• SOICH Home
• Goal and Objectives
  • Chair's Letter
  • Our Mission Statement
  • Goals
  • Executive Committee
• Join SOICH
  • Why Should I Join?
  • Registration
• I-CATCH
• Countries and Regions
• Global Health Curriculum Toolkit
• Disaster Training
• Partnerships
• Publications
  • Books
  • Newsletter
  • Articles
  • Journals
• Working Opportunities
  • Working Overseas
  • Preparing Before You Go
• Funding
• Resident Resources
• Members Area

 

Preparing Before You Go

Suggestions for medical students and residents - Donna Staton MD, MPH

• Working in International Child Health (a manual produced by the AAP Section on International Child Health; how to find and prepare for work in developing countries); can be found at the AAP Bookstore


• International Health: A Manual for Advisers and Students or in paperback from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine


• The IHMEC Guidebook: Advising Medical Students and Residents for International Health Experiences (click on Resources)


• SUPERCOURSE, Univ. of Pittsburgh Dept. of Epidemiology. Hundreds of lectures on health in developing countries


• International Medical Volunteers Association, IMVA, click "Get Ready to Go"


• Christian Medical Fellowship/Health Serve (British)


• Have a reliable contact(s) at your overseas site (supervisor, evaluator)


• Investigate the site (work and living conditions--contact others who have been there!)


• Medical/professional preparations (diseases you'll see, malnutrition, limited diagnostic/treatment options, appropriate technologies, books to bring...)


• Language preparations (great starting place)
  Haitian Creole/English Medical Dictionary email IMVA, $10
  Portuguese/English Medical Dictionary (SE Mass. Area Health Ed Center, leave message for Patricia 508-748-0837)
  Spanish (many available); for Pediatric Spanish: AAP, 800-433-9016)
  Pocket Medical French, Russell K. Dollinger, Ph.D. (JDV Publishing, now Booksmart, 800-788-0064)


• Cultural preparation (travel guides such as Lonely Planet, Moon Handbooks; Intercultural Press--get free catalogue, 866-372-2665; personal contacts)


• Personal preparations (click on travelers health; visit local travel clinic)


• Medical, malpractice, and evacuation insurance
  
  
  1. WorldTravelCenter.com 1-800-234-1862 ext. 202 Offers medical, accident and disability insurance for relief workers, with coverage for acts of war and terrorism including chemical, nuclear and bio warfare.
  2.  SOS 1-800-767-1403 Medical and evacuation insurance.
  3. Highway to Health 
  4. Champion Insurance Advantage
  5. All Trip Insurance


• Safety issues/travel tips


• What to take/tips while there (books; keep a journal; keep your promises, or don't make them)