Global Health Pathway

A medical student at a clinic in Botswana.

The Global Health Pathway is a longitudinal program for Baylor College of Medicine medical students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of medicine in a global context. The pathway includes coursework and elective opportunities that help prepare students for future careers in global health. 

To complete the program, students must complete and submit a BCM Global Health Pathway Graduation Checklist and Mentor Form to the academic coordinator and pathway directors by February 28 of their graduation year. Students who complete all pathway requirements receive a Global Health Pathway Certificate at graduation.

Pathway Requirements

  • Complete both foundational electives
  • Complete one applied learning option
  • Attend four Global Health approved conferences from the list
  • Attend biannual faculty mentor meetings during the MS3 or MS4 years
  • Submit the final paper
  • Submit the graduation checklist

Foundational Electives

  • MEMED-415A: Overview of Global Health, MS1, Term 3 (Previously MEOSA-415A)
  • MEMED-415B: Readings in Global Health, MS2, Term 1 (Previously MEOSA-415B)

Applied Learning Requirement

Select one option, MS3/MS4

  • Complete 3 Diploma in Tropical Medicine (DTM) Modules
  • Complete DTM Module 1 (January) and 4-weeks of Clinical or non-Clinical Research electives (See below)
  • Complete 8-weeks of Clinical and/or non-Clinical Research electives (See below)

Note: Students must register for Diploma in Tropical Medicine (DTM) Modules between June 1 and Sept. 1. Please visit the Diploma in Tropical Medicine website for additional information.

Clinical or Non-Clinical Research Electives

(Must be four weeks total)

  • MEPED-505A: Pediatric Infectious Diseases (Texas Children’s Hospital only) (4-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEMED-538A: Infectious Disease – BTH (Ben Taub only) (4-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEPED-548: Retrovirology- HIV, International Adoption & Travel Medicine (4-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEMED-202: Comprehensive HIV Care for the Underserved (2-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEOBG-201: OB/GYN & HIV (2-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEPSY-566: Global Mental Health (2-week), MS3/MS4
  • MEMED-807: Infectious Diseases Clinic – BSWH (4-week), MS3/MS4
  • Texas Children’s Global Health Network/Baylor Global Health (Formerly BIPAI): (Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn and Surgery, if available): Email Cathy Namagambe and Dr. Heather Haq to schedule your rotation as soon as you are aware of your schedule. Locations include Malawi and Lesotho.
  • Indian Health Service (Family Practice, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ob-Gyn, Pediatrics, Radiology): Apply on the IHS website. Locations include New Mexico and Arizona, typically students rotate at Shiprock, New Mexico.
  • Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO): Institutions approved by VSLO/AAMC may be open for rotation. You must apply through VSLO to get credit for the pathway. See below for some potential options. Please contact the program directors for approval of other rotations.
    • Child Family Health International (India, South Africa, Argentina, The Philippines, Uganda, Bolivia, Mexico, Ghana and Ecuador). Must select a 4-week rotation for pathway credit. Apply through VSLO.
    • FMLS - Family Medicine SubI in Latine Health/La Salud Permanente, Family Medicine Kaiser NCAL - Santa Rosa, California. 4-week outpatient/inpatient rotation for MS4s passionate about Family Medicine and equitable care. Apply through VSLO.
    • CMDE668 - Global Mental Health (Univ of Illinois COM-Chicago) (Online only) To discover how different disciplines and specialties, such as psychiatry and social work, approach global mental health. Apply through VSLO.
    • 4FM07 - Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare – WS (Wake Forest Univ SOM) Location: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WF Main), 1 Medical Center Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC. Apply through VSLO.
    • PEDS 4006B - Pediatric Hispanic Health (MetroHealth Medical Center) Location:   Main Campus and Ohio City Health Center. Prerequisites:  Intermediate to advanced level of Spanish. Apply through VSLO.
    • EM-EMS URBAN - EMS URBAN WILDERNESS MEDICINE (Maimonides Medical Center) Brooklyn, NY. Prerequisites: EM. Apply through VSLO.

(Must be at least four weeks total)

  • MESUR-563: Global Surgery Research Options, MS3/MS4
  • (Not for credit) Research month on a global health related topic with a Baylor Faculty Member (local only). Required to email Dr. Colleen Keough or Dr. Austin Meyer (Temple) in advance with your topic and your faculty mentor for approval. Research must last four weeks or greater (can also include preparatory research, manuscript preparation, etc.).

Enrichment Activities

  1. Global Health Conferences (Attend 4 conferences), MS1/MS2/MS3/MS4, See specific conferences for dates
    (Approved conferences only)
  2. Meetings with Faculty Mentor, MS3/MS4, 2-4 per year
  3. End of pathway paper (2-4 pages), MS4, Due by Feb. 28

How To Commit To The Pathway

MS2 students shall meet with Pathway Leadership during the fall term to review the program requirements and timeline. After this meeting, students may submit the Medical Pathway Commitment Form available on the Medical Pathways webpage. Commitment forms are due by Dec. 31 of the MS2 year. Students that wish to commit to the pathway after the deadline must contact the pathway director for approval.

Pathway At-A-Glance 

View as a PDF.

Funding Opportunities for International Experiences

Students must submit a complete international rotations packet to registrar@bcm.edu prior to participating in any international experience outside BCM. Incomplete packets will be rejected.