Program

GHEE's Minor Global Health program is a 12-week course for 3rd year Bachelor students (primarily Medicine, but also Clinical Technology, Nanobiology, Erasmus University College and Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management). The course is organized is such a way that you have lectures, practicals and masterclasses for 5 weeks on all aspects of Global Health. Thereafter you go abroad for about 6 weeks to experience Health & Healthcare in a completely different setting and culture. The Minor is concluded with two Symposia, one where as a group students present their experiences abroad, and one with a specific topic with invited speakers.

The Minor Global Health started in 2010 as a rather small program: 33 students going to 3 countries (Malawi, Zambia and Suriname). Since then the program has grown to include around 120 students each year going to 48 institutes in 19 different countries in 2019 (The Netherlands, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Suriname, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Iran, Oman, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam).

Content

In the Minor Global Health you will come to learn every aspect of Global Health and international Healthcare in low and middle income countries (LMIC), as well as emerging economies to contrast with health and healthcare in The Netherlands. Determinants of Health and Disease (local, regional, national and international), the Global Burden of Disease, Universal Health Coverage, Health Care systems in diverse cultural backgrounds and learning to deal with limited resources (preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic) will be the main themes.

Next to Health & Healthcare at a tertiary level (urban, university medical center) you will be exposed to Health & Health Care in a rural setting (district hospital, related health centers and health posts, primary health care, community health, public health). All this in a very different culture and climate.

You can choose from 5 continents, 19 countries and 48 institutes:

  • Asia – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam
  • Africa – Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe
  • Middle East – Iran, Oman
  • South America – Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador & Suriname
  • Europe - The Netherlands

Learning Goals

After completing the Minor Global Health the student is able to:

  • describe the principles of Global Health
  • relate determinants of disease (Global Burden of Disease) to global developments
  • explain what Universal Health Coverage is
  • describe and explain the Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals
  • describe the various healthcare systems
  • describe and recognize the most important prevalent diseases, globally and locally, and name the prevention, diagnosis and treatment
  • relate clinical care and public health in the broader sense, in urban and rural settings in developed and developing countries

Specific Characteristics

The Minor Global Health is open to 3rd year Bachelor students in Medicine, Clinical Technology, Nanobiology, Erasmus University College (LS track) and the Institute of Health Policy & Management (and others) with:

  • Demonstrable interest in Global Health.
  • Good command of the English Language.
  • Having acquired all study credits (60 ECTS) of Bachelor year 1 at the moment of the selection procedure (ultimately 3 June 2019).
  • Having acquired a minimum of 30 ECTS in Bachelor year at the moment of the selection procedure (ultimately ultimately 3 June 2019).
  • Having passed ALL exams in Bachelor year 2 in the period 19 August – 8 November 2019.
    • Specifically for Medicine these are:
      • Exam 2A1
      • PKV en CA exams
  • Writing an English motivation letter and resumé as well as an interview are part of the application procedure of this minor.

Organization

The program consists of four parts:

  • Preparation & Language sessions 11-13 and 24-26 June 2019
  • 5 weeks of introduction and preparation (including our famous 'Global Health Masterclasses’) in Rotterdam (Erasmus MC), concluded with a written exam starting 19 August 2019.
  • 6 weeks modular education abroad, split into an urban / university medical center setting and a rural primary/public health setting; an assignment is part of the program.
  • 1 week to conclude the assignment and to present at the Global Health symposium in Rotterdam (Erasmus MC), 6-8 November 2019

Every week has its own theme, the most important diseases and aspects of the organization of healthcare in ‘low-, middle income and emerging economies’, urban as well as rural, will be discussed.

The following themes will be presented:

  • Principles of Global Health
  • Global Burden of Disease
  • Determinants of Health & Disease
  • Public Health & Prevention
  • Univeral Health Coverage
  • MDG’s & SDG’s
  • Ethics, Corruption & Culture
  • Mother & Child Health
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Non-communicable diseases

For the compulsory assignment students can choose to:

  • Write a Case Review
  • Develop or Test a Serious Game
  • Produce a Video Documentary

Education:

Education will consist of:

  • Lectures
  • Masterclasses
  • Workshops
  • Bedside teaching
  • Student presentations

Students will participate in the regular activities of the participating host institutes abroad including:

  • morning reports
  • grand rounds
  • outpatient activities: OPD, ART clinic, U5, antenatal, community health projects
  • journal clubs and research meetings

ALL education during the Minor Global Health is compulsory.

Education materials

Compulsory literature:

  • Global Health 101; Richard Skolnik; Jones & Bartlett Publishers | 3rd edition May 2015.
  • Factfulness; Hans Rosling; Sceptre | 1st edition January 2018.
  • De Derde Wereld op je CV. Judith van de Kamp; Nieuw Amsterdam | 1st edition March 2019.
  • Medical Spanish Dictionary; Borm Bruckmeier Publishing | 2nd edition December 2005.

And:

Advised literature:

  • Millions Saved: New Cases of Proven Success in Global Health; Amanda Glassman & Miriam Temin; Center for Global Development | 1st edition May 2016.
  • Millions Saved: Case studies in Global Health; Ruth Levine; Jones & Bartlett Publishers | 1st edition April 2007.
  • Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future; Johan Norberg; Oneworld Publications | 1st edition April 2017.
  • Foreign to Familiar. Lanier, Sarah A.; McDougal Publishing | 1st edition November 2000.
  • The Practice of Internal Medicine in the Tropics; Ed Zijlstra | 1st edition 2016.

Hours & Numbers

The Minor Global Health will have at least 20 contact hours per week; and a minimum of 200 contact hours for the minor as a whole.

Maximum number of students that can participate per minor (per site-country): 8

Minimum number of students that can participate per minor (per site-country): 4

Maximum total number of students that can participate: 120

  • Maximum 90 Erasmus MC Medical students
  • Maximum 30 students of other faculties, universities

Minimum total number of students that can participate: 60

Examination

The final mark will consist of:

  1. The mark for the final individual assignment (40%)
  2. The mark for the written exam in week 5 (50%)
  3. The mark for professional behavior and performance abroad (10%)

The marks of all parts need to be sufficient (5.5 or higher = 60%).

Feedback

Students will get direct feedback on their assignments. The assignment will be discussed individually with their supervisors. Feedback on the exam will be through an inspection session.