Global Health Assembly: Medical Students Without Borders
The SUNY Downstate School of Public Health celebrated the 19 fourth-year medical students Monday, March 14, who will undertake the Global Health in Developing Countries elective in four nations this April.
Downstate medical alumni gave $50,000 this year for travel expenses, an investment in global health. Students study health systems in income- and resource-poor countries, and provide meaningful medical service.
Pascal Imperato, MD, dean and distinguished service professor, School of Public Health, said his colleagues from other schools are amazed by the diversity of the elective’s locations, and the money available for students.
“Most medical schools do not fund their students,” Dr. Imperato said.
Since the program was started in 1980 by the then-titled Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, 386 students have participated in 41 countries.
The program is one of the largest and most successful of its kind among US medical schools, according to the Department of Public Health.
Participating 2015-2016 students and the nation of their study/service:
Olufunke Bakare, Guatemala Akshay O. Bhatt, India Emily R. Bokser, India Danielle Brooks, India Cynthia Gaw, Taiwan Rebecca M. Gonsalves, Guatemala Natalie Rose Howlett, Guatemala Anne-Sophie Janvier, Guatamala Christina A. Johnson, Guatemala Lynchy Lezeau, Guatemala Deborah Moon, Guatemala Jennah A. Morgan, Guatemala Nurah M. Morgan, Guatemala Disha L. Shastry, India Kathleen Siapno, Taiwan Sarah C. Stokes, India Rose C. Wei, Taiwan Michelle Xu, Taiwan Sibgha Zaheer, Thailand
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