and the ease with which an epidemic or disaster in distant lands can affect other nations within hours. There also exists a heartening sense of caring that motivates individuals to respond with compassion and action to those who are most in need.
Yet healthcare professionals who enter service in low-resource communities often discover that their education poorly prepared them to work effectively because:
- Health challenges are distinct. Malnutrition, unique injuries, and certain infectious diseases are common in low-resource communities, but they are rare in wealthier ones.
- Healthcare resources are minimal. Safe drinking water and adequate housing, let alone diagnostic technologies and specialty consultation, are rarely available in low-resource communities.
- Cultural context is challenging. Success in promoting health and combating disease requires an intimate understanding of human behavior, which often contrasts sharply from one community to another.
- Leadership skills are underdeveloped. Effective health intervention requires attention to community-wide needs and resources, team building, and strategic planning - concepts infrequently addressed in the education of healthcare professionals.
- Living and working in low-resource communities demands unique personal skills. Attention to physical health, emotional wellbeing, financial subjects, and family relationships is essential for long-term success.
| ENROLLMENT QUALIFICATIONS |
The Course is open to health care professionals and health care profession students in the clinical fields, including physicians, dentists, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, resident physicians, and students of medicine, dentistry, advanced practice nursing, physician assistants, and pharmacy. Participants are strongly counseled to attend the entire course to optimize its benefit.
| LEARNING OBJECTIVES |
At the completion of the INMED International Medicine Intensive Course, students in the context of a low-resource community will be able to:
- Assess community health status based on the leading determinants of health
- Prevent, diagnose and treat the leading diseases of poverty
- Assure that health interventions are culturally appropriate
- Design effective health interventions as part of a health leadership team
- Successfully adapt one's lifestyle to a new cultural context
- Demonstrate technical proficiency in relevant clinical skills
Micah Flint, MPA, addresses disaster medicine management
| COURSE CONTENT |
The Course will address five particular bodies of knowledge:
- Determinants of Health - Those factors that most significantly impact health in low-resource communities
- Diseases of Poverty - The health conditions most frequently encountered in low-income communities
- Cross-cultural Competence in Health Care - Those skills necessary to effectively promote health in a new cultural context
- Health Leadership - How health care professionals can work in cooperation with communities to design and lead effective health systems
- Personal Skills For Cross-Cultural Living - Covering cultural adaptation, physical health, personal relationships and financial skills connected with service in low-resource communities
| EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS/METHODS |
Students in the Course will achieve the above learning objectives through the following educational components:
- Lecture presentations by expert professionals
- Case studies providing analysis
- Skill stations to develop technical facility
- Formation groups exploring personal application
| EVALUATION |
Assessment of student's performance will be based upon:
- Attendance and participation in all Course events
- Acceptable performance on examinations
| CERTIFICATION |
Students who successfully complete the course of study and who pass the final examination will receive the INMED International Medicine Academic Certificate. Verification of the educational experience will be provided to the student's affiliated school or residency program. Those who do not pass the final examination will receive a certificate of attendance.
| COURSE DIRECTORS |
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Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine President, Institute for International Medicine - INMED |
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Jean Fields, RN, MSN, CNS
Community Health Nursing Specialist Research College of Nursing Rockhurst University |
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John O. Gibson, MD
Director of Global Health Education, John Peter Smith Family Medicine Residency, Ft Worth, Texas Assistant Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| HOST |
INMED - Institute for International Medicine
| PARTNERS |
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
- University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases
- Via Christi Medical Center International Medicine Fellowship
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center/John Peter Smith Hospital International Medicine Fellowship
| COURSE REGISTRATION |
Click Here To Register On-Line. Or if you prefer, download the Course Brochure and register by mail.