Admissions & Curriculum

Admissions

Who Should Apply to the GHAC Concentration?

Students with a passion for global healthcare delivery and/or global research
Students interested in pursuing an academic medical career in global health
Students ready to commit to the curriculum and fulfill (or exceed) expectations
Applicants can have any type of medical career interests, and do not need to have prior international experience

GHAC Admissions Process

Applications to the GHAC concentration will be available through the UC San Diego School of Medicine secondary application. Interested applicants will check a box in the secondary application to indicate their interest in the concentration and compose a one-page essay (detailed instructions will be provided on the secondary application). Selected applicants will be invited for interviews with GHAC Faculty via video chat starting in February, and admissions decisions will be occur on a rolling basis. Admission offers from the UC San Diego School of Medicine are made independently of the GHAC program. A total of five students from the applicant pool will be selected for admission to the concentration each year.

There will be 4 events during interview season where applicants can meet current faculty and students. Further information on these events will be provided to select applicants who are invited to interview with the medical school.

Curriculum

MS1: Introduction to Global Health Research course (SOMI-248)
- One quarter-long course that meets weekly
- This counts as one of your MS electives
Summer between MS1 and MS2: 6 to 8 weeks in the field conducting Global Health research at one of our approved sites.
- The purpose of this experience is to conduct high quality Global Health research, and participate in producing a peer-reviewed publication (with your mentor)
- Site placement will be based on student interests
MS2: Optional but highly recommended - FPM 244: VIIDAI Clinical and Public Health Elective in Baja, CA
MS3: US-Mexico Border Health Selective – three-week elective in third year focused on border and refugee health
MS4: OBG 496C: Customized Clinical Elective in Global Health
- 4–6 week long clinical rotation at one of our approved sites
- Site placement will be based on student interests

Possible Elective Courses

ANES 226 Clinical Perspectives in Global Health
FPM 244 VIIDAI Clinical and Public Health Elective Baja CA
FPM 272 Free Clinic I (Lottery course)
FPM 286 Free Clinic II
FMPH 491 public health and humanitarian response
MED 236 Refugee Health
MED 239 Health Frontiers in Tijuana
MED 250 Medical Spanish
PUBHLTH 174 Global health ethics (UCI remote course)
SOMI 233 Influences on Health: From Genes to Communities